Most liked posts in thread: Club Shop

I don't think it's a case of not bothered, more a case of managing risk. With all the faults and criticisms before at least the Club had only the risk of the Shop Operator not paying the rent. Agreed BCFC should possibly have been more forceful regarding the shop standards but it was always financially secure. Then Edin with his control freakery decided BCFC could do a better job in the new building, despite my comments to the contrary. Don't laugh but he actually said to me "You see Roger I know all about retail and selling", that to me who had developed, opened, converted or acquired some 350 stores in my time! He went on to tell me I knew nothing about retail lighting but he had a mate who did. This mate then supplied exactly the same light fitting I would have used but wired to non UK standards which had to be corrected. It would have been better if ER had admitted he knew nothing about retail and of course he then abandoned the shop and blamed someone else when things went wrong as I knew they would with the financial impact that was inevitable.
Far from your criticism of Julian and Stefan you, like me should breath a sigh of relief that this is another area of the Club where some sanity is being restored but your comments about quality are valid and I hope will be implemented when the change over formally occurs at the end of the month. I believe.

 

May be if they sold quality products they would make more brass. Some decent stuff out there from independents like Hallyink etc.

Folk are crying out for replica historic kits from the 80’s & 90’s & the club, as usual missing an opportunity, especially as this year’s kit was shite

 

The club shop has been garbage for many, many years, long before Edin pitched up. Its been a shadow of what it was in the late 1990's! So I am surprised no in-house retail expert didn't advise and improve it in all that time?

It's selling to a large captive local market with no serious competition, come on! It's been pathetic for a decade & more, I've been in countless times for son/niece/nephew birthdays & xmas and bought FA.

 

Retailing is a skill and one that top retailers pay lots of money to attract those skills, For instance every square foot of a supermarket is mapped out and a target for sales set against every foot and every product must hit a target or be dropped, They study customer flows throughout the store and where they are likely to spend putting items on row ends will boost those sales as customers change isle, This is just one of the skills that retailing teaches to extract sales and tempt us to spend, There are many more that stores use that make a difference, There is a huge difference between hiring someone who has worked in a shop and someone who knows the art of retailing

 

Maybe they will stock it with decent gear instead of the overpriced tat thats in there now

 

Meaning it to be pivotal to the makeup of our Club and integral to it's integrity as a Brand. Advertising and perception of a Brand are important in maximising revenue streams in my experience.Image is important. Don't watch the Apprentice but I have held responsibility for expanding a National retail chain from 30 to 150 high street units back in the '80's..so speaking from being successful in that area.

 

Wandered in this morning it made for a sorry sight. Considering that most fans swore to swerve the sale of former player kit ? Wasn't much to be had but for just under 14 quid I walked out with Chicksens rain jacket for a fiver- decent quality & chick ! ..I mean nick. The blue away shirt new and McGovens shorts for 7 quid and two City lanyards. I'll shove them in my flight bag for California in a few'weeks !

 

There is no risk with a franchise no stock not selling and costing money and with a guaranteed income it’s easier to plan

 

Totally agree and unfortunately the club don’t take the shop seriously. When they advertised for a store manager they were offering about £20k for an experienced store manager to run it and start from scratch. They were never going to get decent applicants for it at that level working for the club in the state it was.

 

The responsibility is on the shoulders of those recruiting for that position.

 

This years kit was the worst I’ve seen for god knows how long. Basically the German flags colours not citys own. First time I’ve not bought a kit in years. Revert to claret and amber stripes and see sales revenues improve. Simple.

 

He knows how to spend other people's money if that counts?

 

Earlier this season I was going to an away game down south. I called into the club shop to buy a scarf for my ex-Bradford Uni mate who I was meeting at the match. He wanted a standard claret and amber striped scarf (the Harry Potter type) - nothing fancy. They didn't stock them. Unbelievable.

 

Alternatively they have been offered more money to outsource it

 

Time for us to up our game and employ our retail/marketing expertise to the max. A vital part of the organisation, we have to get it right and use the best concept, design, signage and floor layout skills available. I agree, we should start with a professional and quality product. To whom it may concern..please get to it and demonstrate a desire to be the best outlet space it can be. Our Brand is our DNA and should be revered and respected as such imo.

 

Our brand is our DNA?

What does that actually mean? Or did you hear someone on the apprentice say it and thought it sounds good?

 

Over 7 years in my tenure and a further 3 later. In my opinion overstretched by expanding when the market share was eventually only increased through new store openings. I absolutely agree with the point you make Storck and feel passionate that whether it be queuing too long for poor quality half time nibbles or warm beer served by understaffed franchises who appear not to care, standards have to be high and DO reflect on the Club image. Our relegation illustrates the negative effect on revenue streams and whilst cutting our cloth accordingly, we still need to maximise our profitability.Just about every square foot of our Stadium offers a revenue opportunity so we should be thinking out of the box to capitalise imo.

 

So basically, from someone who knows naff all about selling or retailing, what I want to see when I go into the shop are items which reflect the clubs identity, are good quality, reasonably priced and enough on show to satisfy demand. And by club identity I am on the side of the "stripers" it is a unique colour/design so should be utilised to the fullest degree.

 

I wonder if ER actually knows anything about anything,
apart from how not to do something right?

 

I will pass your comments to Julian and Paula Watson the Ops Manager tomorrow. Paula is a former Asda Manager who knows the issues.