Shrimpsvoices

What's the point in having one when the "offer" is so poor, a car sticker, autograph book , biro, apart from when the new shirts, training gear etc arrives, for the vast majority of the year is embarrassingly empty, and a poor reflection of the club, whilst we don't have the resources or the fan base to buy a vast range of stock, surely we can make a better effort than we do now

So what do you want the shop to stock

To make any item profitable you need to buy in bulk and with our low (at the moment) fan base, buying in bulk doesn't make commercial sense.

I'd like to see things such a beach towel even a calendar but having looked into both from a costing point of view with minimum runs particularly regarding towels the initial cost is I suspect too much for the shop to gamble on.

It is a shit shop though.

Was better when we used to sell normal fashion clothing from Bench.

Christies Child wrote:So what do you want the shop to stock

To make any item profitable you need to buy in bulk and with our low (at the moment) fan base, buying in bulk doesn't make commercial sense.

I'd like to see things such a beach towel even a calendar but having looked into both from a costing point of view with minimum runs particularly regarding towels the initial cost is I suspect too much for the shop to gamble on.

The club can do a lot to generate sales, signed team photos, individual photos, ground photos, signed balls, signed shirts , take a look at similar sized clubs to ours ,for their range

mrpotatohead wrote:It is a shit shop though.

.....and some call me negative.....

It's the time of year we're in - ie, inbetween seasons.

I went for a look round PNE's shop at lunchtime only today as I fancied a walk out and, like ours, it was very sparsely stocked as they await their new season clobber.

During the season I think our shop is superb and Graham does a top job in there.

All our shop needs ............... is a better name.

Seasider9601 wrote:It's the time of year we're in - ie, inbetween seasons.

I went for a look round PNE's shop at lunchtime only today as I fancied a walk out and, like ours, it was very sparsely stocked as they await their new season clobber.

During the season I think our shop is superb and Graham does a top job in there.

All our shop needs ............... is a better name.

No Reflection on Graham, his hands are tied, but same product range for at least 4 years, all year round , Superb, your having a laugh

A couple of years ago, my wife went in to buy me a scarf for my birthday. They didn't have any. Says it all really.

This is one of those criticisms that's worth voicing directly to the club, rather than just whinging about on here again...

Now you have got me going , I have mentioned before about selling beach towels with the club logo on . I was told they were not viable as they had to order in bulk ( I think 100 was mentioned). I can't believe they couldn't sell them and turn a profit

could be worse

Indeed, it could be worse

To be fair, though, they have a good idea there... opening a town centre shop in what looks like a market hall. Perhaps our problem isn't so much as what we do (or don't) stock, which is probably partially as a result of poor sales caused by low footfall, as where the "retail outlet" is on non-match days, and a town centre outlet could be the answer?

Just a question, What difference would a name change make? "Club Shop" is what it is.

"Shrimps Store" would probably have old dears coming in all the time asking for seafood...

John L wrote:To be fair, though, they have a good idea there... opening a town centre shop in what looks like a market hall. Perhaps our problem isn't so much as what we do (or don't) stock, which is probably partially as a result of poor sales caused by low footfall, as where the "retail outlet" is on non-match days, and a town centre outlet could be the answer?

What untapped market that wants to buy Morecambe branded stuff but never actually goes to the ground do you think we would be tapping into? We start to need selling a lot more stuff before we even break even to cover refurbishment of a unit, staff and rent costs.

Didn't the club have a shop on Victoria street one summer when we were moving ground? I'm guessing that didn't set the world alight, or we would have kept it on.

We're getting 1000 fans through the gate, if we're lucky, at the moment. It's not like the town is buzzing for the club and getting to the shop because of it's location is an issue. It's that not enough people are currently interested in the club, because of the reasons that have been raked over repeatedly.

outsider wrote:Just a question, What difference would a name change make? "Club Shop" is what it is.

But do you not think it sounds crap and unimaginative mate ??

Accrington Stanley had a stand in Oswaldtwistle Mills outlet shopping centre for many, many years.

If the club shop was your own business, and you had to make a living from it, what would you do?

The club shop is what it is, it should be run in the most cost effective manner to ensure that it generates money for the club rather than being a draw on limited funds.

We are not big enough to sustain a full time shop, all season round - no matter what you call it or what tat you fill it with.

Isn't the shop connected to the marketing department by a door.

Surely if there are as few customers as some suggest then someone could pop out of marketing to serve them.

There have been cases of people coming from Kendal to try and book seats , buy tickets/merchandise etc and found it shut. Potential fan lost !

morecambegeek wrote:

John L wrote:To be fair, though, they have a good idea there... opening a town centre shop in what looks like a market hall. Perhaps our problem isn't so much as what we do (or don't) stock, which is probably partially as a result of poor sales caused by low footfall, as where the "retail outlet" is on non-match days, and a town centre outlet could be the answer?

What untapped market that wants to buy Morecambe branded stuff but never actually goes to the ground do you think we would be tapping into? We start to need selling a lot more stuff before we even break even to cover refurbishment of a unit, staff and rent costs.

Didn't the club have a shop on Victoria street one summer when we were moving ground? I'm guessing that didn't set the world alight, or we would have kept it on.

We're getting 1000 fans through the gate, if we're lucky, at the moment. It's not like the town is buzzing for the club and getting to the shop because of it's location is an issue. It's that not enough people are currently interested in the club, because of the reasons that have been raked over repeatedly.

Answered your own question there! I think we'd be more likely to sell merchandise and clothing on a non-matchday from somewhere in the town centre than at the ground.

John L wrote:
Answered your own question there! I think we'd be more likely to sell merchandise and clothing on a non-matchday from somewhere in the town centre than at the ground.

Enough to cover the extra rent? How many fans who are interested in merchandise but don't actually go to any matches do you think there are?

People are entitled to their views, and optimism is to be admired. However, it's all well and good saying "print 100 beach towels" or "open a shop in town" but every risk the club takes costs money if it doesn't pay off. Thinking the club can sustain a retail unit away from the club is pure lunacy , in my opinion.

Would there be much call for beach towels? Something maybe FCoM to look into? After all the baseball caps we did sold out twice, I think the club might be looking at doing some now.

Then you could have a retailer in the area who is open 7 days a week, who might stock some stuff on a S.O.R. basis, rent free.

The sale of Morecambe FC towels, plates, cups and saucers, kettles, pans, tents, lighters, torches, groundsheets, picnic chairs, tables, umbrellas, windbreaks, doormats and towball covers could go down quite well