Sale Sharks have announced a partnership with home furniture business Arighi Bianchi.
As part of the deal, the interior design team from the fourth-generation family business have already given the ‘team room’ at the Sharks’ Carrington training ground a makeover, completely re-decorating and re-furnishing the room to provide the players with a space in which they relax and socialise when not training.
Winners of a competition also watched Sale Sharks’ recent hard fought victory over Northampton Saints from the comfort of a luxurious Arighi Bianchi sofa, placed just outside the club’s C&C Insurance Hospitality Suite where they had just enjoyed a three course meal.
As well as running more ‘unique and live’ competitions the partnership will see Sharks’ stars subjected to Big Brother-style video interviews each month in a bid to bolster the connection between fans and players.
Nick Bianchi, Arighi Bianchi Commercial Director, said: “We are delighted to have joined the Sharks family as the club’s first interiors partner.
“Being able to bring fans closer to the squad through insightful and fun video interviews in the team room is a brilliant initiative.
“We will also continue to take it further with the ‘best seat in the house’ competitions, where fans witness Steve Diamond’s men taking on and hopefully beating the very best the Premiership has to offer from an Arighi Bianchi sofa. We’re looking forward to supporting the boys through the rest of the season.”
Arighi Bianchi’s landmark store opened in Macclesfield in 1892, 38 years after Antonio Arighi had a walked to Cheshire on foot from the shores of Lake Como and set up shop making clocks.
Sale Sharks Commercial Director Mark Cueto MBE described Arighi Bianchi as an institution.
He said: “The ‘instant fit’ between us and Arighi Bianchi is what makes this partnership a particularly exciting one.
“It helps that they are a company with a fantastic history and also one with such pedigree.10
“Our supporters are our 16th man, so we’re very much looking forward to the best seat in the house activation as well as the Big Brother style videos in the new team room. It will give our fans real entertainment and value, and will certainly bring them as close as you can get to the squad!”
