Are Aberdeen Missing A Trick?

[Stoney]

With interest in the club at a recent high and a buzz about the city would this not be the ideal opportunity to open an outlet in the city centre - selling merchandise, tickets - player signings for kids etc.

 

The amount of non official merchandise doing the rounds just now is beyond a joke, hardly any official club shirts / hoodies / phone covers on the go.

 

Another thing, while the club is doing so well would it not be advisable to start advertising / selling season tickets for next season, whilst im confident about the Semi final should St Johnstone mug us it might have an impact on potential sales.

 

From a budgeting point of view surely would also make sense to try and get some money in for the summer so the manager knows how much money to spend.

 

Perhaps a tad early on the season ticket front...... but im sure you get the point.

[Dandyesque]

It may be the case the club are holding off on the season tickets until after the semi final.

 

If we win that, it would be a real opportunity to tie renewals in with final tickets in the way Hearts did the other year.

 

As far as a shop goes, the club have had city centre outlets before - I am under the impression they were not widely used. I'm sure the marketing department will have looked at it, but if someone else already has a licence for the Trinity centre or Union Sq stands, there's not much they can do.

[Stoney]

It may be the case the club are holding off on the season tickets until after the semi final.

 

If we win that, it would be a real opportunity to tie renewals in with final tickets in the way Hearts did the other year.

 

As far as a shop goes, the club have had city centre outlets before - I am under the impression they were not widely used. I'm sure the marketing department will have looked at it, but if someone else already has a licence for the Trinity centre or Union Sq stands, there's not much they can do.

 

The one in the academy was really popular - the guy that worked in it sits with us at pittodrie he always said how well it did, in particular a lot of people were buying tickets from there.

 

They did quite well from the one at the academy but its hard to tell how popular that would be outwith the festive period.

 

But surely a pop up shop similar to the last one know that the next few months interest is at an all time high.

[StandFree1982]

The club are getting better. It's maybe a case that we're looking for something more permanent to put a shop in and around town. McInnes wants the club to have moire presence around the city centre, so I think this would definitely be on the cards.

[Guest]

Stupid thread. The max a shop with overheads could turn as profit is insignificant compared to the core business, putting bums on seats by investing in the product. Given the millions Milne has racked up in debt, no amount of retail success would make any difference, given the potential. Would probably lose money with the rent alone. The customers know where they can buy AFC stuff.

[Mr John]

Aye there was a shop in town for years, it's clearly better business sense to stick it next to the stadium. Aberdeen isn't a massive place, if people want stuff, they can travel down to Pittodrie. And there's a website shop anyway, this is old school thinking.

 

That said, the website is sold out of this season's home shirt, which I hated when it was released last season, but has "sentimental value" now, anyone know if the shop at the stadium has any left in XXL (short sleeves)? Even though I'm not a fan of adidas, I want a memento of this season.

 

Tall, not fat, yo.

[Pudgie]

Stupid thread. The max a shop with overheads could turn as profit is insignificant compared to the core business, putting bums on seats by investing in the product. Given the millions Milne has racked up in debt, no amount of retail success would make any difference, given the potential. Would probably lose money with the rent alone. The customers know where they can buy AFC stuff.

You put a shop, or even a pop up stand selling tickets and the passing trade will add on 500 to a gate. Sell home and away tops, little shite for the kids and tickets. The passing trade will get kids interested and hopefully build a base of young fans that may have otherwise not even known we had a football club. It has been all to easy to forget we had a football club for so many years. All for £5k to £6k a month cost.

[StandFree1982]

The customers do know where they can buy Dons tops, but surely having Aberdeen tops available in the centre of town can only improve the exposure that AFC get. Shops in town are full of Old Firm and English PL tops and not a single AFC stitch.

[spamspamspam]

With interest in the club at a recent high and a buzz about the city would this not be the ideal opportunity to open an outlet in the city centre - selling merchandise, tickets - player signings for kids etc.

 

The amount of non official merchandise doing the rounds just now is beyond a joke, hardly any official club shirts / hoodies / phone covers on the go.

 

Another thing, while the club is doing so well would it not be advisable to start advertising / selling season tickets for next season, whilst im confident about the Semi final should St Johnstone mug us it might have an impact on potential sales.

 

From a budgeting point of view surely would also make sense to try and get some money in for the summer so the manager knows how much money to spend.

 

Perhaps a tad early on the season ticket front...... but im sure you get the point.

 

 

The shop on Bridge St was closed because of costs. Costs far too much in rent, rates, staff etc to even come close to making any money.

Maybe a stall in Union Square once or twice a week, a shop would be an expense, not a money maker.

 

There are 5 official none badged tops in the shop at the moment. I know the problem the club have with this is having to pre-order and then the potential money wasting that would do. Dolly has worked with them on many things including the massive banner that goes end to end Dickie Donald with everyones signature. The guy that designs the program fronts, the award winning designs etc, he also does other work for the club involving designs and ad-hoc clothing etc. Both do it in connection with the club, both give a lot to the club...

 

If it wasnt for a certain unofficial merchandise seller the display everyone raved about at the final, wouldnt happen. All his time, free the set up, free. Cost him more to put that on than he'll have made from sales this year.

 

Those unofficial guys that are selling so much stuff its beyond a joke, they put a lot more in than they get out.

 

Season tickets - agree, should be going on sale now but I think they'll be waiting to confirm being in Europe before selling. Add £20 a season ticket and get Euro game and cup game priority.

 

The budget for next year is already set, its the same as this year. Players out to get players in and if someone (like Rooney) becomes available then the board will work with McInnes to get him in.

 

I think we're doing OK when it comes to taking advantage. I'd say the club took in a good £10K+ yesterday alone in scarf and flag sales alone. I know I bought my niece and nephews a load of stuff before the final so they could sit and watch it in their Aberdeen scarves and joggers and tops with the kids on board sign for the back of my Arsenal supporting, Aberdonian brother in laws car... I spent about £100 on kids stuff 2 weeks ago and a lot of t was going out of stock, probably because a lot of folk had the same idea as me. Get the kids stuff, get them interested a bit and get them into the idea of supporting AFC even if they are too young to know what it is they are supporting. Looking at Union Street yesterday and the amount of people walking around in scarves, hats, tops, with flags, sheep, AFC top to bottom I'd say its safe to say AFC cashed in.

[spamspamspam]

The customers do know where they can buy Dons tops, but surely having Aberdeen tops available in the centre of town can only improve the exposure that AFC get. Shops in town are full of Old Firm and English PL tops and not a single AFC stitch.

 

 

Not sure if it applied to Adidas but Nike have strict rules a reqs about sales outside the official shops.

 

Might have somethign to do with that as well.

[Stoney]

Stupid thread. The max a shop with overheads could turn as profit is insignificant compared to the core business, putting bums on seats by investing in the product. Given the millions Milne has racked up in debt, no amount of retail success would make any difference, given the potential. Would probably lose money with the rent alone. The customers know where they can buy AFC stuff.

 

Every little bit helps.

[boboisared]

You put a shop, or even a pop up stand selling tickets and the passing trade will add on 500 to a gate. Sell home and away tops, little shite for the kids and tickets. The passing trade will get kids interested and hopefully build a base of young fans that may have otherwise not even known we had a football club. It has been all to easy to forget we had a football club for so many years. All for £5k to £6k a month cost.

Based on what?

 

When are kids passing by a stall in the Trinity Centre?

[Bluto10]

Stupid thread. The max a shop with overheads could turn as profit is insignificant compared to the core business, putting bums on seats by investing in the product. Given the millions Milne has racked up in debt, no amount of retail success would make any difference, given the potential. Would probably lose money with the rent alone. The customers know where they can buy AFC stuff.

Yeah, selling a few key fobs and a lanyard every couple of days isna exactly gonna cover the rent is it.

[StandFree1982]

Yeah, selling a few key fobs and a lanyard every couple of days isna exactly gonna cover the rent is it.

It's more about marketting. Having more kids seeing an AFC presence around town rather than scum tops all over the shop makes perfect sense to me. They are the future of Aberdeen Football Club.

 

Having a successful club also helps. We must have sold more merchendise in the last month than we sold the whole of last season.

[Stoney]

Know quite a lot of the wifes pals are always asking where to get afc stuff for their husbands from........

Dont think Bridge Street was the best place for a shop as there was hardly any footfall, putting a stall or something slap bang in the middle of one of the shopping centre can only but do well.

[Guest]

ROI - return on investment - isn't rocket science. Why invest £80k on something that might make you £160k when that same 80k, invested in the right place has a greater potential to put an extra £250k into the club. Hey, recruit a really good player and get "the product right" - despite McInnes NOT getting any additional investment in "the football department"- and we could up the gate by 1,000 x 20 games = half a million. Get it really right, and up the attendance by 2 or 3k per week and bring back the missing thousands - who are obviously still there, in existence, living and working in the NE - then we're talking millions.

 

There is no excuse at losing money running a club like AFC. Especially how starved our "football department" is compared to other clubs - football expenses v. turnover. That we did continue to rack up debts, particularly in the last six years, was either wilful or gross incompetence.

[boboisared]

Know quite a lot of the mates pals are always asking where to get afc stuff for their husbands from........

Dont think Bridge Street was the best place for a shop as there was hardly any footfall, putting a stall or something slap bang in the middle of one of the shopping centre can only but do well.

I don't think 5 girls buying the odd tshirt here or there is enough for the club to open a stall min.

[StandFree1982]

A stall would be best, it would save us paying rent when the season is over. It is definitely something that McInnes is trying to do with the club, get the image all over town. It's working more now due to the Cup Final, but without that I think we're still lacking greatly.

[Robbie Winters]

Majority of folk yesterday were purchasing off the unofficial sellers, fair enough but the club had a their stall set out at Castlegate which I presume 90% of folk would not have noticed until crowds dispersed, like me, unless they walked up that way.

I agree a shop is probably costly but why not get that van / stall thing planted somewhere significant on match days like the Catlegate or St Nicholas Street.

 

I notice there are very few outlets selling any football tops nowadays in the city centre

[StandFree1982]

Majority of folk yesterday were purchasing off the unofficial sellers, fair enough but the club had a their stall set out at Castlegate which I presume 90% of folk would not have noticed until crowds dispersed, like me, unless they walked up that way.

I agree a shop is probably costly but why not get that van / stall thing planted somewhere significant on match days like the Catlegate or St Nicholas Street.

 

I notice there are very few outlets selling any football tops nowadays in the city centre

Really? They should have had more stalls down Union Street as it was full of those tout cunts.

[Stoney]

I don't think 5 girls buying the odd tshirt here or there is enough for the club to open a stall min.

 

I have very little pals, so if im getting pestered this often imagine how many other poor blokes are.

 

If they can afford to sell cup cakes out of the one in the bon accord centre, they cant be costing that much.

[Guest]

All I heard after the final was weegie minks shouting EFF - Erra Final Flags. They all looked shit quality too.

 

Hats off to the busker man giein it Northern Lights and stuff. He made a fortune.

[Guest]

 

I have very little pals, so if im getting pestered this often imagine how many other poor blokes are.

 

If they can afford to sell cup cakes out of the one in the bon accord centre, they cant be costing that much.

 

You've not run a business before nor invested your own money in running one so you wouldn't be expected to know.

 

Trust me, the club know more about making money than you do.

 

Actually, given the financial mismanagement for so long, scrap that. You could be on to something.

 

Tying up money that might turn a small return would be novel after all.

 

Although they could easy employ another couple of beauts to take our roll call up to 150 to wipe out that advantage.

[spamspamspam]

Know quite a lot of the wifes pals are always asking where to get afc stuff for their husbands from........

Dont think Bridge Street was the best place for a shop as there was hardly any footfall, putting a stall or something slap bang in the middle of one of the shopping centre can only but do well.

 

 

www.afc.co.uk/shop

[Stoney]

 

You've not run a business before nor invested your own money in running one so you wouldn't be expected to know.

 

Trust me, the club know more about making money than you do.

 

Actually, given the financial mismanagement for so long, scrap that. You could be on to something.

 

Tying up money that might turn a small return would be novel after all.

 

Although they could easy employ another couple of beauts to take our roll call up to 150 to wipe out that advantage.

 

 

I have ran a business before.........

 

Yet another wide of the mark assumption from you

[Guest]

 

 

I have ran a business before.........

 

Yet another wide of the mark assumption from you

 

Well if you did it obviously failed. Why the fuck would you invest in a small retail operation for minimal gain whilst the product is screaming out for investment, the only "department" that can make a significant difference to our fucked bottom line?

[Stoney]

 

 

www.afc.co.uk/shop

 

 

Good luck finding something thats not out of stock on there.

Also believe they charge a ridicules amount for delivery.

[boboisared]

 

I have very little pals, so if im getting pestered this often imagine how many other poor blokes are.

 

If they can afford to sell cup cakes out of the one in the bon accord centre, they cant be costing that much.

surely less overheads with cakes?

[Stoney]

 

Well if you did it obviously failed. Why the fuck would you invest in a small retail operation for minimal gain whilst the product is screaming our for investment, the only "department" that can make a significant difference to our fucked bottom line?

 

Every mile starts with a singles step

[Guest]

 

 

Good luck finding something thats not out of stock on there.

Also believe they charge a ridicules amount for delivery.

 

Well if they can't even get running that right, I wouldn't be seeking to invest more money we can't afford into retail.