CASE STUDY

Custom Netball Merchandise for the Woolworths NetSetGO Program

Our sports licensing partner needed support to plan and source custom netball merchandise for the Woolworths NetSetGO since 2021.

The project involved coordinating suppliers and custom manufacturing across multiple categories, including netball mould development and production across two factories to ensure consistency at scale.

The Challenge

Manufacturing at Scale

The Woolworths NetSetGO required large production volumes from the first year, including over 70,000 participant netballs and more than 80,000 participant T-shirts. Meeting this scale required reliable manufacturing capacity and careful production planning.

Consistency Across Factories

To achieve required netball volumes, production was split across two factories. This introduced complexity around mould development, materials, branding placement, and finish. Ensuring products from both facilities were visually and technically consistent was critical.

Multi-Category Coordination

Alongside netballs and participant T-shirts, the program included custom water bottles, caps, and bucket hats. Coordinating multiple suppliers, production timelines, quality standards, and logistics across apparel and equipment added operational complexity that required close oversight.

The Solution

To meet large volume requirements, netballs required custom mould development and coordinated production across two factories. Sphere Resources oversaw specification alignment, sampling stages, and structured approval processes to ensure consistent materials, branding placement, and finish across all netballs, despite being produced at separate facilities.

This structured manufacturing approach reduced production risk and enabled reliable scaling across the wider merchandise range, including participant T-shirts, water bottles, caps, and bucket hats. Through controlled supplier coordination and consolidated shipping, our partner was able to confidently deliver program-ready merchandise for the Woolworths NetSetGO at national scale.

The Objectives

Support our partner in delivering large-scale, custom netball merchandise for the Woolworths NetSetGO, including high-volume netballs and participant apparel from the first year.
Ensure consistent quality, specifications, and visual presentation across products manufactured by multiple suppliers and factories.
Reduce operational complexity through phased production, consolidated shipping, and coordination with other inbound shipments at a national scale.

The Results

Large-Scale Program Delivery

Our sports licensing partner successfully delivered custom netball merchandise for the Woolworths NetSetGO at national scale. First-year production exceeded 70,000 netballs and 80,000 participant T-shirts, meeting volume requirements without compromising quality or timelines.

custom netball merchandise for netsetgo program

Consistent Manufacturing Outcomes

Netballs produced across two factories matched in materials, branding placement, color, and finish. Controlled mould development, clear specifications, and structured approvals ensured visually and technically consistent products across all production runs.

Streamlined Supply & Logistics

Phased production and consolidated shipping were coordinated alongside other inbound goods. This simplified delivery planning, reduced handling complexity, and ensured products arrived in line with program schedules.

Custom Netball Merchandise - Participation from Woolworths NetSetGO

National Netball Program Success

This project represents one of many programs supported through a long-standing partnership with our sports licensing partner. It highlights how established working relationships, clear processes, and manufacturing experience enable complex, large-scale merchandise programs to be delivered with consistency and confidence.

The learnings from this program continue to support ongoing collaboration and future merchandise initiatives for national participation programs such as the Woolworths NetSetGO.