Most Rangers fans will know that Castore is the club’s current official retail partner.
In partnership with Castore, a range of kit, training gear and assorted merchandise is available online as well as at The Rangers Stores – Ibrox and Buchanan Galleries.
Over the next few weeks, two further outlets are due to open their doors in Belfast and at Glasgow Airport.
Despite this, the previous retail partner is still operating and advertising Rangers products.
This afternoon, an email from ‘The Gers Store’ landed in fans inboxes, attempting to lure custom their way with ‘great savings in the Gers sale’ and effectively trying to cash in on the good feeling of the Premiership title win and all things 55.
Heart and Hand, the popular Rangers fan podcast, tweeted this afternoon with a warning to fellow fans,
“This is NOT current club merch, it’s Elite/Hummel”
You may have just got this email folks. This is NOT current club merch, it’s Elite/Hummel. pic.twitter.com/1tq5gmT3y2
— Heart & Hand Podcast (@ibroxrocks) April 26, 2021
As above, the current updated club badge is not utilised in a telling sign on copyright and licensing.
Prior to lockdown, ‘The Gers Store’ outlets at St Enoch Square and Castle Lane, Belfast as well as online, were still operating, selling previous Hummel kit and products that were licensed at the time of the agreement with Rangers.
VitalRangers understands that these outlets are due to re-open soon but they will undergo some form of re-branding.
It a complicated situation, there is ongoing litigation on the contracts involved.
Back in February 2020, the Daily Record reported on this issue:
“Rangers have launched a legal bid to claw back more than £2.8m from Hummel in a row over replica shirt sales.”
“It comes in the aftermath of the Ibrox club’s court victory last month in the latest round of a legal fight with Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct over the terms of an injunction.”
“Now, the Glasgow giants have revealed they have served proceedings on the sports brand to get back an eyewatering £2,840,236, plus interest and expenses.”
“A club statement said: “The Rangers Football Club Limited (Rangers) has served proceedings on LBJ Sports Apparel Limited trading as Elite for payment of the sum of £2,840,236.75 plus interest and expenses.”
“The payment relates to sums that require to be paid to Rangers by Elite in terms of the Agreement between Rangers, Elite and Hummel A/S for the manufacture and supply of Rangers Kit and other products.”