Calvin Klein, Inc. (CKI) and Premium Golf Brands (PGB) have announced an agreement that appoints PGB as the official global licensee of Calvin Klein Golf. Appropriately for the Cork based company, the announcement was made just in time for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the presence of An Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
The agreement was announced following a breakfast in New York City honouring Ireland’s Prime Minister, Brian Cowen who is leading a trade mission to the U.S. The event was hosted by Enterprise Ireland, the government agency responsible for driving leadership and growth for innovative Irish companies in international markets.
The exclusive multi-year, global licensing agreement allows PGB to source, manufacture, and distribute Calvin Klein Golf products for men and women. The company will start by rolling out the Calvin Klein Golf apparel range on a worldwide basis, but the license also includes the right to introduce other Calvin Klein Golf accessories on a global basis.
The men’s and women’s Calvin Klein Golf Spring 2009 range is already available at retail from leading golf specialty stores and resorts in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Finland, Turkey, and Sweden. A full European roll out of the brand is expected by the end of the next quarter, and it is planned that by Spring 2010, that the global distribution of Calvin Klein Golf will expand to reach the Middle East (Dubai), the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
Premium Golf Brands, Europe’s largest golf apparel distributor, was the European distributor for the predecessor license since the Calvin Klein Golf brand was launched in early 2008. The extensive experience that the company offers combined with the success of the brand in the UK and European markets, have been instrumental in securing PGB’s appointment.
Tom Murry, Calvin Klein Inc.’s President & CEO, said, “We think that Premium Golf Brands is an exceptional choice for Calvin Klein as we expand our presence in the global golf market. We are confident that the company understands the importance we associate with the brand and has the skills, market knowledge, and relationships to take Calvin Klein to the international golf market. PGB’s leadership position in the European golf market, experience, and success to date speak volumes, and we are delighted to announce this new partnership.”
The global sales, production, and manufacture of the Calvin Klein Golf brand will be managed in-house in Cork. PGB prides itself on its vertical structure, which has been cited as the reason for the company’s ongoing success.
Despite the company’s stature, this is the first global licence that the company has signed as managing director Grahame Jenkins comments, “We are very proud to be working with Calvin Klein, Inc. It is a fantastic company to be associated with and we are in no doubt that we can grow the Calvin Klein Golf brand worldwide. This deal is particularly important to us because it marks a significant milestone in our company’s development as our first global appointment.”
Premium Golf Brands www.premiumgolfbrands.com
Calvin Klein www.calvinklein.com