Barrow AFC.net

My brother came to the match on Saturday wanted to buy something for his lad back home in Aberdeen

Poor selection of stuff and the stuff they did have they didn't have many sizes

Walked out with nothing

sad affairs really. shows up this club for what it is [at times]

Always is. Its embarassing.

Was sad to see it so bare on the biggest game at Holker St in decades against Rochdale.

Great chance to sell a load of gear whilst the hype was up.

Serious lack of foresight

The Real Slim a former member of this forum wrote:Always is. Its embarassing.

Was sad to see it so bare on the biggest game at Holker St in decades against Rochdale.

Great chance to sell a load of gear whilst the hype was up.

Serious lack of foresight

I think we are getting a lot right, but this does seem backward.

There's a commercial manager there now isn't there?

K-Man wrote:There's a commercial manager there now isn't there?

somewhere

Some club shops are shitter than ours so it's all alright.

I think it's obvious the shop could be better, especially with things for kids.

What sort of things would people be wanting? Who knows, some suggestions on here might be seen and taken up on

Wouldn't wear much of it so probably don't qualify however...

I think getting out the Player Layer deal, not bothering about the kits being 'original' and buying decent Adidas 'off the peg' so can get a load in and out quickly wouldn't hurt, especially for kids. All annoying stuff associated with kit wear that fok seem to like such as training tops, hoodys etc. We actually have some of this and it's not that bad to be fair though. I've bought more for family in the last couple of years than any, although that might just be having the grandson and trying to indoctrinate him.

Pin pages like pins badges and not too big.

One thing they did get right was those pink bobble hats, loads had those on at the Rochdale game.

Taken from the online store of a club a couple of leagues below us;

Baby Grow
Badge (Club)
Badge (Non-Club)
Baseball Caps
Beanies Retro-style beanie hat
Car Mini-kits 2015/16 style car kit
Car Stickers
Fleeces
Size 5 footballs
Hoodies
Money Box
Mugs
Pennants
Pens
Polo shirts
Player Issue Polo Shirts
Programmes Matchday Programmes (Individual Games)
Programmes (Old)
Individual programmes from various clubs
Scarf
Scarf (Fleece)
T-shirts
Tie
Water bottle
Wristbands
Umbrella
Metal Key Rings
Wooden Key Rings
Fanzine

Not my ideas but might give us somewhere to start.

BahamasBluebird wrote:I think it's obvious the shop could be better, especially with things for kids.

What sort of things would people be wanting? Who knows, some suggestions on here might be seen and taken up on

If we have a commercial manager that was chosen before other candidates and cannot stock a shop or organise new lines / initiatives, what kind of selection process did we use? ,surely part of the interview would have been what can you do to sell more merchandise new ideas, sponsorship , create new business opportunities !
It's embarrassing if people have to come on here and ask a question like that!

Polo shirts, training gear (with the actual barrow badge on not random logos dreamt up). Basic stuff. You don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Was disappointed with the selection at the Rochdale game, there was a nice selection of mugs but doubt that's a particularly hot seller.

Steeley wrote:there was a nice selection of mugs but doubt that's a particularly hot seller.

Stick a free Bovril in them?

If we are talking about commercial issues. The next match hospitality listed on the BAFC commercial site, is for BAFC v Aldershot 06/08/2016. Why worry about the shop. http://barrowafccommercial.com/

Ultimately it's about having the same clobber available to the supporters that's available to the players. We are alienating many of our supporters by not having the same merchandise the players wear either readily available or affordable to purchase.

The club shop needs an allocated budget for week by week merchandisel! It also needs special budgets for the start of season, Xmas stock and runs in cup competitions.

We have two young apprentices working for the club ask them to come up with ideas for merchandise give them a few hundred quid to spend on the best one each comes up with and the one with the most profit gets it as an extra to spend on the next project. Good way of learning keeps them on their toes and most of all interested.

Sometimes you have to make mistakes to learn in life!

There are obvious issues with the official site, it needs binned and a new site up and running for the start of next season.