is roger federer's RF brand profitable?

[juanparty]

I've never seen anyone wear it, but many Feddy fans say it's like Michael Jordan's, forever, twenty years from now, blah blah blah...

I don't know but Rafa's bull I do see that it can be something more prolific, distinctive and recognizable than an acronym "RF"

 

[Slicehand]

only for knee prosthesis

 

[swizzy]

it was worth a ton to Nike since they created and owned it.. it was worth it for Fed to sue to recover it from them. it is rather iconic, like the man. it continues to have enormous financial profitability

 

[Federev]

I've never seen anyone wear it, but many Feddy fans say it's like Michael Jordan's, forever, twenty years from now, blah blah blah...

I don't know but Rafa's bull I do see that it can be something more prolific, distinctive and recognizable than an acronym "RF"

First the “does anyone really miss Federer?” …and now this.

Maybe RF really does stand for “Rent Free”?

But I’m thankful you’re not posting in “Federer News”!

 

[Purestriker]

I've never seen anyone wear it, but many Feddy fans say it's like Michael Jordan's, forever, twenty years from now, blah blah blah...

I don't know but Rafa's bull I do see that it can be something more prolific, distinctive and recognizable than an acronym "RF"

Well it was very profitable to him! Also, those hats sold out fast after being released and I still noticed quite a few folks wearing them at this years US Open.

 

[Open Stance]

Does the RF line even exist any more? I go to the Uniqlo web site and the only RF product I see there is a pocket tee for $19.90 which I can't buy online and is available in "select stores only".

 

[Rosstour]

Uniqlo are botching this, but that doesn't mean the RF brand doesn't have value.

It would have been awesome as a country-club-casual lifestyle brand from Nike to complement the Jordan Brand's streetwear dominance. Stupid...and they just threw that money at Jan-geek Sinner

 

[BGod]

Well Federer's legacy even as a loser is being around the sport so long with iconic matches. So his brand can go beyond his on court persona to being a brand of class*.

it was worth a ton to Nike since they created and owned it.. it was worth it for Fed to sue to recover it from them. it is rather iconic, like the man. it continues to have enormous financial profitability

I just think of Arnold Palmer and his Ice Teas.

Does the RF line even exist any more? I go to the Uniqlo web site and the only RF product I see there is a pocket tee for $19.90 which I can't buy online and is available in "select stores only".

https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/contents/feature/rf-cap/

Seems pretty accessible. But I agree sometimes it's harder to find especially in shops.

 

[MichaelNadal]

FFW keeps it afloat solo what an effort

 

[swizzy]

Roger probably brings this back in retirement as his own clothing line..

 

[norcal]

Don't know how profitable it is but when you go to tournaments RF gear is by far the most popular. Then you get some Rafa stuff but not nearly as much. Rarely see Djoker gear.

Even now after not playing forever you can see more RF hats on tv then anything else.

 

[big ted]

this is the most valuable RF merch

Barilla-Federer-pers-screen.jpg (1200×850) (italianfood.net)

 

[Booger]

I happened to meet a nike corporate guy at Indian Wells once. He told me the RF brand is worth more than all other players' brands combined.

 

[ghostofMecir]

I've never seen anyone wear it, but many Feddy fans say it's like Michael Jordan's, forever, twenty years from now, blah blah blah...

I don't know but Rafa's bull I do see that it can be something more prolific, distinctive and recognizable than an acronym "RF"

Must be strange to hate someone so much that you create different usernames and posts about this man every day even though he doesn’t even play anymore.

Sad.

 

[jackson vile]

Or are brands profitable at all???

 

[fundrazer]

Think about how many RF hats have been sold and then think about your question again.

 

[Sephiroth]

Should've stayed with Nike, would've won him more slams

ever since the Uniqlo deal he didn't win a slam, Federer turned his back on the game for more money and it's cost him

 

[ffw2]

FFW keeps it afloat solo what an effort

Anything for you, bestie.

Spoiler

 

[MichaelNadal]

Anything for you, bestie.

Spoiler

2 days till Whopper Wednesday

 

[big ted]

Should've stayed with Nike, would've won him more slams

ever since the Uniqlo deal he didn't win a slam, Federer turned his back on the game for more money and it's cost him

he won halle and basel with uniqlo tho... and $300M lol

 

[initialize]

Oh, it’s profitable alright. It’s partly the reason Federer is the only billionaire tennis player (the only real billionaire tennis player before someone mentions that amateur tennis/ hockey player old dude no one has heard of)

 

[Federev]

2 days till Whopper Wednesday

I’ve enjoyed the Impossible Whopper.

How about you?

 

[InsuranceMan]

Gonna go buy a hat now, thanks for reminding me OP. Torn between the sea green and the lighter green/blue. Thoughts?

 

[Rosstour]

Should've stayed with Nike, would've won him more slams

ever since the Uniqlo deal he didn't win a slam, Federer turned his back on the game for more money and it's cost him

They turned their back on him tho

I don't think it's been good for either party

 

[The Fedfather]

Gonna go buy a hat now, thanks for reminding me OP. Torn between the sea green and the lighter green/blue. Thoughts?

Buy both to help keep the brand afloat. #MakeRFprofitableAgain

 

[kimguroo]

here is my thoughts.
With Nike= Yes, it will be profitable. Nike knows how to marketing and make decent products.
Without Nike= No.

It was Federer’s decision to leave Nike and no one can blame for it because probably Nike offered much less than Uniqlo offer (possibly 1/3 in my opinion) but Totally understand that Fed had worst contract in history with his meaningful first contract then Nike and fed had fair contract for the second. Last contract probably no way to near Uniqlo contract so Nike decided to let him go.

for short term (10 years), 300mil with Uniqlo vs 80-100 mil (5 years) with Nike
But for the long term, he might potential to have RF brand which conservatively estimate at least 5-10mil per a year for rest of his life with Nike. (I don’t think nike tries to make RF brand after Uniqlo contract).

 

[Cashman]

the RF brand is the only player brand that has the potential to turn into the next Fred Perry or Lacoste

Federer has left it on autopilot in recent years, but the fact he has control over it gives him the opportunity to build it into something big post-retirement

Alternatively he might just continue leaving it to earn a little bit of passive income via licensing to Nike/Uniqlo/whoever

 

[MichaelNadal]

I’ve enjoyed the Impossible Whopper.

How about you?

Yet to try it but heard it's good

 

[Fed Kennedy]

Its a $1 hat with an RF on it. Now its 30 bucks. Is it profitable?

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Should've stayed with Nike, would've won him more slams

ever since the Uniqlo deal he didn't win a slam, Federer turned his back on the game for more money and it's cost him

Yep, the ‘Curse of the qlo’ is real…

 

[brinkeguthrie]

Uniqlo has botched deal from day 1. Anything other than a full line avail 24/7/365 is brainless. Go on their site, search 'Federer,' you get one T-shirt. Pathetic.
And yes, the RF logo is gold, Jerry. Gold!

 

[mcs1970]

The RF brand took a hit for a few reasons: When you think of Federer you think of the Nike headband. That’s what people associate him with. Next, Federer signed this deal when he was slipping and lately not even playing much. So recency bias has also played into the equation. Last but not least is Uniqlo botching up mass production and selling the brand correctly. Given that Roger did not win much sporting this gear, they should have been bombarding casual tennis folks with Roger driven ads using this gear.

However now that Roger has retired and people only remember the good times, they have a great chance to reclaim lost ground. However it just can’t be Uniqlo. Both Roger and Uniqlo have to take a joint interest in actively promoting this.

The brand has a chance to be something special if done right.

 

[brinkeguthrie]

The RF brand took a hit for a few reasons: When you think of Federer you think of the Nike headband. That’s what people associate him with. Next, Federer signed this deal when he was slipping and lately not even playing much. So recency bias has also played into the equation. Last but not least is Uniqlo botching up mass production and selling the brand correctly. Given that Roger did not win much sporting this gear, they should have been bombarding casual tennis folks with Roger driven ads using this gear.

However now that Roger has retired and people only remember the good times, they have a great chance to reclaim lost ground. However it just can’t be Uniqlo. Both Roger and Uniqlo have to take a joint interest in actively promoting this.

The brand has a chance to be something special if done right.

Uniqlo has never shown any inclination to promote RF properly.

 

[joekapa]

The Uniqlo contract is worth NOWHEREE near that sort of money.

His best deal was with ON footwear, having bought a large chunk of shares. That made his personal worth go up.

 

[sportsfan1]

Fed's uniqlo contract was for 10 years without a retirement clause, and way better (from his individual contract $$$ perspective) than the one Nike was offering him.

 

[kimguroo]

The Uniqlo contract is worth NOWHEREE near that sort of money.

His best deal was with ON footwear, having bought a large chunk of shares. That made his personal worth go up.

Someone estimated 3% of shares (300 mil) but no body knows how much fed invested. Who knows Fed just put 1mil.
Anyway ON stock is down over 50% from IPO price.

 

[brinkeguthrie]

The Uniqlo contract is worth NOWHEREE near that sort of money.

His best deal was with ON footwear, having bought a large chunk of shares. That made his personal worth go up.

10 years, 300 mill. https://www.forbes.com/sites/abinlo...or-a-300-million-uniqlo-deal/?sh=7d0360b564db

 

[joekapa]

10 years, 300 mill. https://www.forbes.com/sites/abinlo...or-a-300-million-uniqlo-deal/?sh=7d0360b564db

That was the rumor. However a journalist came out, who was in the know, and said the money is nowhere near that.

 

[Rhino]

Not at all profitable. It has cost Federer millions to embroider the caps over the years but he continues dispite a great personal and financial loss. Nobody in business and branding can understand why he persists but it is suspected that he just likes all the flashy colors.