To be honest , the reaction online when photos were released was massively positive , they must have had an idea how popular it was going to be , usually opinions are 50-50 but this was getting praised by tv programmes, betting websites etc…. It just feels like everything is hard work with this club whether it’s their own fault or not . Some people just want to buy their teams shirt and buy a ticket to watch the team, but it’s not that simple .. ha
How many would you have pre ordered then in the same situation ? Untried new kit, a fanbase that had been decimated due to the lockdown and people cancelling, probably the lowest number of season ticket ( membership) holders for a generation and more, and at the time of ordering probably uncertainty when crowds would be allowed into stadiums again. Everyone is an expert with the benefit of hindsight.
I honestly thought you'd have come away with something a bit more structured based on your own knowledge of the industry and current buying trends.
Personally, I'd have taken one look at that shirt and doubled or trebled the order normally placed, they certainly wouldn't have sold out before they arrived.
Deciding how many to buy of something, bearing in mind all those things (other than my membership sales obviously) is what I have to do every day. I do it with the benefit of forty years experience, rather than hindsight.
So how many would you have ordered ? Also with all your experience in the clothing business why haven't you designed or sourced some sportswear for the club ? Surely there is an opportunity there ?
I've offered in the past, offered to help with guidance on the casualwear for the shop for free as well, they weren't interested.
Perhaps you should try again ? Things do change you know. I have experienced the knock back myself in the very early 70's. I bought a job lot of men's jumpers which had 'Hull City' written across them from Edwin Davis when they were closing down. This was way before you could buy replica shirts or any clothing with the club badge or name on it. I offered them to the club, and I'm still waiting for the reply. Made myself a few quid though. No-one would argue with you if you said the club shop could do with a re-vamp.
Just out of interest(I know nothing of how buying and selling works).The adult top retails at,I think,£46.99? How much would something like this cost to buy in bulk? And would there still be profit when they start to go on sale at the tail end of a season?I know a lot of people who wait for the sales to buy our football shirts.
I could tell you roughly how much they'll be paying for the general clothing they sell in the club shop, but on the shirts I have no idea, as it's part of the shirt sponsorship deal with Umbro and I have no idea how that's structured (if the shirt was structured like any other clothing, a £47 top would cost about £19).
City have always been a bit dilatory with merchandising. Remember around 1980 when clubs started doing v neck pullovers with club badges on? City were slow on the uptake so Dave Dewberry got hold of some pullovers and got a woman to embroider the club badge on it. Got bought by people he knew in The Well. Still got mine somewhere, my son wouldn't believe I once fitted in it when I dug it out years ago until his mum confirmed I once had. Anyway the club weren't happy but it turned out they couldn't do anything as no one had ever trademarked any of our club badges. One of the most instantly recognisable badges going as well, unbelievable. Soon after they started selling identical ones. Same with those tiger pattern shirts. City never got any rights to the shirts being sold and loads were sold, especially in London, without the badge on, to individuals and clubs.
Think we are reading too much into this...Great kit...bigger sales....not expected...even I'm buying one lol
Just heard from a pal, age 70, who had his prostate removed, cancer. Says he still cycles, goes to the gym, sails his boat and has sex. My wife's put my name down to have mine out...
Reminds me of the old joke, a man writes to Tampax to complain that after using their product for three months he still cannot swim, ride a bike or play tennis. No idea how that fits in with the 21st century modern day thinking.