For those who don’t know, Penn AC (Penn Athletic Club Rowing Association) is an amateur rowing club located at No.12 Boathouse Row, along the historic ‘Boathouse Row’ in Philadelphia.
Last year, the club put their crew kit supply out to tender, looking for a supplier of technical on-water and off-water kit who could successfully fulfil orders for their multi-tiered set-up – from club rowers to their Junior, U23 and Senior high-performance programmes.
Along with the technical properties of the kit, the club wanted a distinctive and professional look to showcase the club across all levels, creating exceptional apparel which rowers would be proud to wear.
Designs had to be unique, and clothing had to be fit for purpose, with rowers facing extreme temperatures (up to 110 degrees) in the summer months!
To win the bid, we focused on three core areas: To supply the best technical products, work collaboratively on designs, and offer the best customer service.
When Penn AC selected us, we kicked off the process by sending over a big bag full of product samples to let the rowers get a feel for the fabrics, try on the kit for size and get an idea of how they performed in training.
We knew fabrics had to be lightweight, durable, wicking and breathable. But importantly, we understood the need for UV protection. This prompted us to develop our new super-lightweight UV sun shirts and sun hoodies with UPF 50+ sun protection and quick-dry, moisture-wicking technology – a product we’ve now added to our retail offering.
For the design, we worked closely with the Penn AC team throughout the process, and after a few concepts had gone back and forth, we finally landed on a simple yet distinct line-drawing that represents the boathouses of Boathouse Row – highlighting Penn AC with coordinates of the location. This design was incorporated into several products, including the Penn AC training suit and provided a fun contrast to the more traditional style of the race-day rowing suit.
When it came to customer service, making the process as smooth as possible for Penn AC was our priority. This included picking and packing orders for individual rowers (for easy distribution) and making sure the kit arrived on time! It also meant working in a way which would ensure the club wasn’t penalised on order minimums and ensuring reserve stock was on hand for new athletes.
The final result? A fully fit-for-purpose collection of professional rowing apparel, delivered (on time) ahead of the National Championships.
But it doesn’t end there. As part of this process, we’ve built a great working relationship with Penn AC, and we’re proud to have them as one of our key development clubs – helping us test new products, from fabrics to fit and function!
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you create a bespoke collection for your club, contact us here…
