WHSmith bags Principal Sponsor title of SunRisers Hyderabad

The UK-based retailer WHSmith has become the Principal Sponsor of IPL T20 team SunRisers Hyderabad.
WHSmith along with SunRisers Hyderabad will initiate a slew of in-store activities, on ground promotion and provide merchandises and customised gifts in order to reach out to the cricket fans in India and the Middle East, the company said in a statement.
Apart from that, WHSmith, which is known for operating chain selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, confectionery, beverages, travel essentials and entertainment products, would also sell team jerseys, customised T-shirts, jerseys, players posters and memorabilia signed by the players, it added.
WHSmith currently operates nearly 34 stores in India spread across Airports, Metro Stations, Hospitals.

Commenting on the development, Aventus Retail Group CEO Arun Barathi said: "We will be undertaking lots of marketing initiatives at our store in order to reach out to our target audience and make the game more interesting. We have plans of getting digitally signed bats, balls, caps and other merchandise in our stores for cricket aficionado".
Aventus Retail is the franchisee for WHSmith.
SunRisers Hyderabad CEO K Shanmugam said: "We are glad to have WHSmith as our lead sponsor on board with us. We take this opportunity to welcome them for partnering us and looking forward to a great season ahead".

Founded in 1792, WHSmith currently operates over 1200 stores in the UK and a number of other international locations, including Delhi, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Melbourne and Sydney airports.