While it’s hard for UConn players and fans to sleep, in anticipation of this weekend’s Final Four games, there’s one business owner, who’s trying to catch as many winks as possible in preparation.
Powers Ink, a Branford screen printing, embroidery and promotional products company, has been a UConn licensee since 1978, long before the UConn brand was, well, a brand.
“Some years, we are one of their bigger royalty payers,” said Dennis Powers, owner. “Depending on what the teams do and how far they go.”
If the dynamic dogs duo does come up aces, for the second time in 10 years, Powers’ presses will roll out roughly 3,000 shirts an hour. And, that could be non-stop printing for a week straight.
Powers reminds fans purchasing merchandise that the only way to guarantee you’re purchasing authentic, quality products is to look for a hologram tag or sticker on the item. UConn will have security looking for counterfeits, statewide.
“UConn hires a company out of Georgia, which is called a collegiate licensing company, and what they do in turn is send people to Connecticut to look for the infringements,” said Powers
If either or both teams reach the title game, Powers says his company’s presses will set up at halftime and rea
In a typical year, UConn’s athletic merchandising royalties come in at about $500,000. But, when both the men and women won titles, in 2004, the school’s take was double that. Also in that year, roughly $10 million in championship merchandise was sold, most by Connecticut retailers.