Caley Thistle chief executive Scot Gardiner says the club’s retail trade will be more important than ever amid the coronavirus crisis.
Inverness have announced a four-year kit deal with Puma, who will replace previous manufacturers Errea.
Inverness have also agreed a new shirt sponsorship with green energy company Intelligent Land Investments, following a four-year partnership with McEwan Fraser Legal.
The green energy company’s logo will be shown on the front of next season’s home kits, which were unveiled yesterday.
Inverness have yet to release season ticket packages to supporters for next season, due to the ongoing uncertainty over when crowds will be allowed back into stadiums.
With Scottish football having been suspended since March 13, Inverness have struggled to generate revenue, and Gardiner feels the launch of the new kit comes at a vital time.
Gardiner said: “We took a decision several weeks ago we would not go to the market with season tickets until we knew when the season was going to start and how many games it would be.
“We consciously took that decision, as we didn’t think it was fair just to say ‘give us your money, but we can’t tell you when you are going to see us again’.
“We are getting closer to that I suppose, but it was important for us to launch our retail and to start looking at getting the full training range on the website as well.
“When I started these negotiations nearly a year ago, we didn’t think we would end up in the situation we are in right now.
“More than ever, retail will be important.”
Gardiner has been pleased by the initial response to the new kit, which will be available for pre-order next week, with the away strip to follow shortly.
He added: “It’s a bespoke kit, it’s not one we have picked off a shelf.
“We are very pleased with it, and it seems to have gone down well in the first instance.
“It will go out for pre-order on Monday or Tuesday, and we are hoping to unveil the away strip within a week or so.”
Gardiner revealed the partnership with German sportswear company Puma has been nearly 12 months in the making.
He added: “It’s a big deal for the club because it’s a massive brand.
“When I came in last April, we were looking at all sorts of different ways we could enhance the profile of the club without changing for the sake of changing.
“Errea had been a good partner and the club had been with them for a long time, but the retail was really needing a boost.
“We felt going with a global brand like Puma would have a very big impact.
“I think it’s a big step up for us, which is nothing against Errea, but Puma is a huge company.
“They are a huge company, with huge brands behind them.
“They manufacture kits for Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund to name just two.”
