Stanley Cup winner Alex Ovechkin hasn’t just found success on the ice with the Washington Capitals hockey team. He’s also launched his very own online store, selling Nike branded products emblazoned with his signature logo.
The online store, which launched this month, makes fan merch apparel available to fans in the United States, Canada and Ovechkin’s native Russia, all powered by InkSoft’s Stores platform.
“We’re proud that Alex Ovechkin and Nike chose InkSoft’s sales platform to power their online merch sales,” says JP Hunt, cofounder of InkSoft. “We understand the unique needs of running an online store. We’re fortunate to work with companies of all sizes from small to mid-sized decorated-apparel businesses to big brands to top athletes, to sell online, reach more customers and run a more efficient business.”
Getting in Major Gear
After signing an endorsement deal with Nike in 2011, the apparel behemoth created a personalized logo just for Ovechkin.
The red, white and blue logo features Ovechkin’s initials and the number 8, his jersey number. The Capitals’ captain wears this gear under his jersey each time he hits the ice.
The recognizable logo also shows up on Ovechkin’s skates and sticks””and even makes an appearance on the gate of his Virginia mansion.
Ovechkin had a hand in creating the logo itself, and he was also instrumental in helping design of all the products in his online store. “Our Stores platform lets brands and luminaries like Ovechkin have a hand in creating the merch they want to offer to consumers and fans,” Hunt says.
An Online Store for All Seasons
Although some items featuring this one-of-a-kind logo were offered in the past as a limited-edition collection
and sold at the Washington Capitals games, the gear wasn’t readily available for Ovechkin’s legion of fans from around the world.
With the new online store, fans from all over can now wear their love for Ovechkin on their sleeve (or head) by purchasing items from the comfort of their own homes. “We’ve made our Stores platform flexible so that you can easily add new products or remove limited-time items,” Hunt says. “Each Stores manager can control every aspect of their customers’ ordering process to make it as enjoyable and quick as possible.”
Ovechkin’s online store is stocked with eight in-demand items, just in time for the holiday shopping season. Caps fanatics have the choice of two head-toppers, two Nike Pro Combat Fitted long-sleeve shirts, a fleece hoodie, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and two 100% ring-spun cotton short-sleeve shirts. With prices ranging from $28 to $55, every Caps fan will find logoed gear that fits their budget.
The eight imprinted items in the Alex Ovechkin collection are available for a limited time. The good news? Because of the demand for everything Ovechkin, fans can expect additional items in the coming months. For Ovechkin’s Europe-based fans, more overseas destinations in addition to Russia will be added in the coming months.
