IMG - Media services

IMG, world-renowned creators and managers of global sports, fashion and lifestyle events first worked with brandedmedia on the production of corporate hospitality presentation boxes and venue guides for football’s Euro 2008 in Portugal.

It was during discussions that brandedmedia became aware that IMG owned the World’s Strongest Man brand, the premier event in strength athletics. Although only broadcast in the UK on Bank Holidays and epitomised by Geoff Capes in the 1980s, the competition had been running since 1977 and had garnered a strong international following. For over 30 years, the strongest men on the planet have come together in a series of unique and amazing tests of strength, power and endurance to determine the World's Strongest Man. The competition has travelled to stunning and varied locations such as Zambia, Iceland, Mauritius, Malaysia, Morocco, China and the USA. In 2009 the event was due to take place on the Mediterranean island of Malta with television coverage on major sports channels.

brandedmedia approached IMG with regards to re-branding WSM and developing the licensing of the worldwide distribution rights of the brand, including the full license to develop the ecommerce platform and all the brand merchandise online.

With the goal of a re-launch of the brand at the forthcoming Malta 2009 event in sight, brandedmedia redesigned and launched a new WSM logo and website and with the help of WSM legend, Geoff Capes, promoted the brand and event through various media channels such as the BBC, Talksport, and BBC London.

brandedmedia then took a mass of archived WSM footage of past events and, after editing and authoring, the team released and launched the 30 Years of Pain DVD, packaged in a black DVD case with a printed DVD inlay to reflect the new brand.

brandedmedia did not stop there; They developed and managed the distribution channels for the DVD with key UK retailers including Play.com, HMV and Amazon.

Brand development continued with a launch and production of a new merchandising range to include t-shirts, robes, towels, pictures, a 2010 calendar and event clothing for crew and athletes for Malta 2009, together with lanyards, posters and event signage.

WSM 2009 in Malta was a huge success for IMG and once the event was over the promotion continued. brandedmedia edited, authored, packaged and released two more DVDs: 80s Decades and 90s Decades. brandedmedia now services the globe with all merchandise sold on the website via its integrated storage pick, pack and shipping solutions in Basingstoke.

brandedmedia have continued to develop the WSM brand and have negotiated further rights to organise the first WSM live event to be held at Excel London 29/30th May 2010 within The SENI International Combat Sports Show 2010. Athletes will be performing head to head; merchandise will be sold on the stand with big names on hand to meet fans and sign autographs.