Golf hero Fitzy puts firm right up there
MANCHESTER-BASED COMPANY SPONSORS NEW BRITISH SENSATION
SPORTWEAR brand Castore has hailed the exposure from Matt Fitzpatrick’s US Open win as a priceless boost that will help supercharge the brand’s expansion across the Atlantic.
Co-founder Tom Beahon said England’s new golf superstar can help the brand crack America.
He also revealed the Manchester-based company could welcome new outside investment in the next six months and said he and his brother Phil, with whom he set up the business, are keeping an open mind over whether to go public.
Mr Beahon also lifted the lid on how 2022 has been for Castore so far, its main challenges and upping its job creation expectations from 150 to 200 by the end of the year. Matt Fitzpatrick’s famous win at the US Open comes only a few months after Castore signed a partnership deal with the two-time Ryder Cup player.
He made his debut as a Castore athlete at the first golf major of the year, The Masters.
Mr Beahon said: “It was an absolutely phenomenal performance by Matt. To win the US Open, which is one of the most prestigious tournaments in golf and is watched by millions of people all over the world. For him to be wearing Castore is firstly a privilege for us.
“It is also a massive opportunity for us to expand our brand, not just in the US, but globally. We get live updates of how our websites are performing and we’ve seen a significant increase in traffic even in the 12 hours since Matt won.
“That performance gives you the kind of brand equity that, frankly, money can’t buy. The images from that performance are going to be shown for decades to come and that will give us a huge amount of momentum.”
He added: “Priceless would be a fair way to describe it, really.
“If you look at any of the major sportswear brands in our market, the brands that Castore is trying to disrupt, they all have partnerships with world-class athletes who win the biggest tournaments.
“It’s very difficult for anyone to break into that small global elite but Castore is making a real challenge and moments like this are huge steps on our journey.
When he signed up in March, Fitzpatrick joined a growing list of Castore athletes and partners including Adam Peaty, Owen Farrell, Jos Buttler, McLaren Formula 1, Glasgow Rangers, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and England Cricket.