The Spread Group continues its mission to drive sustainable innovations by partnering with biotech start-up Living Ink. The goal is to reduce the use of petrochemicals in our products and promote environmentally friendly alternatives.
Living Ink is a pioneer in developing sustainable algae technologies to create products free of petroleum derivatives that even have a negative CO2 footprint. A groundbreaking innovation is their Algae Black™, a black pigment derived from algae that offers a safe and eco-friendly alternative to conventional screen-printing inks.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Living Ink and use their algae-based ink in our products,” says Julian de Grahl, CEO of the Spread Group. “The partnership allows us to offer our customers high-quality products that are not only durable but also make a positive contribution to the environment.”
As the start of this collaboration, Spread Group sponsored crew shirts for the MACHN Festival in Leipzig last year as a test. Due to the positive feedback, the company will present more shirts with the CO2-negative ink at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals in June this year. However, the ink can be used not only on textiles but also, for example, on cardboard, highlighting its versatility. In addition to Spread Group, renowned brands like Adidas, Nike, and Patagonia have also used Living Ink’s innovative color. Their Algae Ink™ products are sustainable and also characterized by their resistance to UV light and their high color density.
“Our goal is to revolutionize the fashion and merchandise sector by integrating eco-friendly technologies like those from Living Ink,” says de Grahl. “Through our partnership, we want to support young companies dedicated to innovation and sustainability.”
The Vision Behind xdeck
Markus Gick: xdeck is Germany’s first early-stage venture platform, created by founders for founders. Our accelerator program was initiated by Cologne entrepreneur Dr. Oliver Steinki. Together with his FOND OF co-founders Florian Michajlezko and Sven-Oliver Pink, he established xdeck in 2019 to systematically foster entrepreneurial experience, expertise, and networks in the next generation of
entrepreneurs. xdeck is currently run by Dr. Markus Gick and Dr. Robert Günther who are the managing partners.
Supporting B2B Tech Startups
Markus Gick: Early-stage B2B tech startups are supported with a focus on software-based process automation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability technology. Our partner network consists of best-in-class companies, experienced founders, mentors, and experts from various fields. These partners train startups in a tailored 3 ½ month program, held twice a year.
To date, we have supported 74 startups and are privately financed. Since 2021, our platform has been complemented by the xdeck ventures venture capital fund, which has invested in 14 companies. The company is headquartered in the SHIP in Cologne, one of Germany’s most digital office buildings. As a Managing Partner, my goal is to build up the best network for our accelerator and find the best startups for our venture capital fund. We embrace the startup spirit and work with startups, partners, and investors on an equal level. Our goal is to become the leading B2B-Tech platform in Europe.
xdeck’s Achievements So Far
Markus Gick: As a newcomer, we have quickly established xdeck as a B2B-Tech platform for innovative companies. We attract national and international startups to both our accelerator and venture capital fund. I am especially proud that we are a startup ourselves, offering highly personalized support. We provide operational assistance for startups with a focus on specific, measurable impact. We are currently scouting for our 10th batch—look how far we’ve come!
Without our partners, xdeck would not be possible. Apart from McKinsey, Kienbaum, and Igus, we always have top-tier partners in our network to help with every issue a startup faces. We especially value our partnership with Spread Group, our official merchandise partner. Our cool hoodies are loved by our team and particularly our founders.
Robin Nitsch: The journey of Spread Group started in 2002 with the launch of Spreadshirt, the first e-commerce startup for on-demand printed t-shirts. For more than 20 years, we have evolved into one of the largest on-demand platforms for personalized fashion and merchandise products. With the addition of several more business fields and new brands, Spread Group is now transforming into a global leader in fashion tech and made-to-order e-commerce.
For us, fashion tech is a key technology to accelerate this growth. Therefore, we are observing the market and searching for new, exciting, and promising opportunities to invest in forward-thinking, young businesses in this area. To this end, we have established our own venture fund, Spreadventures. Robin, our Head of Venture Investments, is responsible for accompanying this transformation and initiating and developing suitable partnerships.
(Photo: Julian Wiedenhaus) – We’re happy to even share an amazing discount code with you. Use XDECK-PARTNER-2024 for 20 % off!
The Spread Group and xdeck Collaboration
Markus Gick: Since the beginning of our partnership, we’ve facilitated a deal flow exchange leading to an introduction to Saiz, which resulted in an investment from Spread Ventures. Additionally, Spread has enabled us to provide merchandise solutions for startups.
Our collaborative efforts extended to organizing a joint kicker tournament for our local startup community with TK, where we handed out our ‘We merch together’ shirts. One of our priorities is to connect founders with other founders, VCs, and corporates to foster opportunities for the exchange of experience, funding, and pilot projects.
Robin Nitsch: The partnership with xdeck is very valuable for us, as it gives us an opportunity to connect with startups on a regular basis. xdeck supports us in finding young companies that are a good fit for us to invest in. The most successful partnership enabled through xdeck is SAIZ, which we have been supporting since the end of 2022. SAIZ is a female-led size advisor business dedicated to delivering the most accurate size predictions and analytics, benefiting both customers and businesses.
SAIZ completed xdeck’s acceleration program, gaining the best foundations for success through an individually tailored process. Soon after, Spreadventures came on board as a lead investor, continuously supporting their development with our extensive e-commerce know-how. We even see potential to implement SAIZ as a sizing solution on our platforms. Therefore, SAIZ is a continuing success story for both xdeck and Spread Group.
Markus Gick: Moreover, we have been able to recommend our partnership to other players in the entrepreneurial realm, such as between RHIVE and Spread. In Spread, we found a corporate partner that not only supports our founders but also aids in our personal team building. Stay tuned for content from Rock am Ring 😉
Spread Group, a leading provider of customizable merchandise, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest collection featuring beloved characters from the iconic anime series “NARUTO” and its acclaimed sequel “NARUTO SHIPPUDEN”. With an extensive range of products including hoodies, sweatshirts as well as t-shirts and more, the new collection is set to delight fans of all ages.
Drawing inspiration from the vibrant world of “NARUTO” and “NARUTO SHIPPUDEN,” this collection offers a fusion of captivating motifs from the anime series alongside festive Christmas designs, adding a touch of holiday cheer to the lineup. From action-packed scenes to adorable character illustrations, each item in the collection is meticulously crafted to capture the essence of the beloved franchise.
“We’re incredibly excited to unveil our newest addition to the Spreadshirt portfolio – the ‘NARUTO’ merchandise collection,” said Julian de Grahl, CEO at Spread Group. “Our ‘NARUTO’ hoodies, sweatshirts, and shirts are designed to celebrate the spirit of the series while offering fans a fashionable way to express their fandom. We are thrilled to bring these iconic designs to life and provide fans with high-quality apparel that they’ll love to wear wherever they go.”
The collection features a diverse array of products, including:
- Trendy Shirts: Crafted from high-quality materials, these shirts boast eye-catching designs that showcase iconic scenes and characters from “NARUTO SHIPPUDEN.” Whether a die-hard fan or simply appreciate stylish apparel, these shirts are sure to make a statement.
- Vibrant Hoodies: Boasting bold prints and vibrant colors, the “NARUTO” hoodies serve as the ultimate statement piece for fans of the series. From action-packed battle scenes to intricate character portraits, each hoodie features eye-catching artwork that captures the essence of “NARUTO”. Designed for both warmth and style, these hoodies are perfect for layering during cooler weather or making a statement at conventions and events.
- Cool Sweatshirts: For those seeking a more casual yet equally stylish option, the “NARUTO” sweatshirts offer the perfect blend of comfort and fandom. With their soft, cozy fabric and striking designs, these sweatshirts are ideal for lounging at home, running errands, or hanging out with friends. Whether you prefer minimalist graphics or bold prints, there’s a “NARUTO” sweatshirt to suit every taste and personality.
The inclusion of Christmas-themed motifs adds an extra layer of excitement to the collection, making it the perfect choice for holiday gifts and seasonal celebrations. With its blend of nostalgia, creativity, and quality craftsmanship, the “NARUTO” merchandise collection is sure to be a hit among fans old and new. The hoodies and sweatshirts will keep you warm coming Winter!
The new collection is now available for purchase on the Spread Group website, offering fans the opportunity to add a touch of “NARUTO” magic to their everyday lives. For more information and to explore the full range of products, please click here and here.
About Spread Group: Spread Group is a global provider of customized fashion and lifestyle products. With the brands SPREAD, Spreadshirt, Teamshirts, Spreadshop and SpreadLive, Spread Group offers consumers, companies, and content creators digital services for the individualization of fashion and lifestyle products. The common basis of all Spread Group service offerings is a flexible software platform that enables deep vertical integrations along the value chain. This includes not only product design, marketing and sales via marketplaces and online stores, but also production, payment processing, worldwide shipping and customer service.
The made-to-order pioneer founded in 2002, in Leipzig, Germany, now operates four production sites in the U.S. and Europe and has annual revenues of over 175 million Euros. In 2022, Spread Group manufactured on demand more than 10 million products for customers in over 170 countries.
© 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO
© 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.
Hamburg-based association Laut gegen Nazis e.V. launches the “Fashion against Fascism” initiative together with Zalando and Spread Group.
- World’s largest database of coded far-right language launched with the support of Jung von Matt and other agencies
- The open source initiative collects right-wing extremist codes in order to actively combat their dissemination
- New powerful tool for online fashion platforms to keep Nazi codes off their marketplaces
- Partners across the German fashion industry who already joined the initiative include ABOUT YOU, Avocadostore, BAUR, bevh, bonprix, Fast Forward, Underpressure and Vinted
Following the globally acclaimed “Recht gegen Rechts” campaign, Hamburg-based association Laut gegen Nazis e.V. is taking the next step in the fight against the spread of far-right codes in collaboration with Jung von Matt. Together with co-initiators Zalando and Spread Group and other partners from the fashion industry such as ABOUT YOU, Avocadostore, BAUR, bevh, bonprix, Fast Forward, Underpressure and Vinted they are launching the new “Fashion against Fascism” initiative. The aim: to create the largest online database for Nazi codes in order to curb the spread of right-wing extremist messages in the fashion industry. With posts on social media and on the campaign site fashionagainstfascism.com the initiative calls on the participation of the global fashion industry.
What’s behind the database?
The current database consists of almost 200 codes that are being used by far-right extremists to spread hate in society. This database is curated and constantly updated with insider information and anonymous user input on new emerging Nazi codes. Thanks to an API (Application Programming Interface), the database can be used by any brand that joins the initiative against the spread of far- right codes. A web crawler makes it easy for brands to check whether such codes are spreading through their own online marketplace without them knowing it.
More attention for the “Fashion against Fascism” campaign
The idea for the campaign was developed by the Berlin advertising agency Jung von Matt and is the follow-up to the successful “rights against the right” campaign. It was supported by 02100 Digital, responsible for programming the database solution, and the Berlin branch of the Swedish communications agency Redgert Comms. Together with Laut gegen Nazis e.V., the agencies are contributing pro bono in order to counter the rise of far-right ideologies in Germany, against which hundreds of thousands of people are currently demonstrating nationwide.
Jörn Menge, chairman Laut gegen Nazis e.V. explains:
“Experience from the ‘rights against the right’ campaign has shown that trademark law also reaches its limits in the fight against Nazis. But we aren’t satisfied with that. Where the legislator is not able to act sufficiently against the spread of right-wing extremist hate messages, we are now doing something. We also want to motivate other players in the fashion industry to get involved to help to create a safe environment for everyone.”
How Zalando, Spread Group, ABOUT YOU and Vinted use the new database
“Zalando stands for diversity, inclusion, respect and openness. The ‘Fashion against Fascism’ initiative is a valuable addition to the strict product, content and brand guidelines we already have in place. Integrating the data from this new open source database into our systems will allow us to more actively combat right-wing extremism and its ever-changing symbols on our platform. We hope that our initial alliance with other players in the fashion industry will continue to grow in order to send a clear signal against right-wing extremist ideas. Only together can we prevent products with questionable imprints from being distributed or sold,” explains Pascal Brun, Vice President Sustainability and Diversity & Inclusion at Zalando.
The mechanics work in a similar way at Spread Group. The global provider of individualized fashion and lifestyle products is expanding its existing database in this way. This will make it even more difficult to print garments with Nazi codes from now on. “As an open platform, we defined community standards a long time ago and established review processes to exclude discriminatory or inflammatory content. A larger team uses a multi-stage, software-supported review process to ensure that anti- democratic motifs or texts are not published and produced on our platform in the first place. The ‘Fashion against Fascism’ initiative helps us to join forces to prevent the spread of right-wing extremist symbols and to react automatically and on a daily basis to newly developed symbols. Our support for the open source database demonstrates our commitment to finding innovative ways to actively combat hate and discrimination,” says Julian de Grahl, CEO of the Spread Group.
“ABOUT YOU Group employs around 1500 colleagues from 77 different nationalities. For this reason alone, diversity is deeply rooted in our corporate culture. It is fundamental for us to take our corporate responsibility seriously, not only in relation to our colleagues, but also towards society. We firmly believe that collaboration and transparency are the keys to drive change throughout the industry. That’s why we support the idea of the new open source database and hope that many more companies will join the initiative,” says Tarek Müller, co-founder and co-CEO of the ABOUT YOU Group.
Adam Jay, CEO Vinted Marketplace adds: “We’re committed to making the Vinted platform a safe environment for every member of our community. This includes extensive policies and tools to prevent the dissemination of content associated with fascist ideologies. In line with this commitment, we fully support the initiative ‘Fashion again Fascism’, recognising the collective responsibility of online fashion marketplaces to help mitigate right extremism.“
About Laut gegen Nazis e.V.
The Laut gegen Nazis e.V. association has been fighting for our democracy and freedom for 20 years with initiatives, concert tours and protest actions. In the process, many campaigns have been launched, such as “Recht gegen Rechts”, which have raised awareness among millions of people worldwide. The association’s biggest supporters include Die Fantastischen Vier, Die Sportfreunde Stiller, Peter Lohmeyer and Culcha Candela.
About Zalando
Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is building the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce around two growth vectors: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to- Business (B2B). In B2C, we offer an inspiring and quality multi-brand shopping experience for fashion and lifestyle products to about 50 million active customers in 25 markets. In B2B, we are using our logistic infrastructure, software and service capabilities to help brands and retailers run and scale their entire e-commerce business, on or off Zalando. As an ecosystem, Zalando aims to enable positive change for the fashion and lifestyle industry.
About Spread Group
Spread Group is a global provider of individualized fashion and lifestyle products. With the brands Spreadshirt, Teamshirts, Spreadshop and SPREAD, it offers consumers, companies and content creators digital services for the individualization of fashion and lifestyle products. The common basis for all of the Spread Group’s services is a flexible software platform that enables deep vertical integration along the value chain. This includes not only product design, marketing and sales via marketplaces and online stores, but also production, payment processing, global shipping and customer service. With the Fashion Tech Fund Spread Ventures, Spread Group makes targeted investments in young technology companies that share Spread Group’s vision of more sustainable fashion production or distribution. The made-to-order pioneer was founded in Leipzig in 2002 and today operates four production facilities in the USA and Europe. In 2022, Spread Group manufactured over ten million products to order for customers in more than 170 countries and generated sales of more than 175 million euros.
Press contact
Mayra Koziollek, Spread Group
t: +49 173 599 4108
Frank Bartelt is joining Spread Group, the leading global supplier of personalized fashion and lifestyle products, as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, he will focus on further optimization of customer-centered processes, new technologies, and a large-scale expansion of the product range.
The aim is to tap into potential new scaling opportunities, as well as continuing to improve product quality and investing in new finishing techniques. Frank Bartelt hopes to expand tech-based solutions at market leader Spread Group and invest more in areas such as automation and robotics on the operations side.
The qualified economist is joining the organization after a four-year stint as COO of Picanova (The Customization Group). He previously spent over seven years in managerial roles at online fashion retailer Zalando. Inspired by Spread Group’s background and the vision of its founders, he hopes to contribute his industry experience to aspects such as scaling and sustainability.
Frank Bartelt on his new role as COO at Spread Group:
“Operations is responsible for the lion’s share of value creation, playing a key role in Spread Group’s growth and development. The Group has huge potential. To enhance this further, I want to boost the tech element, invest in new finishing technologies, and ensure quality continues to improve in all processes involving the customer.”
Spread Group-CEO Dr. Julian de Grahl explains:
“In Frank Bartelt, Spread Group is bringing on board a wealth of expertise to help grow our operations. In his previous roles in the industry, he’s shown he’s capable of creating significant momentum to drive agile company growth, with a focus on tech innovations and a service-based approach. This ethos is also aligned with our corporate philosophy. We look forward to working together to develop Spread Group along this track.”
About Spread Group
Spread Group is a global supplier of personalized fashion and lifestyle products. With the brands Spreadshirt, Teamshirts, Spreadshop and SPREAD, it provides consumers, organizations and content creators with digital services for personalizing fashion and lifestyle products.
All Spread Group services share a common foundation: a flexible software platform enabling significant vertical integration along the value chain. In addition to everything from product design, sales and marketing to marketplaces and online shops, this also includes production, payment processing, global shipping and customer service.
With fashion tech fund Spread Ventures, Spread Group makes targeted investment in new tech companies who share its vision for more sustainable production and distribution in the fashion industry.
The made-to-order pioneer was founded in Leipzig in 2002 and now operates four production sites in the US and Europe. In 2022, Spread Group made over 10 million products to order for customers in over 170 countries, notching up revenues of over €175 million.
www.spreadyourstyle.com
www.spreadshirt.com/
www.spreadshop.com
www.spread.ventures
Press representative
Nora Kulling, Spread Group
t: +49 160 98615695
Leading global supplier of personalized fashion and lifestyle products Spread Group has appointed Ferdinand von Humboldt as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Humboldt’s key responsibilities will include continuing to strengthen Spread Group’s financial power and capacity for innovation and implementing a corporate strategy focused on growth, innovation and verticalization alongside the leadership team.
Ferdinand von Humboldt brings to the Group many years of operational and strategic experience in finance. His career has taken him from strategic consultancy Roland Berger and a management buy-out of a former Zalando subsidiary to CFO roles with global tech and service companies.
His future objectives include creating the necessary financial conditions to implement the corporate strategy developed under Spread Group CEO Dr. Julian de Grahl. Another aim is to drive expansion of new business areas Lifestyle & Fashion (www.spreadyourstyle.com), B2B & Corporate Merchandise (www.teamshirts.de and www.gomula.com) and Sports & Live Entertainment (including “Rock am Ring” and “Rock im Park”). Conducting further M&A activities and expanding Spread Ventures (www.spread.ventures) are among the other items waiting in his in-tray.
Ferdinand von Humboldt on his appointment:
“I’ve known of Spread Group since my time studying business at what is now HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. In 2002, Spread Group was Germany’s most innovative and disruptive start-up success story. I’d now like to drawn on my expertise to help boost Spread Group’s focus on its original DNA, marked by innovation and disruption.”
Spread Group-CEO Dr. Julian de Grahl explains:
“We’re delighted to further strengthen our leadership team with the arrival of Ferdinand von Humboldt. Over the past year, we’ve already added a great deal of industry experience in the shape of Lothar Reiff and Frederik Brakel. Ferdinand’s strong background in corporate finance will help us move further ahead with implementation of our strategic initiatives. We look forward to Ferdinand’s active input and strategic expertise in this area.”
About Spread Group
Spread Group is a global supplier of personalized fashion and lifestyle products. With the brands Spreadshirt, Teamshirts, Spreadshop and SPREAD, it provides consumers, organizations and content creators with digital services for personalizing fashion and lifestyle products.
All Spread Group services share a common foundation: a flexible software platform enabling significant vertical integration along the value chain. In addition to everything from product design, sales and marketing to marketplaces and online shops, this also includes production, payment processing, global shipping and customer service.
With fashion tech fund Spread Ventures, Spread Group makes targeted investment in new tech companies who share its vision for more sustainable production and distribution in the fashion industry.
The made-to-order pioneer was founded in Leipzig in 2002 and now operates four production sites in the US and Europe. In 2022, Spread Group made over 10 million products to order for customers in over 170 countries, notching up revenues of over €175 million.
www.spreadyourstyle.com
www.spreadshirt.com/
www.spreadshop.com
www.spread.ventures
Press representative
Nora Kulling, Spread Group
t: +49 (0)341 594 00 5381
Next Gen Fashion Tech Brings Customisable Merch to #G2Army
G2 Esports is bringing made-to-order merch to its teams’ supporters with Spread Group’s cutting edge print-on-demand technology. The worldwide licensing deal includes G2 Esports and their mascot G2 Sam. Merch will also be available on Amazon.
G2 Esports’ 40m-strong community can now enhance its sense of belonging with customisable clothing. Players compete in League of Legends, VALORANT, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, Fortnite and Sim Racing.
Made-to-order merch means the #G2Army can choose a style, fit and colour to suit them, within their esport’s brand guidelines. Spread Group’s global reach means G2 Esports can connect with its worldwide community with this offering. It is the top most talked about and watched esports club with over 50% of its fans in EMEA.
Fans can celebrate the skill and professionalism of their favorite team and players with delightful items like a team poster, hoodie or beanie. Plus G2 Sami features too, with Many Moods of Sami on t-shirts and other merch.
Supporters can buy via Spreadshirt, or have the option to buy direct from Amazon, where customisation will also be possible.
Sven Burscher, Spread Group’s Head of Licensing said:
“Made-to-order merch is a perfect fit for gaming and esports. Pro and amateur gamers, along with their fans, can develop their sense of community with team merch. Print-on-demand makes customisation possible, so everyone get an item they are proud to wear.”
He continues:
“Made-to-order also has impressive sustainability credentials as nothing is created until it is ordered. This reduces waste and because consumers are invested in their order, and their team, the returns are very low; below 2%. It offers gamers, fans and brands a new, sustainable aspect merch”.
Full list of products:
T-Shirts, Long Sleeves Shirts, Hoodies, Sweat-Shirts, Zip Hoodies, College Jackets, Drawstring Bags, Tote Bags, Drawstring Bags, Shoulder Bags, Waist Bags, Mugs, Water Bottles, Lunch Boxes, Stickers, Caps, Beanies, Hats, Pillowcases, Posters, Magnets, Coasters, Trousers (leggings)
Full list of brands and links: https://bit.ly/3PUybcL
Download-Link Pictures:
About G2 Esports
G2 is the most entertaining esports organization in the world – end of discussion. Known for having the best players and rosters, the company has dominated the global stage since its inception in 2015, securing countless major tournament victories, several industry awards and exciting partnership collaborations in the process. Entertainment is the essence of everything G2 does, with the esports brand rated number one for social engagement through multiple regions worldwide.
During its eight years of domination, G2 has built a global fanbase of over 40 million fans spanning EMEA, North America, Asia and Latin America. Boasting an Instagram following of 1.3 million and Twitter followers in excess of 1.2 million, the G2 community follows every twist and turn of the most captivating stories created by the organization within the esports scene and beyond.
International household name brands are increasingly recognising the opportunities that esports can offer to tap into an engaged new audience and are partnering with G2 as a credible way to be part of this movement. G2 currently counts the likes of Logitech, Red Bull, Herman Miller, Oakley, Ralph Lauren, Jägermeister and Mastercard amongst its strategic commercial partners.
Over 150 players, content creators, and employees are at the heart of G2, taking the team from an esports brand at its core to a global, recognisable, lifestyle and entertainment brand.
More information is available at: https://g2esports.com
About Spread Group
Spread Group is a global provider of customized fashion and lifestyle products. With the brands SPREAD, Spreadshirt, Teamshirts and Spreadshop, Spread Group offers consumers, companies, and content creators digital services for the individualization of fashion and lifestyle products. The common basis of all Spread Group service offerings is a flexible software platform that enables deep vertical integrations along the value chain. This includes not only product design, marketing and sales via marketplaces and online stores, but also production, payment processing, worldwide shipping and customer service. The made-to-order pioneer founded in 2002, in Leipzig, Germany, now operates four production sites in the U.S. and Europe and has annual revenues of over 175 million Euros. Spread Group has more than 20 million customers in over 170 countries.
Press Contact
Nora Kulling, Spread Group
t: +49 (0)341 594 00 5381
Next Gen Merch: Sustainability and a Sense of Belonging within Brand Guidelines
Leipzig/London, 13th September 2023 – Over 20 brand names under Hasbro Licensed Consumer Products will become available on the next generation fashion platform, Spreadshirt. By adding this impressive new signing, Spread Group – the parent company of Spreadshirt – looks to exceed expectations in 2023.
The deal will cover brands from PEPPA PIG and MONOPOLY to DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, in addition to the newly beloved BLYTHE, featured alongside all-time favourites MR. POTATO HEAD and MY LITTLE PONY.
There’s even something for the tabletop gaming lover too. As DUNGEONS & DRAGONS came to the big screen, Hasbro will offer Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves merchandise via Spread Group. MAGIC: THE GATHERING will also benefit from customisable styles.
Fans will be able to choose from MONOPOLY umbrellas, Transformers: EarthSpark ‘Unity is Power’ caps and G.I. JOE sweatshirts. Additionally, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS fans can emblazon their hoodies with the maxim ‘Fight Tyranny, Defend the Oppressed, Ask Nothing in Return.
Sven Burscher, Spread Group’s Head of Licensing said:
“Choosing their own styles offers fans a new aspect to their merch. Our made-to-order technology impresses Gen Z with its sustainability credentials. Being able to tweak their item gives fans a strong sense of loyalty to the brands they love. It can also all be done within the brand merch guidelines. We’re delighted to be working with Hasbro to bring this merchandise to market”.
Sustainability is an increasingly important element in merchandising deals. Underpinning Spread Group’s offering to brands is its print-on-demand technology. This reduces waste because no item is printed until it is ordered. So, there’s no overstocking or discarded sizes. It also brings down the likelihood of returns, as customers invest in a style and size to suit them.
Hasbro brands already available at Spread Group include:
- PEPPA PIG
- TRANSFORMERS
- My little Pony
- Power Rangers
- Furby
- DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
- Magic The Gathering
- Monopoly
- PJ Masks
Additional Links:
About Hasbro
Hasbro is a leading toy and game company whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers engaging brand experiences for global audiences through toys, consumer products, gaming and entertainment, with a portfolio of iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands.
Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com.
About Spread Group
Spread Group is a global provider of customized fashion and lifestyle products. With the brands SPREAD, Spreadshirt, Teamshirts and Spreadshop, Spread Group offers consumers, companies, and content creators digital services for the individualization of fashion and lifestyle products. The common basis of all Spread Group service offerings is a flexible software platform that enables deep vertical integrations along the value chain. This includes not only product design, marketing and sales via marketplaces and online stores, but also production, payment processing, worldwide shipping and customer service. The made-to-order pioneer founded in 2002, in Leipzig, Germany, now operates four production sites in the U.S. and Europe and has annual revenues of over 175 million Euros. Spread Group has more than 20 million customers in over 170 countries.
Press Contact
Nora Kulling, Spread Group
t: +49 (0)341 594 00 5381
TeamShirts becomes the official jersey sponsor of the Handball-Bundesliga team SC DHfK Leipzig. With the beginning of the 2023/24 season, the teamwear supplier from Leipzig will take over the production and the printing of the DHfK handball team’s apparel.
The new jersey for the upcoming 2023/24 season, featuring the TeamShirts logo on its sleeves, was unveiled at the SC DHfK Leipzig Media Day on Friday, July 14. Starting today, the green and white jerseys will be available in the online shop at www.scdhfk-handball.de/fanshop. Fans can also equip themselves with merchandise to support their team from the stands or from home, keeping with the TeamShirts motto “There’s a team behind the shirts”.
In the “decade of handball”, TeamShirts is excited about the collaborative partnership with SC DHfK and the opportunity to promote handball and give it visibility. At the same time, the cooperation helps the e-commerce company grow in the areas of performance team wear and merchandising
Here’s the official trailer jersey.
Im „Jahrzehnts des Handballs“ freut sich TeamShirts über die partnerschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mit dem SC DHfK und die Gelegenheit, den Handballsport zu fördern und diesem mehr Sichtbarkeit zu verleihen. Gleichzeitig verhilft die Kooperation dem eCommerce-Unternehmen in den Bereichen Performance Teamwear und Merchandising weiter zu wachsen.
Elmar Kühner, Director of TeamShirts:
“At SC DHfK’s matches, there is a phenomenal atmosphere: the team performs at its best and stands united, while the fans are fully engaged. It’s contagious and exactly what we stand for – team spirit and quality.”
Karsten Günther, Managing Director SC DHfK Handball:
“This collaboration is a true milestone in our development, which benefits our members, partners, and fans in particular. TeamShirts’ clear commitment to SC DHfK makes us very proud, and I look forward to many exciting joint projects and creations.”
Related Links
- More images can be found here
- SC DHfK Fanshop
- TeamShirts Website
- DHfK Website
Spread Group, leading global provider of customized fashion and lifestyle products, appoints Nora Kulling as its new Vice President Marketing. She is an experienced marketing and brand expert who will further develop the marketing strategy and brand-building process and drive the development of specialized marketing teams.
Prior to joining the Spread Group, Kulling held executive positions for marketing and branding in various companies for ten years, including almost eight years at Mister Spex – most recently there as Head of Brand Management. From her point of view, it is “more important than ever to produce relevant content to get closer to your target group and build a connection with the brand. The days of scaling via pure performance marketing without a stringent brand strategy are over. Brands without clear positioning will be punished by consumers.”
Right at the start of her job in March 2023, she was involved in the launch of the new fashion and lifestyle brand SPREAD. For the associated marketing campaign, a radically different communication approach was chosen compared to the Spreadshirt umbrella brand. “For the SPREAD marketing campaign, very clear brand positioning was important to us. Therefore, in line with the target group (Gen Z and Y), we focused entirely on social media and entertainment networks. In addition, we foregrounded the community idea,” says Kulling.
Nora Kulling says about her new task and focus:
“After extremely successful expansion over the past 20 years, we need to break new ground for further sustainable growth and diversify the marketing mix. I would like to effectively shape this process of change, which can only be successful with the right communicative orientation. My goal is to further strengthen Spread Group as a relevant fashion tech player and to develop love brands with high recognition value, likeability and brand loyalty. I am looking forward to the great design opportunities, especially with Spread Group’s focus on brand building, for which I see huge potential. As an end customer, I already have a long personal relationship with the company.”
Spread Group CEO Dr Julian de Grahl explains:
“Creative marketing concepts are important success factors to strengthen and expand our global presence. This includes, in particular, strengthening our content strategy and building branding and social media expertise. We are therefore looking forward to Nora’s fresh look and expertise.”
Photo Material for Download
- Nora Kulling, VP Marketing (jpg, Copyright Spread Group)
