The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Gerry Davis Sports (GDS) have reached an agreement that provides officials with the opportunity to save money when they purchase equipment or uniforms for game assignments. January 23, 2009
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Gerry Davis Sports (GDS) have reached an agreement that provides officials with the opportunity to save money when they purchase equipment or uniforms for game assignments.
This partnership allows every IHSA licensed official to receive a 7.5% discount based on the already competitive retail prices of virtually all GDS products. The discount applies to on-line purchases through the GDS Web site, to telephone orders, to mail-in customers, and to anyone visiting the GDS facility in Appleton, Wisconsin. The discount is effective year-round and it applies to products in all sports no matter which IHSA sports an official works.
An innovative revenue-sharing provision will return a portion of each purchase by an official to the IHSA. That money is earmarked to supplement the officials’ licensing programs offered by the IHSA.
GDS President Gerry Davis is a 26-year Major League Baseball umpire and crew chief, and a former high school basketball official in Wisconsin. “A lot of people who are fortunate enough to have a career in sports talk about ‘giving back’ to the people and programs who helped them develop their skills,” said Davis. “We want to give a portion of our profits back to our fellow officials, and working with the IHSA is a natural and exciting connection. As more and more IHSA officials participate, the number of dollars will grow from year to year and the officials’ programs will continue to evolve.”
With more than 12,500 licensed officials in Illinois, the program will quickly take on a win-win-win reputation. Individual officials will save money on each purchase, the IHSA will see a direct benefit from every transaction, and the enhanced educational programs will help have a positive, long-term impact on officials’ retention and performance.
GDS is currently working on product line additions. It will expand quickly beyond its current focus on baseball, softball, basketball and football officials. While many of those products are commonly used in other sports, a “full line” of officiating products will be on hand in 2009.
“Make no mistake, we know this is a program that will have to develop over time,” Davis said. “Our business has been successful because we’ve focused on products made especially for officials, and that focus has been in sports we know from personal officiating experience. Now we’ll work directly with officiating leaders in each sport, around Illinois and in other states. We’ll ask for their advice to insure the products we add to our inventory are exactly what the working men and women need and want.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to work with Gerry Davis Sports and all the positives that will come out of this partnership,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “This deal gives our officials access to quality equipment at exceptional prices, while also helping create resources for the officials through the generous revenue sharing program we have agreed upon. We believe this is a program that will be extremely beneficial to the IHSA, IHSA officials, and Gerry Davis Sports for years to come.”
Licensed IHSA officials are coded in the GDS database, so the discount will apply automatically. A short list of already-discounted products is excluded from the program: starter kits, combo packs, sewing and embroidery services, educational products, sale and closeout items, and special orders.
The IHSA discount will not be visible when placing an on-line order. The discount will be applied as the products ship and will be noted on the invoice customers receive when packages arrive.
There are two easy ways to access the GDS on-line store. Either click on the Gerry Davis Sports logo that appears on the officials center located on the IHSA Web site or go directly to www.gerrydavis.com.
Officials should use their e-mail address to establish a login identifier on the GDS page. Customers will establish their own personal password. Officials can also contact GDS by phone: 800-916-9088.
If you have questions about the program, please contact the IHSA or safe@gerrydavis.com.