That Sports Merch Podcast

In Episode 3 of Season 2, we chat to Pete Lucchesi & Cory Fahey - Creative Director & Co-Owners of Streaker Sports. Streaker Sports are a young start-up with some serious USP's, operating in a very crowded space within US-sports apparel supply and manufacture. Dedicated to telling the unique stories of sports culture, with their own unique vintage style, they're starting to find some great traction in a number of US markets. We hear how the first years have been for Streaker, and how staying true to themselves is a core part of allowing them to stand out from the crowd. We discuss the unique appeal of their vintage collections, as well as their focus on a number of key niche licensing opportunities. Hear how the brand have tapped into licensed partnerships with USA Hockey, USA Lacrosse & Wiffle Ball. We dive deeper into their chase for the licensed IP of Peanuts and what it took to get a response to their long-game approach. Recently the brand have had major success with a vast number of college licenses. We find out how these opportunities come about and what it takes in order to bring their unique style to these iconic educational brands. You won't believe the access Streaker Sports get to the archive vaults! We also discuss one of the more obscure licenses - Zamboni, and how the brand are hooked by the cultural impact the Zamboni has had on the beloved game of hockey. Their passion runs deep with every license they operate. Purveyors of Sports Culture is a very apt tagline to this brand. You'll truly love their story. In partnership with Streaker Sports, the official podcast sponsor of That Sports Merch Podcast. Check out www.streakersports.com and use code SPORTSMERCH15 for 15% off site-wide. Support the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

In Episode 2 of Season 2, we chat to Nicole Bekkers - Founder and CEO of FC88. FC88 are challenging the status quo with clubs, federations and global sports brands on the subject of sustainability. Having identified a huge issue with dead-stock during her role with KNVB (Dutch Football Federation) and being unsatisfied with the response she got, Nicole knew she had to do something about this. Founded in 2020, FC88 are pushing the needle firmly towards a sustainable solution for this current issue which is endemic to the professional sports industry, by creating an upcycling opportunity which takes redundant dead-stock/overstock (call it what you like!) and creates locally, hand-made, new product collections extending the life of this redundant stock, saving this from landfill and/or incineration. Hear what sparked the FC88 business (and what's behind it's name!) and how that concept has evolved into a multi-national operation, with local studios supporting local markets to lessen the impact of redundant stocks and contribute to driving a more sustainable operation within professional sport. In partnership with Streaker Sports, the official podcast sponsor of That Sports Merch Podcast. Check out www.streakersports.com and use code SPORTSMERCH15 for 15% off site-wide. Support the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

Season 2 of That Sports Merch Podcast has arrived! In the first episode of S2, we talk to Robbie Sarton, Head of Product at Nick Auditore Represents. Robbie, based in Australia head up the product division of NAR, which holds the rights for the Mitchell & Ness brand (and others) for the ANZ market. We discuss the brand's rights management, product ideation and go to market strategies. You'll hear how NAR have scaled quickly and how they work with well-placed distribution channels and retailers to maximise the success of the brand. We touch on the impact of popular culture and how this is defining the modern consumer muse. You'll find out the impact of the Netflix series The Last Dance and the AIR movie on this heritage-inspired lifestyle brand. There's a couple of great anecdotes in there from Robbie too... oh, and hey, did we mention we have an official podcast sponsor? That's right! Welcome to Season 2 In partnership with Streaker Sports, the official podcast sponsor of That Sports Merch Podcast . Check out www.streakersports.com and use code SPORTSMERCH15 for 15% off site-wide. Support the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP continues the feature interview with Cristina McAloon, Sr. Manager of Buying at Las Vegas Raiders.Part 2 of the interview focuses on the protection of the Raiders brand, team values and more in depth detail around managing the buying team at this NFL giant. Cristina speaks with passion about the industry, being a true cheerleader for merchants across the globe.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP chats to Cristina McAloon, Sr. Manager of Buying at the Las Vegas Raiders.In Part 1 of this feature interview, you will hear about Cristina's background in the fashion industry and the transition into working for some iconic names within licensed sports merchandise. Cristina talks to the podcast about the size of the Raiders retail business, Raider Image and the fluctuation in size between in-season and off-season. You'll also hear how her team remain competitive against the licensed giants, Fanatics.Cristina is a true champion of the sports merchandising and licensing sector and speaks with real passion for the industry.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP talks to ex-professional footballer Jake Howells. Jake takes us on a whistle-stop tour of his career in football before sharing his experience and insight into the journey from professional sportsman to the world of sports business. A fascinating listen which covers the reality shock of the world of business outside of the sports 'bubble' and the quick learning curve and mindset reset needed to be able to carve out a new career after a successful, but short, sports career. Hear how Jake has managed to take his love of the game into his new career in sports merchandise and licensing. Listen to the vast number of transferable skills taken from the dressing room to the boardroom.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP chats to The Terrace director and co-founder, Carl Sewell. Carl takes us on The Terrace's journey from Facebook page to post funny football content, to 'cult' merchandise brand and to today's position as the go-to supplier of On-Demand merchandise supply within UK sports merchandise. Hear of the unique approach to the formation of the business, the reaction to a 92-page 'cease & desist' letter from the Football Association, and the fan-first culture which weaves it's way through the day-to-day business operation.Offering a unique insight with wholesome transparency, Carl allows you to understand the approach they're taking, the philosophy behind the brand and the direction it's heading in the near future. The desire to disrupt an industry which is "broken" is strong with The Terrace, but how will they fix it?Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP chats to Sam Swanton, Head of Retail at Wigan Athletic FC. We hear how Sam has been battling against some of the toughest conditions - a global pandemic AND the club falling into administration at the same time!Sam's retail business was changed overnight - with the team finding out at the same time as the general public, on Sky TV. The challenge for Sam and his team was to then become self-sufficient. Innovative leadership battling through some dark times saw Sam navigate the challenges and maintain the only revenue stream for the football club - ensuring the first team could have some kit, and the club kept breathing.You think it was tough operating a football club through the pandemic, try this...Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

In this 2-part episode of That Sports Merch Podcast we speak to Joan Carrera López, Head of Retail & Licensing at Italian football giants, AC Milan. During this first part of the episode, Joan introduces his varied career to date and explains how he managed to find himself living in Milan, working for one of the biggest global names in sport. We cover life at AC Milan and talk about in-depth licensing and brand positioning strategy as well as covering some of the more eye-catching announcements that have come out of Milan in the last 12 months, as Joan and his team work to close the gap between AC Milan and other global football giants.Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

Part 2 of our interview with Joan Carrera López of AC Milan. Joan chats to That Sports Merch Podcast about the wider strategy around AC's brand licensing. We hear how new licensing opportunities are established and how full Joan's email inbox is! We round off the episode discussing how pop-up stores and clever brand positioning has driven growth and awareness for the AC Milan brand, and how Joan ans his team have tapped into knowledge from other European Clubs and other sports to widen their knowledge and understanding. We also get to hear of a very prestigious shortlisting honour that Joan has just received.Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP chat to Whitney Bansin, CEO of Vegas-based fashion apparel disrupter The Wild Collective. We hear Whitney's story of building her brand within professional sports supply and what inspired The Wild Collective to bring their streetwear, fashion-forward, premium feel to the sports market. With celebrities such as TI and Diplo choosing to wear her pieces, Whit's certainly cracked her niche.You won't want to miss this inspiring, positive chat. This episode goes down avenues we never saw coming. We certainly didn't expect to be discussing a chance opportunity with Shania Twain, or getting catfished by Sarah Blakely from SPANX! Packed full of business insight and positive mental attitude, we're sure that every listener will take something away from this one. Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP talk to Nick Lodge from Onside Brand. Nick's an expert in branded space activation projects and has an extensive retail brand history - most notably where sports merchandise is concerned, with adidas. Hear how club stores and branded spaces have evolved over the last 10 years, alongside some on Nick's favourite projects, including how Manchester United's Old Trafford megastore was flipped from Nike to adidas in just 1 week! We find out what went well, and more interestingly - what didn't go to plan at all! Nick also talks to us about what future sports club physical spaces and digital experiences will look like. It's not just about the store footprint...Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP talks to Domenic Notarfrancesco, VP Consumer Products for United Soccer League. We dive deep into how the USL support their new franchise clubs as well as those already established professional and pre-professional clubs.This episode provides fascinating insight into the local community outreach program, research and development of a local fanbase and understanding what fits with the community demographic in order to become a successful new franchise. We hear about the structure of the USL, future plans, and discuss some of the challenges faced by the unique opportunity of building and launching a new sports organisation from the ground up.Domenic talks in detail of the journey that the USL is on and how the retail merchandise teams within their structure are seeing some great success with the approach they take.Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

TSMP talks to Rob Revell, Head of Product at Hummel (UK) with in-depth insight into the world of product design. We go behind the scenes of what it takes to go from brief, to concept, to finished product. Hear from Rob on how his team at Hummel get through an insane amount of designs, before selecting the three kits for each team and much, much more!Lee & Matt explain the 16-month hiatus, and give lots of info on upcoming content as the guys get the podcast well and truly back on track.Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

We kick off That Sports Merch Podcast with a feature length interview (across Parts 1 & 2) with Danny Downs, General Manager of Fanatics International. Danny gives an incredible insight into the Fanatics retail business, covering the varying global fan cultures and what that means to the Fanatics retail strategy. In Part 2, we go deeper into the retail strategies that Fanatics operate, find out how the Fanatics acquisition of the existing UK company, Kitbag, changed the way the business operated and get the scoop on what's next for this global superpower brand.Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

We kick off That Sports Merch Podcast with a feature length interview (across Parts 1 & 2) with Danny Downs, General Manager of Fanatics International. Danny gives an incredible insight into the Fanatics retail business, covering the varying global fan cultures and what that means to the Fanatics retail strategy. In Part 1, we get a great introduction to Danny and the journey he's been on to get where he's at now, plus a deeper look at the Fanatics brand and some great insight into their secret weapon - vCommerce. Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson

E0 - that pilot episodeAn introductory episode to that sports merch podcast featuring host Lee Hyde and co-host Matt Hudson. Hear what they have planned for the podcast series, a brief pop-history of both's credentials and get to know the voices you'll hear across the episodes!Support the showFollow us on socials:-Twitter - @sportsmerchpodInstagram - @sportsmerchpodFacebook - @sportsmerchpodOr join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page.Host: Lee HydeCo-Host: Matt HudsonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show Join our LinkedIn community by following our ThatSportsMerchPodcast page. Host: Lee Hyde Co-Host: Matt Hudson