New Upcoming Rule Regarding UK Gear

[ORCAT]

I was at Kennedy's Bookstore yesterday on campus and was told something rather interesting by the store manager. She said, starting in January, that all stores in Kentucky will only be able to sell the same exact UK gear and only by two vendors. Those two vendors are to be Nike, of course, and JAmerica. She was pretty unhappy about the arrangement and I asked her what it would mean for local merchants such as Wildcat Wearhouse and others that print their own UK shirt/sweatshirt designs, etc. She just said it would probably be very bad news for such places. She did say it is still possible that JAmerica may connect with some other companies such as Champion and others but there is nothing known about that at all right now. What I came away with was that it could mean the end of some local companies and maybe even some larger ones such as Fan Ourfitters and Alumni Hall as those places carry many other vendors other than Nike. For the fans, it is really bad news as we will all be limited to the exact same products being made by these two vendors, if it stays as is. Plus, not all UK fans can afford Nike prices. Just sounds like a very greedy deal UK has worked out with no concern for local companies or the fans. Any of you have some thoughts about this? Am I overreacting or do you see some of the same concerns that I do. We all buy a great deal of UK stuff as we have seen people discuss on this board in the past. I have no idea if this affects out of state online purchases at all and I didn't think to ask her about that until I had left Kennedy's. She did say it was in Kentucky that this would be happening, whatever that might mean. Thoughts?

 

[wromanp7]

Well if it weeds out some of the truly awful designs then maybe a plus.

Though I hate it for the little guys.

 

[JC for 3]

As a resident of N. KY, this bothers me as I have found that a road trip to Kennedy's usually leads to finding UK gear that is more unique, stuff you don't see much of where I live.... that's why I'll travel there a couple times a year to get some gear. If it gets limited to just Nike brand stuff, then there goes having the 'unique' gear and only the same stuff everybody else gets at the local Dick's Sporting Goods. As big as BBN is, there ought to be some legal avenue to take to stop this rather than letting Nike and JAmerica monopolize that market.

 

[UKUGA]

I'm pretty sure your local Wal-Mart will continue to carry crapper UK knock-off items.

 

[jameslee32]

This is another rich boy flexing their muscles at the expense of the little guy. The Amazonation of retail. Free-market capitalism likely with help from Frankfort and Indianapolis.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

I was at Kennedy's Bookstore yesterday on campus and was told something rather interesting by the store manager. She said, starting in January, that all stores in Kentucky will only be able to sell the same exact UK gear and only by two vendors. Those two vendors are to be Nike, of course, and JAmerica. She was pretty unhappy about the arrangement and I asked her what it would mean for local merchants such as Wildcat Wearhouse and others that print their own UK shirt/sweatshirt designs, etc. She just said it would probably be very bad news for such places. She did say it is still possible that JAmerica may connect with some other companies such as Champion and others but there is nothing known about that at all right now. What I came away with was that it could mean the end of some local companies and maybe even some larger ones such as Fan Ourfitters and Alumni Hall as those places carry many other vendors other than Nike. For the fans, it is really bad news as we will all be limited to the exact same products being made by these two vendors, if it stays as is. Plus, not all UK fans can afford Nike prices. Just sounds like a very greedy deal UK has worked out with no concern for local companies or the fans. Any of you have some thoughts about this? Am I overreacting or do you see some of the same concerns that I do. We all buy a great deal of UK stuff as we have seen people discuss on this board in the past. I have no idea if this affects out of state online purchases at all and I didn't think to ask her about that until I had left Kennedy's. She did say it was in Kentucky that this would be happening, whatever that might mean. Thoughts?

The all-mighty dollar is king.

 

[Ben101er]

Probably to use that new crappy logo. I would guess that a lot of products, like glasses, umbrellas, lamps, golf bags, etc., would probably go away, unless it only involves in-state stores. Sucks.

 

[Rolf Russman]

Wonder if this impacts the stuff KSR sells?

 

[GonzoCat90]

It'll turn Myrtle Beach into a nudist colony.

 

[H00SIER-Cat]

Is this a new state law?

If so, will states bordering Kentucky sell the contraband gear creating a Smokey and the Bandit scenario?

 

[WildcatDJ]

The all-mighty dollar is king.

Only if WE continue to allow it.

 

[Mashburned]

I was at Kennedy's Bookstore yesterday on campus and was told something rather interesting by the store manager. She said, starting in January, that all stores in Kentucky will only be able to sell the same exact UK gear and only by two vendors. Those two vendors are to be Nike, of course, and JAmerica. She was pretty unhappy about the arrangement and I asked her what it would mean for local merchants such as Wildcat Wearhouse and others that print their own UK shirt/sweatshirt designs, etc. She just said it would probably be very bad news for such places. She did say it is still possible that JAmerica may connect with some other companies such as Champion and others but there is nothing known about that at all right now. What I came away with was that it could mean the end of some local companies and maybe even some larger ones such as Fan Ourfitters and Alumni Hall as those places carry many other vendors other than Nike. For the fans, it is really bad news as we will all be limited to the exact same products being made by these two vendors, if it stays as is. Plus, not all UK fans can afford Nike prices. Just sounds like a very greedy deal UK has worked out with no concern for local companies or the fans. Any of you have some thoughts about this? Am I overreacting or do you see some of the same concerns that I do. We all buy a great deal of UK stuff as we have seen people discuss on this board in the past. I have no idea if this affects out of state online purchases at all and I didn't think to ask her about that until I had left Kennedy's. She did say it was in Kentucky that this would be happening, whatever that might mean. Thoughts?

You pretty much summed it up. BS. Just more big corporate takeover. That's the way it is with everything nowadays.

Personally, idc that much I guess. Nike gear in general has been going downhill for a while now. Just like our jerseys, the fan gear is the same exact designs and crap they give to all the nike schools, so it's all watered down and generic. I hate that. My favorite cats stuff is years old. Some of it nike, some of it not. But looks like going forward I will have fewer choices.

I'm still mad UK paid 80k to change the stupid "K", and I don't understand the reasoning at all. It has to be some licensing crap that allowed them to make more money somehow or take away money from someone, control their "brand" better.

Pay the damn players who allow you to sell all this gear.

Also, I guess this ends JLo's Throwboy Tees business? lol. GOOD. jk, but man those tshirts are awful....BUT I'm glad this is America and he can make money selling them to folks who do like them. I like buying the occasional silly t-shirt. When Cal came I bought a couple of the CALIPARI ERA shirts and still wear them to commemorate a great time in UK history.

 

[JonathanW]

Well if it weeds out some of the truly awful designs then maybe a plus.

Though I hate it for the little guys.

OR a big minus if Nike only prints their new design for us that makes the Wildcat look like the one for Kansas St. Uggghhh.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

I'm pretty sure your local Wal-Mart will continue to carry crapper UK knock-off items.

This

 

[Aike]

I have a feeling there will still be plenty of contraband floating around. Probably won't get arrested for wearing it. Yet.

 

[Wvvrn]

This just means there will be a bigger market for bootleg gear. It sucks for the smaller shops that used to sell official merchandise but the market will determine whether this is a good decision for the UK brand. Nowadays it's easy enough to get on some t shirt design websites and design your own custom UK gear (and probably cheaper than the Nike stuff too). I'm not a fan of the newer Nike merch so I probably wouldn't be buying it anyway. Also it is expensive as hell. If you own any classic merchandise that is still in good shape it could become somewhat valuable. Nike and Kroger own UK athletics brand now (I guess Nike has owned it for a while). Ultimately though I don't really care as long as we keep seeing success on the court and on the field.

TL;DR- Que sera, sera.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

I have a feeling there will still be plenty of contraband floating around. Probably won't get arrested for wearing it. Yet.

This. There's "knock off" Jordan stuff all over eBay and Amazon. Like it looks nice etc ... but it's not "Nike/ Jordan brand " it'll look very very similar but the hoodie / shirt --- it's made by like Hanes or some other random clothing company

 

[Mojocat]

I don't really care about this - my instinctive reaction to this thread is I suppose it's 2017 and we're all being conditioned to yell about cronyism, big corporate takeover, big guy crushing little guy, etc.

Shouldn't UK be allowed to control how the UK logo is used?

 

[playmorezeppelin]

I don't see how that's even legal honestly.

 

[playmorezeppelin]

I don't really care about this - my instinctive reaction to this thread is I suppose it's 2017 and we're all being conditioned to yell about cronyism, big corporate takeover, big guy crushing little guy, etc.

Shouldn't UK be allowed to control how the UK logo is used?

But you can't tell someone what they can and cannot sell. Freedom to contract.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

It'll turn Myrtle Beach into a nudist colony.

Good God, please no. Oconee County isn't far enough from that.

 

[Wallins creek Cat]

Sucks if true

 

[dckala2]

Yay monopolies?

 

[CatCall]

I can see trademarked elements (i.e. the stupid new UK) being protected but there are a ton of other things the other stores can produce that should be fine to sell.

 

[ClockCalamity]

I was at Kennedy's Bookstore yesterday on campus and was told something rather interesting by the store manager. She said, starting in January, that all stores in Kentucky will only be able to sell the same exact UK gear and only by two vendors. Those two vendors are to be Nike, of course, and JAmerica. She was pretty unhappy about the arrangement and I asked her what it would mean for local merchants such as Wildcat Wearhouse and others that print their own UK shirt/sweatshirt designs, etc. She just said it would probably be very bad news for such places. She did say it is still possible that JAmerica may connect with some other companies such as Champion and others but there is nothing known about that at all right now. What I came away with was that it could mean the end of some local companies and maybe even some larger ones such as Fan Ourfitters and Alumni Hall as those places carry many other vendors other than Nike. For the fans, it is really bad news as we will all be limited to the exact same products being made by these two vendors, if it stays as is. Plus, not all UK fans can afford Nike prices. Just sounds like a very greedy deal UK has worked out with no concern for local companies or the fans. Any of you have some thoughts about this? Am I overreacting or do you see some of the same concerns that I do. We all buy a great deal of UK stuff as we have seen people discuss on this board in the past. I have no idea if this affects out of state online purchases at all and I didn't think to ask her about that until I had left Kennedy's. She did say it was in Kentucky that this would be happening, whatever that might mean. Thoughts?

There goes ThrowboyTees, all of their stuff is custom... I guess its possible there could be a loophole for them if their website is hosted in another state.

 

[ORCAT]

I'm pretty sure your local Wal-Mart will continue to carry crapper UK knock-off items.

Not sure that's true. The way she explained it to me was stores in Kentucky would be only allowed to sell UK stuff from these two vendors. She said these other companies could not sell any UK stuff unless they are contracted by America and, so far, that hasn't happened. Guess we'll have to wait and see how this all develops after the first of the year.

 

[ORCAT]

But you can't tell someone what they can and cannot sell. Freedom to contract.

Well, all UK stuff including things like the simple name Kentucky Wildcats and UK, etc. Are trademarked and owned by UK so I guess they can tell you what you have to sell regarding their trademark. Make sense?

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Yay monopolies?

I call the thimble !

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

There goes ThrowboyTees, all of their stuff is custom... I guess its possible there could be a loophole for them if their website is hosted in another state.

The way I'm interpreting it is ThrowboyTees and such will still turn out product, it just won't be sold in stores that carry officially licensed gear w/ the official logo. The stores carrying the official stuff have probably had to sign some type of exclusive deal (kind of like an actor agrees to not represent Pepsi if he's doing work for Coke), but that won't prevent Throwboy from selling their stuff through other venues. As what's his name says, that's all in my totally worthless opinion.

 

[Mojocat]

I can see trademarked elements (i.e. the stupid new UK) being protected but there are a ton of other things the other stores can produce that should be fine to sell.

yep, that's it. You're free to make shirts and contract to sell them to whomever you want. But you can't include my trademark on your shirt unless I say it's OK.

Considering all the crap out there with UK's name and logo on it, I think it's pretty understandable that they'd want to crack down on that.

 

[Smashcat]

Something doesn't sound right. I'd like to see an official memo from UK athletics or a newspaper article talking to Barnhart, etc.

 

[poppycat]

Be like me. Quit buying. The stuff worth having isn't
worth the cost. I still have old stuff from 20 years ago.
Haven't bought any since.

P.S. I moved to Tn 30 years ago and would have to travel
too far to buy in person.......The UK stuff here is scarce.

 

[hotelblue]

there is a third vendor. i have a line of chainsaw penis wildcat gear ready to hit the shelves.

 

[ORCAT]

there is a third vendor. i have a line of chainsaw penis wildcat gear ready to hit the shelves.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

There's tons of site where you can design your own shirt etc . I've made a few Detroit lions shirts and beanies as well as UK hoodies and shirts

 

[ORCAT]

Something doesn't sound right. I'd like to see an official memo from UK athletics or a newspaper article talking to Barnhart, etc.

I'd like to find that myself. I'm just going by what Kennedy's manager told me and she seemed like she didn't like the new upcoming policy at all.

 

[brianpoe]

Sandy strikes again!

 

[DuhVille1]

I guess I will be buying a ton of stuff from out of state online stores...and KY won't be getting any of the sales tax.

 

[*CatinIL*]

Probably to use that new crappy logo. I would guess that a lot of products, like glasses, umbrellas, lamps, golf bags, etc., would probably go away, unless it only involves in-state stores. Sucks.

That's what I thought when I saw this thread

 

[StubbornPenny]

I actually posted this a good 6 months ago, though I didn't know JAmerica was involved. Yes, it put a huge crush on local UK related businesses, they're bleeding out as we speak. They can still make the Nike approved designs, but they have to pay so much it isn't really going to float them. Of course anyone can still make a blue shirt that says Kentucky in white, but there's no more locals being able to purchase an official apparel license. Definitely a Nike power play. I'm not a fan of it personally. I can't imagine it'd be only in Kentucky, I'm sure it's a world wide thing.