Glasses firm has the US in the frame

Hull-based Fan Frames is already the official supplier of club-branded glasses and sunglasses for many of the top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. But it has now signed a deal to sell its products through US-based Sports Endeavours, which has just placed a second order for Arsenal and Chelsea sunglasses.

Fan Frames director Paul Gibson teamed up with the American retailer after he played five-a-side against one of its directors at an Arsenal licensee day. Mr Gibson said: “This deal gives us valuable exposure to the massive American market. There are 19 million active soccer players in America and for every registered player there are five or six supporters.

“We have already had fans getting in touch asking if we do LA Galaxy glasses. We could end up supplying glasses for American soccer clubs, which would be phenomenal.

“We have also had US-based fans asking if we can send over spectacle frames as well sunglasses, so in time we could develop the optical side over there as well.”

Mr Gibson said the company is looking to develop the concept globally and is planning to target the Indian market. “There are 600 million middle class people in India at the moment and there is a massive Manchester United following,” said Mr Gibson.

Fan Frames, which employs five people and forecasts a turnover of £500,000 next year, says it is in talks with several UK optical chains interested in stocking its glasses. The company was founded last year.