The reaction to Franklin Regional School District’s announcement that school-branded merchandise would be consolidated under a single vendor was swift and harsh.
Negative criticism came from groups across the district that purchase branded merch for athletes, clubs, fundraisers and more. Parents and boosters aired concerns about not being able to shop for the best prices, and about the $2 and $3 fees that will be tacked onto any purchases meant for boosters or fundraising.
Discussion on social media centered around boycotting the new Panther’s Den store as well as Unity Printing, the sole provider of Franklin Regional merchandise under the exclusive 3-year contract.
Some also suggested using older, different or non-trademarked school logos to create unofficial merchandise, and last week an online store showed up offering just that.
The “Rock the Mock” store, hosted by online printing company Printify, currently offers four items — coffee, a Christmas ornament and two T-shirts — featuring a child’s hand-scrawled version of the new, trademarked logo and a speech bubble with the Franklin Regional Panther saying “Roar.”
The online store does not have any information about who created it. Printify officials did not return multiple messages seeking comment.
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Franklin Regional Superintendent Gennaro Piraino declined to comment on any vendor previously or currently selling merchandise with a version of the school’s logo.
