Bermudian entrepreneur Hayley Evans has an eye for a gap in the market.

The operator of Island Fresh – the meal box delivery company – is now the local agent for Scimitar Sports, the UK-based custom team and corporate wear brand, after the organisation’s Cayman Islands-based owner approached her with the opportunity.

Ms Evans said: “Scimitar had a very large market share within Cayman and in the UK. It is a very fast growing brand and I thought there was a need here on the island.

“Across the board, we felt the quality of the merchandise that teams and companies had was for the most part not even close to the quality we could provide and they were paying way more than they should be.”

Recognising the breadth of the market, which includes national team and recreational athletes as well as companies that require office uniforms and businesses that host corporate events, Ms Evans sent out curated brochures to sports teams and companies and also drove around the island with sample garments.

She said the business “kicked off” with her former cycling coach Peter Dunne, president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, requesting team wear for the island’s Commonwealth Games team.

Scimitar Bermuda provided track suits and track jackets for the team that competed at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, England.

Ms Evans said: “From this, we are talking with BOA about kitting Team Bermuda out for the CAC and Pan Am Games.”

Scimitar Bermuda has also equipped Terrace Onions FC of the Corona League, as well as teams participating in the Bermuda Ball Hockey League.

Of the latter, Ms Evans said: “Having to use stock colours/pantones meant their teams tended to clash in colours so they were very chuffed to have the ability to curate all their team colours and designs.”

The avid runner said Scimitar Bermuda has provided T-shirts for a number of runs – Sharon Craig at Mid Atlantic Athletic Club has been championing the brand – and will be providing T-shirts for the Bermuda Half Marathon Derby this year.

Ms Evans said: “As a runner myself – I did Ironkids, every triathlon, the Butterfield and Vallis 5K – the cotton T-shirts we got were never actually used to run the race. They were too hot and too baggy.

“We decided to jazz up the fun run T-shirts. We have an Island Fresh 5K, and participants actually wore their free T-shirts. I have seen people wearing their Island Fresh shirts at other races too.”

She said Scimitar Bermuda can provide sports teams with kit, tracksuits, kit bags, and water bottles – as well as supplying companies organising a corporate event and needing flags, banners, T-shirts, lanyards, and more.

Ms Evans said clients have appreciated dealing with someone locally, rather than with one or more people overseas.

“Our advantage is our customer service. We are on the island and we are just a phone call or e-mail away to deliver samples or get in touch.

“We are there to finalise all artwork, invoicing, shipping tracking and, if needed, deliver to your door.

“We just want to make sure the events go well or the sports team looks and feels amazing.”