{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/db63e563-1a27-4446-8f4a-06473a5b69a2/6a8460edb9d83ea9ccdd06ea?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Castore co-founder Tom Beahon: building a £1bn British sportswear giant","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61ba0e491a8cbe627d3cf13d/1787066887281-f072a3ef-9be0-4718-be88-fe962cb14d81.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>How did Castore disrupt global kit deals to build a British sportswear brand valued at almost £1bn? Hannah Prevett speaks to co-founder Tom Beahon about taking on Nike and Adidas.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of <em>The Business</em>, we look at how Castore transformed from an ambitious startup into a major player in sportswear, securing high-profile kit sponsorships across Premier League Football clubs and international athletics.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Alongside his brother Phil, Tom founded the brand from his parents' kitchen table in 2015 - channelling his early setbacks as a football player into focus and resilience. On the show, he explains what it was like to recover from the Aston Villa kit<a href=\"https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/aston-villas-womens-team-dreading-having-to-wear-sweaty-kit-6zhx7df0t\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> debacle</a>, lifts the lid on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment and walks through landing Sir Andy Murray as an investor.</p><p><br></p><p>We examine the corporate strategy, supply chain management and entrepreneurship<a href=\"https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/castore-tom-beahon-taking-on-nike-to-hit-1bn-nqxbbhgzd\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> required</a> to challenge legacy sportswear giants. \"It didn't make sense to us why there wasn't a British competitor to Nike, Adidas, Puma,\" Beahon says. \"Why can't there be a premium British alternative to these guys? And if not us, then who?\"</p><p><br></p><p>From navigating shifting consumer demand to expanding into global markets, we analyse what the growth has meant for the company so far, and what might be next.</p><p><br></p><p>Guest:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Tom Beahon, co-founder of Castore</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Presenter:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Producer: Hope Federico&nbsp;</p><p>Video Producer: Bronwen Latham</p><p>Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall&nbsp;</p><p>Photo Credit: Getty</p><p>Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"The Times"}