http://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2014/february/new-partnership-announced Black Cats cruising with new partnership Cruise become official business partner. Sunderland AFC has formed a partnership with Cruise, in an agreement which sees the brand become the clubâs official suit provider for the Capital One Cup final through to the 2014-15 season. The agreement will see Cruise become an official business partner of the club, where they will enjoy a range of rights including LED perimeter and jumbo screen advertising at the Stadium of Light along with matchday programme advertising at all home games. Cruise will be dressing key representatives of the club, including manager Gus Poyet and first-team players for their trip to Wembley for their Capital One Cup final tie against Manchester City. Speaking about the new partnership, Sunderland AFCâs commercial director, Gary Hutchinson, said: âWe are delighted to welcome Cruise to the Sunderland family. "The Hugo Boss suits provided by Cruise are of an exceptional standard, are highly on trend - with this seasonâs latest cut - and will give players and staff a unified and sophisticated appearance. The suits will be worn by members of the squad and staff at official club engagements.â Established in Edinburgh in 1981, Cruise is the largest independent luxury fashion retailer in the North of the UK with stores in Newcastle, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Derby and Leicester. They sell influential designer menâs and ladies wear from a global branded portfolio of over 200 brands including Stone Island, Moncler, Hugo Boss, Cp Company, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. General Manager Robert Young said: âThe partnership with Sunderland is a perfect example of success and we are privileged to be a partner to the club for the Cup final and into the 2014-15 season. "Our collaboration forms a strong bond between football and fashion, both in terms of lifestyle and ambition. âThe image of the club is important and we are pleased to support that through dressing the players and staff. From the cup final onwards Cruise will enhance the presentation of the players and staff to match the dynamics of what is the most important and exciting league in the world.â A company owned by Cashley is now sponsoring us!
Didn't this company used to be called Flannels? I heard Ashley had bought out Flannels, if it's his company then the likes of Moncler will be rapid pulling out of this Cruise company, Ashley will have Slazenger stuff on the shelves next to all of the designer gear. The second Moncler fetches out a new range the old stuff will end up in Sports Direct and Moncler will end up with a savaged brand, I'd bet my house on it it's just the chav brands like Stone Island that stay with Ashley.
Cruise was originally called 'Cruise Flannels' then some were 'Flannels', now I believe all are just Cruise'. He's owned them a while mate, I by about 80% of my gear in there, he won't be able to cheapen the brands as you have to negotiate to sell them in each store, you wouldn't have a group wide agreement. I can't see top end brands agreeing to going in with the Donnay socks etc.
Neither did I mate until today! He owns USC as well, the shop where I buy all my casual stuff & jeans. Fat ****.
Well there you go. You won't get much change out of 600 quid for a Stone Island jacket. Can't beat Fred Perry for polos, quality, stylish and affordable. I once bought a 100 pound Aquascutum polo and tore it first time I wore it and vowed never to pay that kind of money for a polo shirt again.
Cruise have been part of the Ashley empire for about 3 years now. Being the businessman he is, he was never going to flood the shops with the cheap crap as they would most likely have gone under or affected profit ££££££ to him. Anyway its nice to see him helping out the needy on Sunday and giving to a good cause going forward. We obviously don't need Cruise sponsorship, not that you could actually find any space amongst the Sports Direct advertising.
