The USTA will sell its licensed U.S. Open logo apparel
through Feron's Events, Inc., a NY-based company that handles all
the Open's on-site merchandise vending. The Open Collection
includes shirts, sweats, hats, and other items. To "hype the in-
store line," Feron's is conducting a sweepstakes giveaway.
Feron's President Robert Kaye said there is "a real need for
licensed products at the industry level; most everything sold for
tennis is now branded." Kaye said they are just beginning a
licensing program and that a fall collection of practice-type
apparel will be introduced in November. Other Open sponsors are
also running promotions. Wilson, the official ball, will run a
sweepstakes in 3 million cans of its Open and Championship balls.
The sweepstakes also offers trips to the U.S. Open, Super Bowl,
or PGA Championships. Wilson Business Dir Jill Mehrberg said
they will also "tailor custom Open promotional events for
individual accounts." Mehrberg: "We can provide tickets for
retailers to send the winners of those events to the Open." K-
Swiss will include an "in-store sweepstakes" where consumers are
eligible for free courtside tickets (Stuart Chirls, TENNIS
BUYER'S GUIDE, 7/95 issue).
