WICB Forms New Merchandising Company
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has quietly created a joint venture company with a British investment firm to handle all its licensing, merchandising and Internet operations.The WICB will own a 51% stake in the new company, which will be managed by Centrex Sports, a subsidiary of U.K.-based The Centrex Group. It is expected to launch very soon with the development of three different merchandise collections -- a WICB range of products, a Windies sports and leisure brand and a Select Legends range that will include a Sir Garfield Sobers series of merchandise. CaribbeanCricket.com has confirmed that a new official WICB Web site is also in the works.
The deal has never been announced by the WICB although well-placed sources say it was officially signed several months ago.
The major focus of the initiative is Internet-based. Centrex will handle all the branding, design and development of collections, stock warehousing, product fulfillment, customer services, marketing and sales.
The merchandise will be available initially through an online store on the new WICB Web site.
Plans are also in place to sell the ranges in stores throughout the Caribbean region.