Warwick SU ends contract with sports kits supplier
Warwick Students’ Union (SU) has terminated its contract with sports apparel supplier Beyond Limits Known (BLK), after multiple Warwick University sports clubs complained that they had not received kit orders for the current academic year on time.
This followed similar complaints made to the SU last year, with Sports Officer Ted Crowson saying that the Union decided to end the contract after “listening to sports clubs’ views”.
Crowson added that the situation was the result of “a lot of misunderstanding” surrounding the relationship between Warwick’s clubs, BLK, and Speed One Sports (SOS), who sell the specific Warwick University apparel designed by BLK.
“There was a lot of uncertainty in terms of what the clubs were expecting”, explained Crowson. “A lot of kitwear brands don’t actually start making the goods until they’ve got the money in their accounts. So by the time the clubs had actually put an order in, it often went through a few weeks after they’d thought.
“In some cases there were service errors but no kit supplier’s perfect. For me, it’s how they deal with things if they make a mistake. The clubs brought their complaints to us, which we then raised to the company.”
The contract was terminated little more than a year after BLK began supplying kit to Warwick’s sports clubs.
During Easter 2015, members of sports clubs attended an event where potential kit suppliers showcased their designs. They were then asked to vote in favour or against a centralised kit, with 65% voting in favour.
Ruby Compton-Davies, Sports Officer at the time, announced in June 2015 that the contract with BLK would begin that September.
We felt action was necessary, both in terms of helping sports clubs out with contingency plans and us being in the situation where we felt the supplier couldn’t provide the correct kit
Ted Crowson, Sports Officer
SOS’ official website sells apparel for 42 different Warwick University sports clubs. The company supplies clothing and equipment to multiple schools and colleges within the UK, but Warwick is the only university listed on their website.
“Barring a few specialist clubs, the vast majority were signed into the contract”, explained Crowson. “In the terms of our agreement, the clubs were only supposed to go through BLK for kit.”
Crowson pointed to the time of year to help explain the uncertainty experienced by sports clubs.
“I think a lot of it stems from the confusion that we’ve had at the start of term. It came at a very difficult time, when the SU was at its most busy period.
“We want what’s best for all our sports teams, so when this issue arose we dealt with it as quickly as we could, while being considerate of the right way to act. The sports clubs are our priority and we were in constant communication with both BLK UK and SOS.”
The SU began negotiations with both companies but decided to act just 3 weeks into the academic year.
“We felt action was necessary, both in terms of helping sports clubs out with contingency plans and us being in the situation where we felt the supplier couldn’t provide the correct kit,” said Crowson.
He went on to reveal that contingency plans would be put in action as quickly as possible, with the aim of finding a new centralised kit supplier “by the end of term 2”.
“We are going to allow clubs to go with any brand they want in the interim. We have a few guidelines to set them which will then be approved by the SU and Lisa Dodd Mayne, Director of Warwick Sport,” said Crowson.
“They can also continue to go through SOS, who are still working with us. They already have designs, logos and plenty of other brands, so that should be quite an easy transition period for them.”
BLK opened their UK headquarters in Stockton-on-Tees in May. The company provides clothing and apparel to almost 10,000 sports teams worldwide, including international netball, rugby union and rugby league sides.
Analysis
It’s easy to read this and immediately assume the same as I did: this is the story of a giant, multi-national company failing to look after one of its least profitable customers. It is not so straightforward, but the speed with which the SU acted highlights their lack of confidence in BLK.
The reasons given by Crowson to terminate the contract with the company are entirely understandable.
Ted Crowson said confusion was primarily to blame. The start of the academic year is hectic for all of us, from first-years to finalists, so we can only imagine how manic it must be for those running the SU. Throw in problems with the primary kit supplier for sport on campus and one can see how misunderstandings can manifest themselves.
But confusion alone can’t explain ending the contract so abruptly. Crowson mentioned the complaints made to Alex Roberts, last year’s Sports Officer: evidence that the misunderstandings involving the various parties are not solely a result of the busy time of year. The process of ordering kit was clearly far from smooth for a large proportion of the BLK era.
The reasons given by Crowson to terminate the contract with the company are entirely understandable. It gives clubs and the SU ample time to sort out contingency measures and work towards securing a new centralised kit supplier for the next academic year. Yet they seemingly didn’t believe this could be achieved with the current contract; preferring to start from scratch instead. This is surely a result of the complaints made over the past year, rather than since the start of term.
The past few weeks were simply the final straw for the SU. Ultimately, Warwick’s sports clubs have experienced too many problems for too long regarding kit and this has to change.
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