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November 3, 2008
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Common Thread: NBA Coaches Sign Apparel Deal With Joseph Abboud

Coaches Set To Receive 
A Dozen Free Outfits
JA Apparel Corp., the owner of the Joseph Abboud label, will provide NBA coaches "at least a dozen free outfits, with a combined retail value of more than $500,000," under terms of a three-year deal expected to be announced today, according to Ray Smith of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. In return, the Joseph Abboud label "gets the right to tout itself as the coaches' official clothier, though it won't get an onscreen credit for that role during game broadcasts." The suits and sport coats worn by the coaches "don't have visible logos, and aren't easily identifiable by fans watching pro basketball in person or on TV." The company, which in August signed an agreement to provide off-the-field attire for NFL coaches, is "building its brand on dressing high-profile sports figures." NBA rules now require coaches to wear dress shoes, tailored jackets and dress shirts, sport shirts or turtlenecks, but the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) said that its "aim in the deal wasn't to standardize coaches' attire." NBCA Exec Dir Michael Goldberg said that "it was drawn by JA Apparel's promise to donate boys suits to a new children's charity the association set up that is affiliated with the Boys & Girls Club of America." Meanwhile, Smith notes four coaches, whom the company and the NBCA  "declined to name, haven't signed on." JA Apparel CEO Marty Staff: "I don't think it's because they have other endorsement deals. I think they have tailors they like." Staff said that the company is "also talking with the coaches about making appearances at department stores on the label's behalf" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/3).


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