As production of the NASCAR range of shields went into full swing, EGR signed licensing agreements with the National Hockey League (NHL) to produce shields for the 2006 season. The new series proudly bear the colours and logos of 32 American and Canadian hockey teams.
"It's been a big year for Logo Shields," according to a very pleased Geoff Thompson - President of EGR Inc. "We've completed a massive amount of design and prototype work, and secured licensing for two of the USA's largest sports and almost 50 of our largest and most prestigious universities."
"All of the designers, as well as the product development and production teams, have done a great job in helping to get the products licensed," he said.
The continuing expansion of the Logo Shield range builds on the initial
success of the 'red white and blue' Patriot Shield, launched after 9-11. Military and Collegiate Shields followed soon afterwards.
It was EGR Inc.'s Sales Team who came up with the concept of turning a functional vehicle accessory into a 'canvas' for car owners to physically show their support for their sporting teams (or their country in the case of the Patriot Shield). The NASCAR Shields are expected to be particularly popular, with NASCAR racing now America's number one spectator sport and its competition season running almost 12 months of the year.
"The Logo Shields are still in their infancy, and you always expect a new concept to take a while to get out in the market and be accepted," Geoff explained. "But the Shields have really taken off, and the NHL's acceptance of our designs will boost its popularity even more."
Ice hockey is also one of the most popular sports in the USA and Canada - and its fans love to publicly support their teams. The NHL already offers the largest range of officially licensed merchandise which includes your traditional caps and jerseys to more unusual items such as construction hard hats and floor rugs - and soon, Hood Shields.