Castore adds another Newcastle United store

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Feb 15, 2022

True to its word, Castore’s physical retail expansion continues with plans to open of a standalone store in the MetroCentre in Newcastle for the ambitious sportswear brand.

It will become the second store in the city as the brand, which signed a major multi-year footfall kit deal with Premiership team Newcastle United last summer, adds to its store at the St James’ Park stadium.

Co-founder, Tom Beahon said the opening comes “after a successful few months trading in the new Stadium Store at St James’ Park” with Castore “very excited to expand our Newcastle United retail portfolio.”

Since signing the kit deal, Newcastle United has come under new ownership and management and the team’s improving form and climb up the league table is expected to bolster sales. The shop’s presence at a major mall underlines the importance of these kit deals to the wider athleisure market rather than just to the club fan base.

Castore has complete control of the club’s lucrative retail arm, launching a much wider range of merchandise than previously available. Consumers are able to buy the same quality Castore shirts that the players wear and the wider offer also includes lifestyle clothing, retro kits as well as limited edition and match shirts. 

In addition to the new MetroCentre retail unit, Castore now has 13 stores throughout the UK, including a flagship on London’s King’s Road. It  plans to open a further 15 sites in 2022 including in Scotland and on Merseyside with international plans further down the line to open stores in New York, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo.

Castore, which wants to “disrupt a market dominated by a handful of global brands”, launched its first footfall partnership with Rangers FC in 2020 and now includes Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and, most recently German Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Sponsorship/ kit deals also side McLaren Formula 1 and England Cricket and various rugby teams. 

Castore is also partnered with a number of top-tier athletes, including Grand Slam tennis champion Andy Murray, England Rugby Union captain, Owen Farrell, England cricketer, Jos Buttler, and multiple gold medal winning Olympic swimmer and world record holder, Adam Peaty. 

It also said it expects to partner with “five leading [football] clubs across Europe for the 2022/23 season”, so expect more announcements to follow within 12 months.