(9 feb) – The Birmingham football club Aston Villa have signed a record-breaking 18 million euros kit agreement with the Italian sportswear manufacture Macron. The Italian company will replace current supplier Nike, producing Villa’s playing strip, replica kit, training wear and other clothing merchandise for the next four years. It is the most lucrative kit deal in the club’s history.
Villa chose the Bologna-based firm from a field of more than 10 other manufacturers across the world.
Villa’s merchandising manager John Greenfield said: “We have negotiated with more than 10 sports brands across Europe, America and China over the past six months looking for the best partner for both Aston Villa and our supporters. Macron ticked all the boxes for the club and we were very impressed with the overall set-up and experience they have in the manufacturing of football kits”. “The design team and range of products on offer to the club – continued Greenfield – was second to none and suited our requirements. The style and quality of the replica shirts and the enthusiasm to work with the club in the overall design and production of our shirts was a key part of the decision to sign with Macron”. “Our objective – added the manager – was to sign up with a technical sportswear manufacture who could offer, not only match kit and training wear for the players and management, but a full range of product for both our supporters and customers. A brief was given by the Aston Villa merchandise team based at Villa Park to ensure that the range of official products suits the needs of all. We have worked closely with the Italian design team in Bologna, Italy, looking at the latest technical fabric to develop an exciting range of goods”. (Peg)
MACRON: THE ITALIAN TEAMWEAR
The birth of Macron is in 1971, in Bologna. The company is specialized in technical-sports apparel, with an initial customer base that was entirely Italian. Now it distributes about 40% off its products to other European conutries, such as Great Britain, Spain, Portugal and France. In 2001, after four years spent to develop its own brand, Macron starts its adventure in professional football: a contract with the professional Italian football team Bologna FC. From then on, the MACRON brand has become more and more visible on the jerseys of the most prestigious teams in the world. Since 2005 Macron has expanded its market: from Italy to Europe then to the United States, Canada and now the Middle East. The constant growth of the company is reflected in the size of its premises: in 2007 Macron inaugurated its new headquarters in Crespellano, Bologna, and started offering an even wider range of products, now also including rugby, handball and futsal.