Kingston -- 1 Nov. 2006 --- Cricket fans are already eagerly buying up their ICC Cricket World Cup memorabilia with the roll-out of Event merchandise worldwide.
 
A diversity of items including handmade dolls, teddy bears, tournament pins, key rings, plastic mugs, branded cricket gear, beach towels, cushions and a wide assortment of apparel are now available from Official licensees and selected retailers in the nine Host Venues and in various countries internationally.
 
ICC CWC 2007 Project Officer - Licensing & Merchandising (L & M), Stephanie Campbell, says the response to the Official merchandise has already been overwhelming with fans across the globe asking where they can purchase the CWC 2007 items which come in three lines - Event Logo and Mascot (Mello); Team Logos (for all 16 Participating Nations) and Host Venues (e.g. combination of a Host Venue flag and the Event Logo).
 
"Everyone is very impressed with and excited by the quality and range of items which the L & M Programme is showcasing. A number of Caribbean businesses have signed up as Official Licensees and - along with our international licensees - are providing a vibrant array of Cricket World Cup products for sale.
 
"Of course, the apparel is proving very popular and we're seeing more and more people sporting CWC shirts, caps and other clothing. Fans are definitely impressed with the designs and the creativity which has been exhibited by manufacturers, both regionally and internationally."
 
Within recent months, two Caribbean companies - Sun Island Jamaica Limited in Jamaica and Sports & Games Limited in Trinidad & Tobago - have started manufacturing and selling apparel. In addition, they are supplying a number of retail operations within the region.
 
Sports & Games Operations Manager, Martin Hatem, said that getting involved in the L & M Programme was a natural segue for that company which previously produced West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) merchandise.
 
"This is the biggest event ever to come to the Caribbean and we felt it would be an excellent opportunity to market ourselves and that, considering our network throughout the region, we would be beneficial to the Cricket World Cup because of our links," he said, listing apparel and other traditional souvenirs among their inventory.
 
GOOD RESPONSE

Sports & Games has had "very good response" to their apparel line from Trinidad & Tobago retailers as well as from Saint Lucia. Hatem anticipates increased business following the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.
 
"Interest is growing and attention will turn to the Cricket World Cup after the Champions Trophy. With the West Indies showing they will be a force to be reckoned with next year, I think all the other countries in the region are going to get 'hot' with excitement and we will see even greater demand," he declared.
 
"This Event will be a success. People are coming because this is cricket and this is the Caribbean - and we are happy to be involved."
 
Meanwhile, Chairman of Sun Island, Ray Miles Sr., says they have received "very positive feedback" thus far and are looking to keep interest high "from now right through to the tournament".
 
"It's an exciting business venture for us, especially to be able to manufacture our products right here in the Caribbean. We have been working on this for the past year and we are very pleased that we got ICC approval in time for our launch at the Jamaica Manufacturers' Expo earlier this year.
 
"The vibrant Cricket World Cup colours give a true Caribbean look to the apparel line and we will have an even greater variety of items as we draw closer to the Event," he stated, adding that the company's website will be up and running shortly, showing its full range of merchandise.
 
Miles added that retailers in the Eastern Caribbean are happy to be able to source regional products which qualify for duty-free concessions under CARICOM. His son and the company's Managing Director, Raymond Miles Jr., has been introducing Sun Island's merchandise to retailers in Barbados, Grenada and St. Lucia as part of the marketing mission to penetrate each Host Venue.
 
To date, merchandise is available internationally in Australia, South Africa and the UK. Many fans have also been busy making online order at www.cricshop.com. By next March, there will be greater online choice with the launch of the ICC CWC 2007 retail store. For updates on this please check www.cricketworldcup.com.