Zalgiris Kaunas has been fighting various trading platforms that sell counterfeit club merchandise and scarves for some time, even though Zalgiris has no cooperation agreements with these platforms. In response to these problems, the organization is introducing an innovative solution – official scarves with integrated NFC tags that allow fans to verify the authenticity of the product.
Back in July, Mindaugas Narijauskas, head of Zalgiris Shop, was quoted saying that the club had serious problems with the Temu platform. Legal notices are only partially helpful in this situation – once one seller removes the goods, others soon start offering them.
“We are fighting – our lawyers are sending notices of intellectual property violations, but they are only temporarily removing the products, and after a week they reappear on the platform,” said Narijauskas.
In response to this problem, the Zalgiris organization is introducing a new solution that no other organization in the basketball world is using yet – scarves with integrated NFC tags. In 2017, Nike tested a similar integration in the NBA, where an NFC tag integrated into the jerseys allowed fans to view behind-the-scenes content, such as players arriving at the arena or their music playlists, through a dedicated app.
Meanwhile, Zalgiris’ new scarves are not only a way to combat counterfeiting, but also an innovative way to offer fans exclusive content. Each official scarf purchased at the Zalgiris Shop will have an integrated NFC tag. When fans touch it with their phone, they will see not only a website confirming the authenticity of the scarf, but also an exclusive video of one of the Zalgiris players, available only to fans who have purchased the scarf.
“We’re excited to partner with Zalgiris Kaunas as they become the first basketball club to adopt ZATAP’s smart-merch technology. Together, we’re launching a smart fan scarf that unlocks exclusive digital content and deepen the connection between the club and its supporters. This collaboration sets a new standard for authenticity and fan engagement in European basketball – giving fans a trusted way to verify official merchandise while opening the door to richer, more interactive experiences. We’re proud to support Zalgiris in leading the industry forward as a true first mover,” said Lucas Geisser, Co-Founder & COO of ZATAP.
Ignas Vysniauskas, Zalgiris’ marketing director, emphasizes that the new scarves are a great way to thank fans who choose official club merchandise.
“We want the original merchandise to be more than just a physical object. The smart scarves become a gateway to unique content and future experiences. This is our message and thank you to the fans – by choosing original Zalgiris merchandise, you are not only supporting the club, but also getting something exclusive that no one else can offer,” says Vysniauskas.
In the future, the Zalgiris organization plans to expand integration by providing scarf owners with more content, benefits, and exclusive conditions.
All original Zalgiris merchandise can be found in physical and online Zalgiris Shop stores.
