features
sport-kit.net: Product Innovation
Lauren Heath-Jones takes a look at the latest technology and innovation making waves across the world of sport
Lancashire Cricket Club (LCC) in the UK has announced a new partnership with Rewards4, a sport-based rewards programme, to launch the Rewards4Cricket programme – a new loyalty initiative to reward its fan base.
The initiative is designed to reward loyal fans by enabling them to collect points on their everyday shopping, thanks to 4,500 brand and retail partners. These points can then be redeemed against club purchases including memberships, match tickets, season tickets and merchandise from the official Lancashire CC store.
Tom Cowgill, director and co-founder of the company, says: “Our Rewards4Cricket membership is growing rapidly and partnering with Lancashire Cricket enables us to welcome and reward their members and supporters.”
“Rewarding devoted fans by turning everyday spending into savings is proving to be a compelling concept for many, especially when it can be achieved at no cost to the club or county.”
Jonathon Nuttall, head of ticketing & digital systems at Lancashire Cricket, says: “Our members and supporters are at the heart of everything we do. We always strive to reward that commitment by providing the best possible experience.”
Sport-kit keyword: REWARDS4
Smart textile firm Kymira has launched the ‘Ultimate Recovery Kit’ in partnership with sports nutrition company Bio Synergy, with both contributing products.
Launching under the Kymira Sports brand, the kit is designed to aid recovery from sports injuries and workouts and will feature Kymira’s Infrared ankle socks, Core 3.0 power shorts alongside Bio-Synergy’s whey protein, BCAA and ‘Power Beet’ capsules.
The launch is a result of a new partnership between the two brands, which comes shortly after Kymira announced a new strategy to develop more long-term business partnerships in both the sports and wellness industries.
Tim Brownstone, founder & CEO of Kymira, says: “Kymira Sport customers are looking for those extra percentage gains and our garments offer a way for them to do this.”
“This partnership is a further step forward for Kymira Sport, as it showcases our ongoing desire to offer the best wearable technology to help boost performance and aid recovery.”
Sport-kit keyword: KYMIRA
DEM Sports, a company specialising in cricket equipment, has partnered with Essex-based engineering firm, Gratnells Engineering, to create an updated version of its Concertina Cricket Net and Multi-Sport Foldaway System.
Billed as ‘unique fold-away, space saving systems’, the nets are intended primarily for use in clubs, schools and universities with limited space and are designed to promote the sport at a grassroots level, particularly in schools, to get more children involved with the game.
Available in three sizes, the Concertina Cricket Net can be affixed to a wall or fence post and can be fully extended to 8, 10 or 12 m, and folded away to just 50 cm, while the Multi Sport net meaures 10m x 6m and folds back to 82cm. Both nets feature laser cut, powder coated metal posts, produced by Gratnells, encased in a protective foam.
In addition to creating the metal framework for the nets, Gratnells, a specialist in bespoke metal work, laser cutting and powder coating, worked with DEM Sports to refine the original designs to create the new product line.
Anthony Byrne, product manager at Gratnells, says: “Gratnells has a long history of supporting ideas that aim to help children succeed. We were delighted to work on refining this equipment to unlock inner city play spaces and combat obesity.”
Sport-kit keyword: GRATNELLS
Goodison Park Stadium, UK, the current home to Everton FC, has undergone major redevelopment work in order to improve disabled access and to become compliant with standards laid out in the Accessible Stadia Guide (ASG).
The redevelopment has included new elevated viewing platforms to provide better sightlines for disabled fans, as well as the addition of four fully-accessible lifts, two accessible wheelchair lifts, new stairs and designated entrances and exits.
The club, which has plans to relocate to a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock on the Liverpool waterfront, has also invested in four Evac+Chair 300H evacuation chairs, bringing the total number of evacuation chairs up to 16 to make the stadium fully compliant.
Capable of beating a load of up to 182kg, the Evac+Chair 300H is designed for one-person operation and avoids the need for heavy lifting or manual handling. Richard Cairns, facilities manager at Everton FC, says: “We chose to invest in our ground regardless of the new stadium because, as a club, we are committed to all our supporters and hold the need for equality, particularly in sports, in high-regard.”
Colin Moore, UK sales manager at Evac+Chair, says: “It’s more important than ever for all football clubs to comply with the ASG guidelines by providing the means for a safe exit in an emergency.”
“More clubs are moving towards compliance and equality. Evac+Chair is helping equip them with world-class aparatus and the necessary knowledge to ensure their facilities afford safe access for all, no matter how able they are,” Moore added.
Sport-kit keyword: EVAC+CHAIR
