Category: Announcements

Press Release: Icons Completes Management Buyout

The Directors of Icons have bought the majority stake back from Marka PJSC and now have full control of the company.


London, 4 August 2020 – Icons Shop Limited, the UK-based signed memorabilia company, today announced that it had bought back the majority stake previously owned by  Marka PJSC. Marka acquired a 65% share in 2015. 

The investment enabled Icons to create the largest football-focussed memorabilia company in the world, predominantly through the purchase of the assets of then rival A1.

Icons was awarded the first ever football memorabilia licence by FIFA in 2010 to produce a range of signed FIFA World Cup products. In July 2012, Icons was awarded the first ever licence for the UEFA Champions League and in 2016 the first ever license for the UEFA European Championships. All three deals have subsequently been renewed.

Icons are pleased to announce that they have entered into contractual arrangements with all-time great Diego Maradona to undertake signings and social promotion for the company.

Icons are also pleased to announce a three-year worldwide exclusive memorabilia licence with FC Barcelona, the first such deal of its kind in the world.

Dan Jamieson, CEO of Icons said: “Icons is the world’s leading football memorabilia company and the most trusted operation in the game.

“By returning the shares to the original team we are free to pursue our ambitious plans for growth and to continue to lead the market with the most iconic products of all-time.”

Edward Freedman, founder and now Chairman of Icons, said: “We’ve enjoyed working with the Marka team but now the time is right to take back control and press forward.”


For more information please contact Icons CEO, Dan Jamieson, via dan@icons.com.



Introducing… Giveback Giveaways

There are lots of things we love about creating the world’s best signed memorabilia. But among the very best of those things is when we hear from our customers about how we made their day, their month or their year.

It’s better still when we’re told we brought unbridled happiness to a child’s face, reduced a parent to tears of joy or, quite simply, when we’ve made another birthday extra special. It’s why we do what we do.

At Icons we were thinking about what we could do in these uncertain times to bring more joy to the world. That’s when I remembered a phrase I like to use and one I try to live by: “choose generosity.”

So, this week we’re launching Giveback Giveaways across both Icons.com and A1 Sporting Memorabilia with the kind help of some of our closest partners, suppliers and friends.

We were thinking about what we could do to bring more joy to the world. That’s when I remembered… “choose generosity.”

All throughout this week we’ll be asking our fans and followers to nominate someone deserving to receive something special from us in the hope that it will bring them joy in these difficult times.

With a warehouse full of amazing products, continued worldwide distribution, and a little extra time on our hands, we figured we could put our efforts into getting gifts out to people across the UK and around the world. We’ll gather ten prizes across the two sites each week and, via social media, try to find the heroes who deserve them.

Why not nominate a nurse or a doctor working all hours; self-isolating grandparents stuck indoors; or a sports-loving child bored with no-one to play with.

We have signed shirts, photos and boots to giveaway, plus unsigned shirts, trophies, posters and footballs. With the help of our friends and colleagues at DHL International we can still get these great prizes out to all four corners of the globe.

One of our company mottos is that “we believe in heroes” and while that usually means the icons of sport we work with, right now it’s the people on the frontline of this global crisis. They need our support the most in these trying times so we’re asking you to help us find them.

Stay safe, take care, look after your own team and, once again, we thank you for your ongoing support.


For more information about how possible restrictions due to the Coronavirus outbreak may affect ordering from Icons.com, please contact Customer Support via customersupport@icons.com.

Follow Icons on FacebookTwitter and Instagram for all our latest blog posts, special offers and competitions.



Press Release: We’re pioneering blockchain tech in the fight against fakes

  • Market leader Icons worked with digital agency Zone to launch blockchain application
  • Revolutionary tech will enhance consumer trust by tracking the provenance of signed items
  • App will also be used in the fight against fakes and frauds
  • Leo Messi signed shirts among the first items to be ‘b-locked’

London, 18 September 2018 The world’s largest football memorabilia company has become the first application of a pioneering blockchain solution that underpins the value of signed items with the aim of securing consumer trust.

Icons, the world’s leading originator and supplier of signed football memorabilia, has joined with digital experts Zone to create Icons b-locked, an online ledger that tracks the provenance of signed items.

The first items to be used in the Icons b-locked application will be shirts autographed by Lionel Messi during a private signing session with the FC Barcelona superstar in mid-September.

Icons b-locked uses blockchain – the distributed ledger technology that sits behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin – to create a permanent record of signed items, including details of when and where each item was signed.

Consumers use a unique code assigned to their product to view specific details of the item and its associated signing.

The technology comes at a time when the sports memorabilia market, estimated to be worth $2-4billion, is under threat from the rise of fraudsters manipulating online auction websites, as well as the emergence of automated robots capable of replicating signatures for fake products.

Icons CEO, Dan Jamieson, says: “At Icons, we’ve always gone to extraordinary lengths to provide evidence of the authenticity of our goods – not only for our customers but also for the integrity of the market.

“Every day we’re asked if our products are really signed by the players themselves. Consumers need more reassurance than ever. That’s why we’ve worked with Zone to create this world-first product. We want this to be the gold standard which ultimately helps the market grow.”

Edward Freedman, Icons founder, added: “I truly believe that Icons b-locked will put to rest the question of authenticity. It will revolutionise our industry and hopefully it will take us to a level that everyone will be aspiring to.”

Icons has been working with the world’s biggest sports stars since 1999 and has entered into exclusive contracts with the likes of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Eden Hazard.

The company has long-term relationships with Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr and Eric Cantona, among many others. It has had the exclusive official UEFA Champions League memorabilia license for the past six seasons and the worldwide deal was recently renewed for the 2018-21 cycle. Icons also has official memorabilia licences for the FIFA World Cup and FA England.

Jon Davie, Chief Client Officer at Zone, commented: “For all the hype about blockchain, practical applications so far have been few and far between.

“Working with Icons, we had an opportunity to create a blockchain application that ordinary customers can experience, understand and benefit from. The opportunities are endless. Not just in the sports memorabilia market, but in art, antiques, collectables – any market where establishing authenticity and tracking provenance is important.”

For more information please contact Icons CEO Dan Jamieson (dan@icons.com or +44 20 7267 3934).

Stay up-to-date with Icons b-locked by joining us on Telegram. Click here to join our channel.


About Zone

One of the UK’s leading technology and customer experience agencies, Zone is part of global professional services giant Cognizant, who acquired the agency in October last year.

Recently hailed by the London Stock Exchange as one of the UK’s most inspiring companies, the agency’s 250+ strategy, content and technology experts helps ambitious brands such as Adidas, BMW, Aviva, Barratt Homes, Electrolux, Lloyds Banking Group, Maersk and Unileverwin in a world where digital is mission critical.



WIN a framed shirt of your choice signed by a Premier League icon!

Calling all James Tarkowski fans! The Icons.com Fantasy Premier League public league is up and running and open for business!

That’s right, this season we have our very own FPL public league and we want you – yes, you – to join our ranks and battle it out for glory. “What’s at stake?” I hear you ask. Well, that’s the beauty of it…

If you top our league this season you’ll bag yourself a framed shirt signed by one of our Premier League icons. Be that an Eden Hazard signed Chelsea shirt, a Dele signed Spurs shirt or something a little more classic like an Eric Cantona signed Manchester United shirt – it’s your choice. If you win, we’ll invite you to look through our site, pick the Premier League shirt you want and we’ll frame it up and send it to you for absolutely nothing.

Ah, the spoils of victory…

But that’s not all! We’re also giving away prizes to the two runners-up in our league. Finish second and you win a signed boot, finish third and you’ll take home a signed photo.

So, if you haven’t already got a team sorted, get on it right away – gameweek one kicks off with Manchester United against Leicester City and the deadline for getting your team confirmed is Friday 7pm GMT.

Join the Icons.com public league with the code 754916-430005


TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  1. By registering to participate in the 2018/19 Fantasy Premier League (the “Game”) you agree to be bound by and to abide by the 2018/19 Fantasy Premier League terms and conditions as outlined under the “T&Cs” tab on the following webpage: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/help/
  2. Entry into the 2018/19 Fantasy Premier League public league named “Icons.com” under the league code 754916-430005 constitutes an acceptance of the following terms and conditions and subsequent entry into this competition.
  3. The Promoter of this competition is Icons Shop Limited (registered in England under company number 06791294 and with its registered office at 65 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7LS) (the “Promoter”).
  4. Icons Shop Limited may choose to award prizes in respect of the competition (“Prizes”). Such Prizes will be available at the discretion of Icons Shop Limited and in accordance with criteria set by it. Icons Shop Limited reserves the right to alter and amend the Prizes or the criteria for winning a Prize, where circumstances beyond its reasonable control require it to do so.
  5. Prizes are not transferable and are non-exchangeable. No cash alternative will be offered in any circumstances.
  6. Subject to compliance with these terms and conditions, all entrants are eligible to win the Prizes. However, where an entrant is under the age of 18, they will not be eligible to win any cash element of a Prize (if applicable) and parental or guardian consent must be obtained. Such consent must include confirmation that the parent/guardian consented to the Player’s Entry to the Game and they consent to the Player being awarded a Prize.
  7. Icons Shop Limited intends (but does not undertake) for the following Prizes to be available:
  8. The first Prize (“Winner’s Prize”) will be awarded to the Player who, according to Icons Shop Limited’s determination, is at the end of the 2018/19 season top of the leaderboard of the Fantasy Premier League public league named “Icons.com” and under the code 754916-430005.
  9. The Winners’s Prize will be his or her choice of one shirt signed by a current or former England Premiership or Premier League player from Icons Shop Limited’s stock at the time of the end of the 2018/19 season. The shirt will be framed in an Icons’ Classic Frame.
  10. The second Prize (“Runner-up Prize”) will be awarded to the Player who according to Icons Shop Limited’s determination, is at the end of the 2018/19 season second on the leaderboard of the Fantasy Premier League public league named “Icons.com” and under the code 754916-430005.
  11. The Runner-up Prize will be his or her choice of one boot signed by a current or former England Premiership or Premier League player from Icons Shop Limited’s stock at the time of the end of the 2018/19 season. The boot will be displayed in an Icons’ Acrylic Case box.
  12. The third Prize (“Second Runner-up Prize”) will be awarded to the Player who according to Icons Shop Limited’s determination, is at the end of the 2018/19 season third on the leaderboard of the Fantasy Premier League public league named “Icons.com” and under the code 754916-430005.
  13. The third Prize will be his or her choice of one photo signed by a current or former England Premiership or Premier League player from Icons Shop Limited’s stock at the time of the end of the 2018/19 season. The photo will be displayed in an Icons’ Black Wooden Frame.
  14. The Promoter reserves the right to offer alternative prizes of equal or greater value. In the event of unforeseen circumstances or circumstances outside its reasonable control, the Promoter reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion without prior notice, be it temporarily or permanently.
  15. The winner(s) will be notified within ten working days after the end of the competition. They will be asked to choose the prizes they wish to receive in accordance with paragraphs 9, 11 and 13. They will subsequently be asked to provide a postal address to which the prize will be sent. If the winner(s) fails to respond and/or to give a valid address within five days of this notification, or decline their prize, the next placed entry of the remaining valid entries will be declared the new winner(s) (however, this five-day period may be extended at the Promoter’s sole discretion). If the winner(s) decline(s) their prize, or fails to respond within the required period, they forfeit any right to the prize.
  16. The prizes will be sent via post to the addresses supplied within two weeks following provision of the winner(s’) address in accordance with paragraph 15.
  17. The name and county of residence of the winners will be made available on request to anyone sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Promoter as the address set out above within 10 weeks of the closing date of the promotion.
  18. The Promoter does not accept responsibility for network, computer or software failures of any kind and has no responsibility for lost, delayed or misdirected entries.
  19. The Promoter reserves the right to exclude any entries the Promoter in its sole discretion considers to be inappropriate, unrelated or offensive and to disqualify any entries if the Promoter, at its sole discretion, believes that there has been an attempt to manipulate or tamper with the operation of the promotion (including, without limitation, by setting up multiple email, Facebook or other social media accounts in order to submit multiple entries).
  20. Except for the purpose of carrying out the competition, the Promoter will not use entrants’ personal data without the express consent of the entrant. See http://www.icons.com/about/help/privacy-policy.html for our full privacy policy.
  21. You agree to be bound by the decisions of the Promoter, which are final in all matters relating to the promotion. No correspondence will be entered into in respect of the Promoter’s decisions.
  22. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of England and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England, including the seeking of all injunctive or ancillary relief actions.


We’re On The Move! Icons Expands With New Warehouse Operation

Icons Shop Limited will next month expand its operational set-up with the opening of a brand new warehouse in Dorset.

As part of our ongoing commitment to bringing the world’s best signed memorabilia to fans all around the world, Icons.com is amalgamating a number of its operational processes along with sister brand A1 Sporting Memorabilia. The expansion will merge customer service, dispatch, shipping and framing functions to streamline our operation, bringing signed memorabilia to your door faster and more securely. We have also added to our ever-expanding team of passionate and experienced staff, who will oversee the transition at our new base and new London head office.

Please be aware that, due to the move, orders placed over the course of the next fortnight may experience slight delays to our standard delivery times. Most orders will be unaffected, however, for more information on your order, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Support team from 9am – 5.30pm (GMT) by emailing customersupport@icons.com, calling 020 3904 7600, or by messaging our official Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram pages.

New postal and invoice addresses will be communicated in due course.



2017 Christmas Delivery Information & Opening Hours

We’re all familiar with the mad rush that engulfs the days and weeks leading up to Christmas. With all the frantic preparation, it’s easy to feel like you never have enough hours in the day. That’s why we like to be crystal clear about our dispatch and delivery dates over the festive period – to give you that extra peace of mind when ordering a special gift from Icons.com.

So, if you’re looking for our all-important delivery dates, opening hours and other important information, you’ve come to the right place. But if you can’t find the info you need or you have more questions about our Christmas schedule, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by giving us a ring on 0207 267 3934, by emailing customersupport@icons.com or speaking to our team via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

 

Christmas Delivery

Our offices and warehouse are closed on Saturdays and Sundays so orders placed between 5.30pm (GMT) on Fridays and 9am (GMT) on Mondays will not be processed until we reopen the following week. We always aim to dispatch within 1-2 working days.

This year Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday. The final day for delivery before Christmas to the UK, Europe and North America will be Saturday December 23rd. The final day for delivery before Christmas to the rest of the world (ROW) will be Friday December 22nd. Orders received after the dates outlined below have no guarantee of being delivered in time for Christmas. Orders placed after these dates will be processed once our offices and warehouse reopen on January 2nd, 2018.

Unframed and Pre-Framed Items (via FedEx)

UK, Europe & North America – To deliver for Dec 23rd, orders must be placed no later than noon (GMT) on Dec 21st

ROW – To deliver for Dec 22nd, orders must be placed no later than noon (GMT) on Dec 18th

Classic Framed Items (via DHL)

UK – To deliver for Dec 23rd, orders must be placed no later than noon (GMT) on Dec 18th

Europe, North America & ROW – To deliver for Dec 22nd, orders must be placed no later than noon (GMT) on Dec 14th

Standard, Licensed and Premium Framed Items (via FedEx)

UK, Europe & North America – To deliver for Dec 23rd, orders must be placed no later than noon (GMT) on Dec 13th

ROW – To deliver for Dec 23rd, orders must be placed no later than noon (GMT) on Dec 11th

*Please note* Dispatch is guaranteed, however, at this time of year, couriers may experience difficulties with bad weather and high work loads. Imports and duties are the responsibilities of the customer and can cause delays.

 

Icons Office and Warehouse Opening Hours

Up to (and including) Thursday December 21stMonday – Friday, 9am to 5:30pm (GMT)

Friday December 22nd: 9am – 12pm (GMT)

From Saturday December 23rd up to (and including) Monday January 1stClosed

Tuesday January 2nd onwardsMonday – Friday, 9am to 5:30pm (GMT)

 


For more information on our Christmas schedule, or to track your order, please get in contact with our Customer Support team by using the contact field below. Please note our offices are closed on weekends so messages submitted between Friday 5.30pm (GMT) and Monday 9am (GMT) may experience a longer response time.



Icons Shop Limited Shortlisted For A Sports Business Award

Icons Shop Limited is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted as a finalist in the category of Best Small Business Serving Sport at the Sports Business Awards 2017.

This past year, we celebrated working with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for over a decade. We also announced a brand new licence with The Football Association to produce Official England Licensed Memorabilia, further expanding our range of official licences with the world’s biggest organisations, events and brands, which already included the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA EURO 2016 and Official Messi Signed Merchandise.

In addition, Icons Shop Limited doubled turnover, experienced record sales for the busy Christmas and New Year period, expanded its staff and further strengthened its relationships with the world’s best footballers.

The Sports Business Awards celebrates “the vital influence of business within sport” and “recognises the organisations, teams and individuals who excel in a variety of business, CSR and sports governance disciplines.” The ceremony, which takes on June 2nd at The Brewery in London, will be attended by over 400 professionals from a variety of industries within the world of sport.

Also nominated in our category are All Sport Insurance, Beyond 90, Designwerk, FKPro, HRP Equestrian, ILG Business Ltd and Traveleads.

 

Click here to find out more about the Sports Business Awards. For the full list of finalists, click here.

For all our latest product news, behind the scenes content, giveaways and competitions, please follow Icons on FacebookTwitterInstagram and YouTube.



Icons Announce New Official FA England Memorabilia Licence

FA-Licence-Announcement

We are today proud to announce a brand new licence with The Football Association to provide Icons.com and The England Store with Official England Licensed Memorabilia.

Adding to official licences for FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA EURO 2016 and Lionel Messi signed products, we are delighted to bring together a brand new range of superb items signed by many of England’s finest ever players both past and present.

Many of the products in our brand new range mark the 50th anniversary of English football’s finest hour: the 1966 FIFA World Cup. We have signed items from the heroes of that legendary team; Sir Bobby Charlton, Jack Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst, Gordon Banks, Alan Ball, Martin Peters, Roger Hunt, George Cohen, Nobby Stiles and Ray Wilson. There are team signed shirts both framed and unframed, signed photos, posters, boots, balls and much more among our wide selection.

World Cup Final

Sir Bobby Charlton holds aloft The Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley Stadium on July 30th, 1966

Each and every product will come with an Official England Licensed Memorabilia Certificate of Authenticity which, where possible, gives details of when and where each item was signed. It’s proof that the product is 100% genuine and 100% official.

So, whether you’re feeling nostalgic about legendary achievements of England’s greatest ever players or excited for a new era of Three Lions football under Sam Allardyce, you’re bound to find an item you’ll treasure.

With exciting new products being added to both sites over the coming weeks and months, keep your eyes peeled for more Official England Licensed Memorabilia from the world’s best. The full range is coming to Icons.com soon but if you can’t wait, check out our products on The England Store today!

For more reasons to buy from Icons.com, visit our Why Buy From Us page.

Follow Icons on FacebookTwitter and Instagram for all our latest blog posts, chat and competitions.