[cite]Posted By: WhenIwasLittleBoy[/cite]It has been a problem a Charlton for many years, they could get so much more revenue from the club shop but whoever is in charge of merchandising seems to have no idea, they could do more leisure wear, more for the kids as well novel things, in which generates more income for the club.
its a pet gripe of mine.
Charlton merchandising should have two impacts:
1. To raise further revenue for the club
2. To third party advertise the club, particularly in the local areas.
I think we fail on both counts, and have done for years.
Joma as kit suppliers doesn't help the cause either
With all due respect some of the lines on there are never going to sell..... there should also,surely there merchandising manager should be doing an anylisis of the stock that sells well and build on them.
How many people are going to buy hair bands. or hair cubes.
AS much as i love the club who in there right mind is going to spend a tenner on two pairs of pants.
Maybe i have been in sales to long, but the shop and whole layout needs a radical shake up. The club could or should look at investing in the size of the shop. Either building another floor, or a new store, how many people cannot either get in the door, or cant find anything, make it user friendly, and the figures would treble, its not rocket science.
I think what gets me more than anything is that over the years the womenwear has left a lot to be desired. Pink, Blue and then Green - Charlton is Red!!! and as a fan that's the colour that I want to wear.
I know that revenue for the club is hard at the moment but I'm sure there are enough female fans that would buy the merchandise to cover the costs of making it.
Last year I bought a fitted t-shirt from a stall outside that was black and had red CAFC on the front for £6 now if a stall holder can make this and sell it then I'm sure the club can.
The stalls outside the ground are better than the shop, i have bought numerous things from the stalls over the years, as they offer a good range of clothing, at resonable rates
[cite]Posted By: WhenIwasLittleBoy[/cite]The stalls outside the ground are better than the shop, i have bought numerous things from the stalls over the years, as they offer a good range of clothing, at resonable rates
which is why the club council got the stalls closed.
I know little about retail but the shops (plural) do raise income. How that compares to another club I can't say but not sure how you can say it fails to do this?
Buiding another floor or extending the shop would be great but would the cost be covered by the additional income brought in? Figures would Treble? Really. What is that based on?
I think part of the problem is that the SE7 shop is fairly quiet compared to a high st store 13 days out of 14 and very busy on the 14th day and I can't see how that will ever change. The new shop in B'heath is in a more prominant location and seems to be trading well
Why not make these suggestions to the guy responsible Michael.rea@cafc.co.uk (he'll love me for saying that).
[cite]Posted By: WhenIwasLittleBoy[/cite]The stalls outside the ground are better than the shop, i have bought numerous things from the stalls over the years, as they offer a good range of clothing, at resonable rates
which is why the[strike]club[/strike]council got the stalls closed.
Come on, nothing to do with them not having a licence to trade, infringing copyright and having no overheads then. I wonder if they pay their staff sick pay, National Insurance, etc as well.
And no way, IMHO, is the stuff they sold better quality than the stuff in the shop now. Cheaper maybe but not better quality.
[cite]Posted By: Rothko[/cite]I tend to be able to buy better badges from the stalls then in the shop.
Plus I don't think the club should be excused for putting us in a Blue away kit this season
The blue kit that is selling very well. Strange as no one wants what is in the shop!!!!!!
Some people can't help themselves! Blue is bad, and the whole Catford excuse for it was a joke, it supposely looks good with jeans and chavvy tracksuit bottoms is the real reason
The merchandising manager is not the most accomaditing when it comes to suggestions, and has told me that he is running a business and not a charity when i approached him about the new away kit for toddlers. I found his opinions very disturbing and as a commericil for one the leading title in a particular sector, you always have to think of new ideas, think outside the box,find out what clients want, never become complacent, there are numerous things you could do to generate more income.The additional expense to build either another shop or level to accomadate the merchandise and make it more customer friendly would surely in the grand scene of things be minimal compared to the return, Surely Henry your position should be an unbiased one and not one who is sitting on the board of the club? Are you this objective around the boardroom
if the shop in Bexleyheath is trading well its in spite of the shop, not because of it.
It is simply tiny, unenticing and appears to have nothing on offer apart from replica shirts. The actual product range is around 15 items, which is absolutely crazy.
Whereas Bluewater is more targetted at singles, couples in their 20s and 30s, Bexleyheath Broadway is prime family shopping. If we had a decent sized unit, you could flood it with items that would sell, particularly driven at kids. Thousands upon thousands pass through our soccer schools each year and get a taste of Charlton. Don't underestimate the amount of tat that mum's and grandparents out shopping would buy, or how much wider the Charlton message could be spread. .
How many people are aware you can buy match tickets from the Bexleyheath store ?
How many know you can buy the matchday programme on a Saturday morning ?
there is so much potential there, and seeing us dip our toe because we're either too scared or naive to be bolder, is really frustrating.
I'm not going to pretend to like replica shirts cos everyone knows I don't but the shop sells them and people seem to like them enough to buy them. You can't have it both ways and say there's nothing to buy, it's all rubbish but some people can't help themselves.
As for Chavvy Tracksuit bottoms I wouldn't know. I don't wear tracksuits unlike someone else, Rothko : - )
[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]I'm not going to pretend to like replica shirts cos everyone knows I don't but the shop sells them and people seem to like them enough to buy them. You can't have it both ways and say there's nothing to buy, it's all rubbish but some people can't help themselves.
As for Chavvy Tracksuit bottoms I wouldn't know. I don't wear tracksuits unlike someone else, Rothko : - )
Never worn a pair since I could buy my own clothes, thank you!
[cite]Posted By: WhenIwasLittleBoy[/cite]The stalls outside the ground are better than the shop, i have bought numerous things from the stalls over the years, as they offer a good range of clothing, at resonable rates
which is why the[strike]club[/strike]council got the stalls closed.
Come on, nothing to do with them not having a licence to trade, infringing copyright and having no overheads then. I wonder if they pay their staff sick pay, National Insurance, etc as well.
And no way, IMHO, is the stuff they sold better quality than the stuff in the shop now. Cheaper maybe but not better quality.
i had tongue in cheek, but to state the better quality of official club stuff simply isn't true. How many of had kits with curly collars over the years, how many people had to get their home shirt replaced because the Llanera had fallen off ? (possibly a Mystic Meg indicator of their future).
The club do so many things so well, and have done for years. But merchandising and maximising the link between the community work and retail sales have been a long-running disappointment.
[cite]Posted By: WhenIwasLittleBoy[/cite]The merchandising manager is not the most accomaditing when it comes to suggestions, and has told me that he is running a business and not a charity when i approached him about the new away kit for toddlers. I found his opinions very disturbing and as a commericil for one the leading title in a particular sector, you always have to think of new ideas, think outside the box,find out what clients want, never become complacent, there are numerous things you could do to generate more income.The additional expense to build either another shop or level to accomadate the merchandise and make it more customer friendly would surely in the grand scene of things be minimal compared to the return, Surely Henry your position should be an unbiased one and not one who is sitting on the board of the club? Are you this objective around the boardroom
Where am I not being objective? I get really fed up with the very stale arguement that if I point out any flaw or alternative view I've some how become biased. Fact is I do sit on the board of the club.
You are making sweeping statements such as "additional expense to build either another shop or level to accomadate the merchandise and make it more customer friendly would surely in the grand scene of things be minimal compared to the return" and expect me to take that to a board meeting where the first thing I'm going to be asked is "show us the figures". I said I know little to nothing about retail but in any business you have to have a cost benefit analysis. Where is yours to back up your statement that the cost would be minimal compared to the return. What is the cost and what is the expected increase in sales. What percentage increase on current sales? Over how many years would the club get it's investment back?
AFKA, I said NOW not in the past. All the Llanara shirts with the dodgy lettering were replaced free of charge with a brand new shirt. I agree some of the stuff in the past was poor.
Why are you attacking me personally rather than backing up your outlandish statements of trebling income in the shop.
Perhaps because you have nothing to back up that and your other statements so want to switch the arguement to one of personal insults. Not going to work. I'm still waiting for the cost benefit analysis that will triple shop income but I'm not holding my breath.
Comments
Joma as kit suppliers doesn't help the cause either
How many people are going to buy hair bands. or hair cubes.
AS much as i love the club who in there right mind is going to spend a tenner on two pairs of pants.
Maybe i have been in sales to long, but the shop and whole layout needs a radical shake up. The club could or should look at investing in the size of the shop. Either building another floor, or a new store, how many people cannot either get in the door, or cant find anything, make it user friendly, and the figures would treble, its not rocket science.
I know that revenue for the club is hard at the moment but I'm sure there are enough female fans that would buy the merchandise to cover the costs of making it.
Last year I bought a fitted t-shirt from a stall outside that was black and had red CAFC on the front for £6 now if a stall holder can make this and sell it then I'm sure the club can.
Sorry rant over....
which is why the club council got the stalls closed.
Buiding another floor or extending the shop would be great but would the cost be covered by the additional income brought in? Figures would Treble? Really. What is that based on?
I think part of the problem is that the SE7 shop is fairly quiet compared to a high st store 13 days out of 14 and very busy on the 14th day and I can't see how that will ever change. The new shop in B'heath is in a more prominant location and seems to be trading well
Why not make these suggestions to the guy responsible Michael.rea@cafc.co.uk (he'll love me for saying that).
Plus I don't think the club should be excused for putting us in a Blue away kit this season
Come on, nothing to do with them not having a licence to trade, infringing copyright and having no overheads then. I wonder if they pay their staff sick pay, National Insurance, etc as well.
And no way, IMHO, is the stuff they sold better quality than the stuff in the shop now. Cheaper maybe but not better quality.
The blue kit that is selling very well. Strange as no one wants what is in the shop!!!!!!
Some people can't help themselves! Blue is bad, and the whole Catford excuse for it was a joke, it supposely looks good with jeans and chavvy tracksuit bottoms is the real reason
It is simply tiny, unenticing and appears to have nothing on offer apart from replica shirts. The actual product range is around 15 items, which is absolutely crazy.
Whereas Bluewater is more targetted at singles, couples in their 20s and 30s, Bexleyheath Broadway is prime family shopping. If we had a decent sized unit, you could flood it with items that would sell, particularly driven at kids. Thousands upon thousands pass through our soccer schools each year and get a taste of Charlton. Don't underestimate the amount of tat that mum's and grandparents out shopping would buy, or how much wider the Charlton message could be spread. .
How many people are aware you can buy match tickets from the Bexleyheath store ?
How many know you can buy the matchday programme on a Saturday morning ?
there is so much potential there, and seeing us dip our toe because we're either too scared or naive to be bolder, is really frustrating.
As for Chavvy Tracksuit bottoms I wouldn't know. I don't wear tracksuits unlike someone else, Rothko : - )
Never worn a pair since I could buy my own clothes, thank you!
i had tongue in cheek, but to state the better quality of official club stuff simply isn't true. How many of had kits with curly collars over the years, how many people had to get their home shirt replaced because the Llanera had fallen off ? (possibly a Mystic Meg indicator of their future).
The club do so many things so well, and have done for years. But merchandising and maximising the link between the community work and retail sales have been a long-running disappointment.
Where am I not being objective? I get really fed up with the very stale arguement that if I point out any flaw or alternative view I've some how become biased. Fact is I do sit on the board of the club.
You are making sweeping statements such as "additional expense to build either another shop or level to accomadate the merchandise and make it more customer friendly would surely in the grand scene of things be minimal compared to the return" and expect me to take that to a board meeting where the first thing I'm going to be asked is "show us the figures". I said I know little to nothing about retail but in any business you have to have a cost benefit analysis. Where is yours to back up your statement that the cost would be minimal compared to the return. What is the cost and what is the expected increase in sales. What percentage increase on current sales? Over how many years would the club get it's investment back?
Yawn. Such an non-arguement.
Yawn. Such an non-arguement.[/quote]
So its makes u a director then
Well we won't know until a year's time in that case :-)
Not sure what AllSports has to do with this....
Yes, I'm a director but I'm also a fan. Is that too difficult a concept to understand?
I see you haven't given me your cost benefit analysis or are you working on it as I type
It's like being in the playground again!
Perhaps because you have nothing to back up that and your other statements so want to switch the arguement to one of personal insults. Not going to work. I'm still waiting for the cost benefit analysis that will triple shop income but I'm not holding my breath.