playR recently announced the continuation of its partnership with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the 2025 season as their Global Merchandise Partner. As part of this collaboration, playR will offer merchandise, including apparel, sports equipment, and accessories.
With the focus on “PLAYER FIRST” and with its slogan “LET’S PLAY”, playR strives to create “real” products — products that help make daily life healthier, more meaningful, and much more enjoyable. The products and services aim to embody every ounce of their expertise and ideas. They are rooted in the mindset that sports are part of one’s daily life, part of one’s work, and even one’s way of life.
The products include apparel such as t-shirts, jerseys, jackets , shorts, tracksuits; equipment such as bats, balls, gloves, pads; mountain, city, hybrid and road bicycles; accessories such as bags, yoga mats, bottles, etc., as well as limited-edition items. The company is currently bootstrapped and present in over 150 retail stores globally and on all leading ecommerce and Quick commerce sites apart from www.playR.in
Medianews4u.com caught up with Ravi Kukreja, Co-Founder of playR and Director of iCOREts Private Limited
Q. In 2025 what are going to be playR’s focus areas for growth?
In 2025, playR will focus on expanding its e-commerce presence, enhancing online shopping experiences, and leveraging digital marketing and influencer partnerships. The brand plans to diversify its product range with innovative designs, new categories, and collaborations with high-profile brands and influencers.
Strategic partnerships with athletes, influencers, and sports leagues will further boost the brand’s visibility and strengthen its position in sports merchandising. These strategies will help playR stay competitive and engage its audience throughout 2025.
Q. What role will the partnerships with the IPL franchises be in playR’s growth strategy?
Partnerships with IPL franchises will be key to playR’s growth, boosting brand visibility and expanding its customer base by tapping into the passionate fanbases of each team. These collaborations will allow playR to create unique, franchise-specific merchandise and leverage IPL events for marketing opportunities.
By aligning with one of the world’s most popular cricket leagues, playR can drive sales, enhance fan engagement, and build long-term brand loyalty, playing a significant role in its overall growth strategy.
Currently, playR serves as the Official Merchandise Partner for Chennai Super Kings. We are the official merchandise partners for more teams this IPL season and will announce that soon. In addition to its expanding collection of Lifestyle and Sports Apparel for Football, Tennis, Lifestyle, After Sport, Bike, Baseball, Basketball, Home / Office, Fitness, Gym, Golf, Indoor, Outdoor, Running, Training and Accessories available in stores across the world and on leading online marketplaces.
Q. What value will fans get from the merchandise products that playR will come up with for cricket fans?
With cricket being the number two Sport in the world and the number one sport in India, it’s almost surreal that the most-watched Indian League and its top teams have noticed our endeavor and omnichannel deliverables.
Every team in the IPL has a dedicated and passionate fanbase, and we honor and respect the loyalty of each of these supporters. Our mission is to cater to all of them, ensuring they feel valued and connected through our products. The growing collaboration between global sports brands and Indian businesses has created an amazing opportunity for Indian consumers to access a wider range of international merchandise, which is a game-changer for the market.
E-commerce has significantly transformed the sports merchandise sector, making it easier than ever for fans to purchase authentic, official products online. With our exclusive designs linked to IPL franchises and players, fans can feel a deeper connection to the sport and their favorite teams. This shift is helping to foster a stronger sense of community and team spirit, ensuring that fans can express their support in a way that feels personal and meaningful.
Q. The Team Jersey has the main focus area for IPL fans. Do you think other products will also grow in popularity this year?
While team jerseys will remain the main focus for IPL fans, other products are likely to grow in popularity in the coming years. With Apparel, Cricket Equipment, Bicycles and Accessories as our portfolio of offerings we have also begun with deliverables for Football, Football, Tennis, Lifestyle, After Sport, Bike, Baseball, Basketball and other sports and accessories with the confluence of lifestyle and fulfilling the dream of every player irrespective of the field.
The range of products is overwhelming and we shall start with some experience stores and some player tie-ups. The conviction that every player deserves the right clothing, equipment and accessory at the right value. By offering more variety, playR can enhance fan engagement beyond just jerseys.
Q. How challenging is it to counter piracy?
The licensing and merchandising (L&M) industry in India faces significant challenges from counterfeiting. To combat this, brands are using advanced technologies like RFID tags, holograms, and QR codes to verify product authenticity. These tools allow customers to easily confirm the legitimacy of their purchases.
Additionally, other challenges for sports merchandisers include fluctuating demand tied to the success of teams and athletes, leading to inventory issues. Distribution logistics in India, with its vast and diverse regions, is also a major hurdle, along with the need for continuous innovation to meet evolving pricing and customer preferences.
Q. How does the focus on creating ‘real’ products give playR an edge in a competitive market?
As a bootstrapped startup, we have directed our resources toward creating value-driven products and expanding our reach. Our marketing efforts have been organic, primarily relying on word of mouth. We are still in the early stages of growth and have yet to launch formal marketing, advertising, or communication campaigns.
Marketing is a vital investment that requires support from strategic investors. We have chosen to focus on strengthening our foundation before seeking external funding. By prioritising the development of authentic, high-quality products, playR has gained a competitive advantage, building brand trust and loyalty.
Offering officially licensed merchandise further differentiates playR from counterfeit alternatives, ensuring higher customer satisfaction and positioning the brand as the go-to choice for fans who want genuine products.
Q. How has playR integrated AI into its operations?
Brands are leveraging Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the licensing and merchandising space to elevate customer experiences and optimise operations.
Technologies are enhancing merchandising: Augmented Reality (AR) boosts consumer engagement by allowing users to visualise products in their real-world environment through their smartphones. Virtual Reality (VR) creates immersive experiences, useful for virtual stores or marketing campaigns, where customers can explore branded activities or browse virtual product showrooms.
AI analyses consumer data to offering personalised product recommendations based on user preferences. Chatbots and virtual assistants provide instant customer support, improving satisfaction. Additionally, AI enhances inventory management by predicting demand trends, ensuring popular products are always available.
Q. What marketing activities will playR be doing in 2025 to create awareness about its offerings?
As a company, we are dedicated to using agile development methodologies, allowing us to swiftly adapt product features and designs. This flexibility in our business model enables us to quickly introduce innovations, ensuring that our customers always have access to the latest sports and fitness accessories. We’ve focussed our resources on creating value-driven products and investing in product development and expansion. Our marketing efforts have been organic, primarily driven by word of mouth.
We’ve achieved a 100% year-on-year profit growth. Our strategic previous partnerships with five of the largest IPL teams in the past—Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders of which we are still partners with Chennai Super Kings, —have led to exclusive, cross-border retail offerings that have been pivotal to our success.”
In 2025, playR is set to supercharge its presence with more new team partnerships and dynamic digital marketing strategies. And to add to it we will enhance awareness through exciting influencer collaborations and engaging social media campaigns to precision-targetted online ads, which will amplify awareness across every screen. With these bold moves, playR will elevate its visibility and engage its audience like never before.
Q. In terms of distribution, are ecommerce and Quick commerce sites both equally important? Offline
In the current online e-commerce landscape, the standout differentiator for Qcom lies in its ability to deliver an experience that is faster and more efficient than traditional e-commerce platforms. Qcom has taken it a step further by prioritising speed, offering significantly quicker delivery times and more responsive services, which provide a substantial edge over its competitors.
As the e-commerce industry as a whole continues to grow and evolve, online shopping has become increasingly important in consumers’ everyday lives. The shift toward faster, more efficient, and customer-centric models is becoming a dominant trend across the industry. In this context, many traditional e-commerce platforms are starting to adopt strategies similar to Qcom’s, recognising the growing demand for speed and seamless experiences.
Q. How are you building on partnerships with retail stores?
playR is strengthening partnerships with retail stores by expanding its product range and offering exclusive in-store collections. The brand collaborates closely with retailers on co-branded promotions, special events, and displays to enhance customer engagement and drive foot traffic.
These partnerships help increase visibility, providing fans with easy access to playR’s high-quality merchandise while boosting sales for retail partners.
Q. Hyper personalisation is going to be a key theme this year. What are playR’s plans in this regard? Is playR looking at fund raising?
playR has built a strong presence in the personalised merchandise market, primarily known for its customized IPL jerseys, catering to fans eager to show their unique identity and loyalty.
Capitalising on the global demand for personalised products, the company is now planning to expand its services beyond IPL jerseys to include cricket and football gear, casual wear, accessories, and even home goods. This expansion aims to broaden its customer base and solidify its position as a leading provider of customised items.
However, maintaining its impressive 100% year-on-year growth will require significant investment in infrastructure, technology, and marketing. As the company scales, external funding will be crucial to sustain its growth and meet increasing demand. Whether through equity or debt financing, or potentially crowdfunding, raising capital will help playR continue to innovate and compete effectively in the market.
