General Information
The All England Club started a licensing programme in 1979 which now incorporates some 25 licensed companies worldwide in 8 international markets.
The Club’s policy continues to be to seek well-known and respected international companies as merchandising partners. Each company is carefully selected to market and distribute products under license that reflect the prestigious international reputation of The Championships. Successful business relationships have been developed with Christy (towels), Links of London (jewellery), Waterford (glass crystal), Rodenstock (sunglasses) and, most recently, Fila (footwear).
All UK licensees are represented in The Wimbledon Shop on-site at The Championships where there are three major stores and another nine smaller kiosks situated around the grounds. The Shop employs approximately 250 staff during The Championships and is open from 9.30am until at least half an hour after close of play.
The Wimbledon apparel range continues to represent the major percentage of retail sales on site offering a wide variety of products split into Classics, Performance, Lifestyle, Authentics and Kidswear ranges.
The top five best selling items in the Wimbledon Shop during the 2007 Championships were: 16,712 mini tennis ball key-rings, 9,912 Ladies’ Championship towels, 9,739 Men’s Championship towels, 7,267 twin wrist bands, 5,590 Slazenger mini balls.
Polo Ralph Lauren supply the ball boys and girls ground staff and umpires with their uniforms. They also produce a range of Wimbledon licensed clothing which will be sold in the brand new Centre Court Shop in 2008.
Profits from sales of Wimbledon branded merchandise go to support British tennis.
The 2008 Wimbledon Collection
The Wimbledon Collection comprises four different and distinctive ranges.
Classic Wimbledon: Products are vintage and classical in the purple and green colours of Wimbledon and focus on the famous Crossed Rackets logo. Examples of Classic Wimbledon are the 2008 Men’s Championship Towel, the Crossed Rackets t-shirt, the spectator umbrella, Wimbledon green fashion bags and the ‘friendship bracelet’ by Links of London.
Performance: Products in this range use technical fabrics and include accessories for the tennis player of all abilities. Prince have introduced a striking new range of Court Classic bags in black and orange.
Lifestyle: Casual outfits for an active lifestyle whilst still focusing on timeless appeal. Ladieswear colours are pink, lime and turquoise and these colours are mirrored in the girls’ range of stripes and polka-dots. The menswear range includes a mercerised polo shirt, a rugby shirt, a variety of T-shirts and sports tops whilst the boys’ range features fun T-shirts in striking colours.
Authentics: This range was introduced for the first time in 2007 and proved extremely popular. It is aimed at the younger adult and features vest tops, hipster shorts, board shorts and t-shirts as well as accessories including bags and keyrings.
Wimbledon Collection is International
Wimbledon is a truly international brand found in department stores and airports around the UK,
Total of 34 Wimbledon shop in shops can be found in 14 locations in China including two recently opened in Beijing to take advantage of the Olympics 2008 market.
Second annual Wimbledon Fair held in Tokyo (October) during the AIG Open. 18,000 visitors.
The Club has just embarked on a licensing programme in India with licenses granted for the marketing of towels, jewellery and other accessory products in this rapidly growing market for branded consumer goods.
Polo Ralph Lauren will be opening this summer a Wimbledon shop-in-shop in Saks on 5th Avenue. Polo Ralph Lauren stores and key Polo department store accounts in Europe will feature Wimbledon window displays this summer and stock the Wimbledon Collection by Polo.
Merchandising on Site at the 2008 Championships: Wimbledon Shops
The Wimbledon Shop is located at the entrance to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and is open seven days a week on a year-round basis.
In addition to The Wimbledon Shop above the Museum, there are two other major stores open during The Championships, one of which is a brand new self-service 4,500 square foot shop in the new Centre Court building nearly half of which will feature the Polo Ralph Lauren Wimbledon Collection.
The largest shop on site is under Court One and there are also nine smaller shops located around the grounds.
Wimbledon merchandise is also available year round on www.wimbledon.org/shop.
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