Joined: Jul 03 2003 Posts: 11532 Location: The Cloth Capped North
The optimist wrote:Id go to forever reds and say
"Right what do the fans want", i wouldnt go all firmed up with Tarry and co behind me id go and say "im a fan, your a fan what do we want and what would we buy"
Firmed up?
Anyway... As TC has pointed out, the FC model is probably the best idea for a club of our size to get things going in the right direction again. No need to have anything fancy in there, just a basic shop filled with the basic standard items (shirts, scarves, pin badges etc.) and then other items based on fans' suggestions. Supporters want baby stuff? Get it in the shop. Supporters want t-shirts with different players on? Get them in the shop. Have an online shop to compliment it and job's a good 'un.
There are places out there that will let you do a minimum order of 50 items, maybe less, if the club knew how to look in the right place. I know someone who runs a company supplying merchandise to non-league football clubs and the minimum orders are usually between 50 and 200. It's not poor stuff quality stuff, either.
Then you've got tshirtsunited.co.uk - they print t-shirts to order, rather than holding stock. You still get them within a few days. How hard can it be for a club like Salford to get something up and running when both a non-league football club (with only two members of paid staff supported by a load of volunteers, by the way...) and an online company set up by a few United fans who didn't really know what they were doing can run something so successfully.
There's things that the club currently think are pointless that would sell more than they realise. Baby stuff being one, pin badges another. A new badge design every so often would sell. If people knew about it, as well.
Get stuff in that people want and market the hell out of it. It works.
GT wrote:Then you've got tshirtsunited.co.uk - they print t-shirts to order, rather than holding stock. You still get them within a few days. How hard can it be for a club like Salford to get something up and running when both a non-league football club
Quite easy. Applique Apparel on Tib Street, for example, can bill your account every 30 days — so in essence, you can sell a design and get it made up before that period of time. Obviously this model makes the t-shirts more expensive because you don't benefit from economies of scale; but even with a decent profit margin on top, you could easily crack them out at £15 a pop. Reasonable?
Joined: Aug 25 2007 Posts: 413 Location: Walking distance from new ground - so hurry up and build it.
More kids items. These should be non time sensetive and therefore it would take away the excuse of minimum orders. as it would not matter if they were not all sold this season as they could be carried over. The shop should ALWAYS be fully stocked with all of the items in offer. I have recently bought items that they are selling off cheap in the on ground shop becasue they haven't sold. These firstly didn't need to be "sold off" as they wouldn't date and the reason they haven't sold is that they were not on display in the shop. They were kids items (although they bury my kids as they don't do the smaller sizes) and I have asked on a number of occasions about kids things and have been told they don't have them. The reason I was given was that there is no demand, which is strange because I know of several others who have asked the same question and I am sure there are more. I think this would constitute demand.
On the whole the shop needs to be much more professionally run. I am currently looking for work. Giz a job. I'll do it.
Joined: Aug 25 2007 Posts: 413 Location: Walking distance from new ground - so hurry up and build it.
GT wrote:Firmed up?
Anyway... As TC has pointed out, the FC model is probably the best idea for a club of our size to get things going in the right direction again. No need to have anything fancy in there, just a basic shop filled with the basic standard items (shirts, scarves, pin badges etc.) and then other items based on fans' suggestions. Supporters want baby stuff? Get it in the shop. Supporters want t-shirts with different players on? Get them in the shop. Have an online shop to compliment it and job's a good 'un.
There are places out there that will let you do a minimum order of 50 items, maybe less, if the club knew how to look in the right place. I know someone who runs a company supplying merchandise to non-league football clubs and the minimum orders are usually between 50 and 200. It's not poor stuff quality stuff, either.
Then you've got tshirtsunited.co.uk - they print t-shirts to order, rather than holding stock. You still get them within a few days. How hard can it be for a club like Salford to get something up and running when both a non-league football club (with only two members of paid staff supported by a load of volunteers, by the way...) and an online company set up by a few United fans who didn't really know what they were doing can run something so successfully.
There's things that the club currently think are pointless that would sell more than they realise. Baby stuff being one, pin badges another. A new badge design every so often would sell. If people knew about it, as well.
Get stuff in that people want and market the hell out of it. It works.
Joined: Jul 03 2003 Posts: 11532 Location: The Cloth Capped North
Chico wrote:Quite easy. Applique Apparel on Tib Street, for example, can bill your account every 30 days — so in essence, you can sell a design and get it made up before that period of time. Obviously this model makes the t-shirts more expensive because you don't benefit from economies of scale; but even with a decent profit margin on top, you could easily crack them out at £15 a pop. Reasonable?
Very reasonable. I don't think anyone would argue with that price.
I tend to think internet is very important - maybe using E-Bay.
However I looked at Rochdale AFC were offering - not a dissimilar market:
replica kit
training t-shirts etc
legends and other t-shirts, rain gear, and a jumper with the logo
clock, curtains, pennants, a "buddy", tie, torch keyring, gift voucher,
baby dale wear - including towels, bibs, suits, tiny replica kits, v small t-shirts
Ideas?
Sad preacher nailed upon the coloured door of time;
Insane teacher be there reminded of the rhyme.
There'll be no mutant enemy we shall certify;
Political ends, as sad remains, will die.
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