Elite Pro Sports will remain as official kit supplier to Hartpury for the next five years, after agreeing an extension to their existing contract. The partnership will allow for the development of the brand across a modern and stylish collection of high-quality sportswear, teamwear, staff clothing and accessories.
In a bid to boost brand awareness around the symbolic red acorn, Elite Pro Sports have agreed to replace their own OXEN brand logo with Hartpury’s symbolic acorn. Over the coming years, the simple acorn will feature more prominently to enable it to become instantly synonymous with Hartpury.
Elite Pro Sports currently host a dedicated Hartpury web store and provide sports academy clothing, staff clothing and official Hartpury University RFC teamwear and replica jerseys. A range of accessories including a rucksack, bobble hat, beanie and snapback cap are also available.
The next stage of the partnership will see the introduction of Hartpury leisurewear, intended to take the brand beyond the sports pitch or classroom and to allow students, staff and alumni to fly the Hartpury flag while also looking stylish. This is to meet demand from students and former students who remain staunchly proud of their Hartpury roots.
Items can be purchased from the online store including special sport and training bundles for each of the sports academies. Selected products can be personalised and worldwide delivery along with a 28-day money back guarantee is provided to customers.
Tom Radcliffe, Director of Elite Sport at Hartpury, said: “We’re thrilled to have agreed a further five-year extension to our existing deal with Elite Pro Sports, and can’t wait to see the various kit, clothing and merchandise rolled out across our departments and sports academies in the coming months and years.
“We’re particularly excited about the introduction of leisurewear to make our apparel available to a wider audience, particularly our alumni who are so often proud to sport the Hartpury acorn long after they’ve graduated. Our long-term goal is to make the acorn symbol instantly recognisable and boost its association with Hartpury, particularly within the various sports in which our students and alumni perform so well.
“Elite Pro Sports have a wealth of experience, and we’re grateful for their support in developing high-quality kit that also meets our wider brand strategy, as well as the excellent customer service they provide to those making purchases online.”
Elite Pro Sports work with a variety of professional sports clubs to help facilitate many performance and retail needs. Predominantly working under the OXEN brand, the company has over 30 years’ collective experience in production, retail, and ecommerce. Clients include Gloucester Rugby, Leeds Rhinos and England Rugby League as well as over 16 professional partners across a variety of sports.
Lee Jenkinson, CEO of Elite Pro Sports, said: “We’re delighted to be extending our partnership with Hartpury University and College for a further five years. The new partnership deal will see our relationship spanning over a decade, which is testament to the fantastic working relationship between both parties.
“We’ve worked hard with the university over the past few years to develop the acorn branding from an apparel perspective, and with exciting plans in the pipeline for 2022 and beyond, we look forward to working with them to bring these items to a wider audience.”
Elite Pro Sports work with JS Teamwear to provide Hartpury’s animal, agriculture, and equine kit, that is also available to purchase online.
