Very clever idea?

[Colesman Ballz]

We could try the same at Exeter Airport (having Flybe as a sponsor could help), but I think being optimistic we'd sell about one shirt a week.

And with five different adult, plus various kids sizes we would be having a significant financial commitment in terms of the volume of stock in limbo !

 

[Spoonz Red E]

We could try the same at Exeter Airport (having Flybe as a sponsor could help), but I think being optimistic we'd sell about one shirt a week.

Perhaps there could be a case for offering some smaller branded items and t-shirts as 'Souvenirs' for those flying from Exeter Airport - maybe from WH Smiths there?
We had an arrangement a few years back with W H Smiths in the Guildhall selling shirts for us.

 

[Temporarily Exiled]

Perhaps there could be a case for offering some smaller branded items and t-shirts as 'Souvenirs' for those flying from Exeter Airport - maybe from WH Smiths there?
We had an arrangement a few years back with W H Smiths in the Guildhall selling shirts for us.

It was a bit of a shame to see only London tat when I flew out from there the other week. Shirts would be quite a big thing, but maybe something smaller - keyrings, a few books, power packs.

 

[hern]

Perhaps folk are thinking too narrowly. For sure there will be an insufficient market to either make money or raise awareness selling branded gear. This has been demonstrated over the years.
However, a joint club/Trust initiative to lease and professionally run licensed or unlicensed and themed cafe bar in the city would be a different matter.
There are a couple of jazz/blues bars already but successful competition would be possible, attracting differing clientele at different times of the day. The raising of club awareness and sale of branded goods and possibly tickets then becomes a secondary but vital addition. The Far Post could once again be an active brand.
Leasehold costs in the city range from 35k to 125k with rents from 40k up.
This isn't volunteer territory.
We have just left the Sliema FC cafe bar in Malta which is a supporter/club based business away from the ground in the main retail area. Very successful. Very effective, though it could be improved with more imaginative decor and music.
It's a profit making business, justifying the initial outlays, and a model that could fit well into City mould. What it doesn't do is rely on the shirt or memorabilia sales to survive. They merely promote awareness and local loyalty for a semi professional club in the Maltese league

 

[Temporarily Exiled]

Perhaps folk are thinking too narrowly. For sure there will be an insufficient market to either make money or raise awareness selling branded gear. This has been demonstrated over the years.
However, a joint club/Trust initiative to lease and professionally run licensed or unlicensed and themed cafe bar in the city would be a different matter.
There are a couple of jazz/blues bars already but successful competition would be possible, attracting differing clientele at different times of the day. The raising of club awareness and sale of branded goods and possibly tickets then becomes a secondary but vital addition. The Far Post could once again be an active brand.
Leasehold costs in the city range from 35k to 125k with rents from 40k up.
This isn't volunteer territory.
We have just left the Sliema FC cafe bar in Malta which is a supporter/club based business away from the ground in the main retail area. Very successful. Very effective, though it could be improved with more imaginative decor and music.
It's a profit making business, justifying the initial outlays, and a model that could fit well into City mould. What it doesn't do is rely on the shirt or memorabilia sales to survive. They merely promote awareness and local loyalty for a semi professional club in the Maltese league

The Centre Spot should be that bar. A bit of investment there wouldn't go amiss - even if it didn't attract weekday punters, at least it would improve the matchday experience.

I think you're facing a very steep uphill battle to get the Trust to invest in one of the riskiest types of business going - bars and restaurants have insanely high failure rates.

 

[hern]

With respect, the Centre Spot is never likely to attract non football clientele. It's in the wrong place with the wrong associations for 95 % of the population. If the discussion is to be a serious one it has to move toward commercial activity involving potentially 100%, and that isn't football.

 

[Temporarily Exiled]

With respect, the Centre Spot is never likely to attract non football clientele. It's in the wrong place with the wrong associations for 95 % of the population. If the discussion is to be a serious one it has to move toward commercial activity involving potentially 100%, and that isn't football.

I feel there's scope for it to do trade as a dedicated sports bar. Put a load of big screens up, show Premier League and Champions League / Europa League football, as well as rugby and even cricket. Instead of the location being detrimental, it can be more of an asset.

 

[spanky]

Perhaps folk are thinking too narrowly. For sure there will be an insufficient market to either make money or raise awareness selling branded gear. This has been demonstrated over the years.
However, a joint club/Trust initiative to lease and professionally run licensed or unlicensed and themed cafe bar in the city would be a different matter.
There are a couple of jazz/blues bars already but successful competition would be possible, attracting differing clientele at different times of the day. The raising of club awareness and sale of branded goods and possibly tickets then becomes a secondary but vital addition. The Far Post could once again be an active brand.
Leasehold costs in the city range from 35k to 125k with rents from 40k up.
This isn't volunteer territory.
We have just left the Sliema FC cafe bar in Malta which is a supporter/club based business away from the ground in the main retail area. Very successful. Very effective, though it could be improved with more imaginative decor and music.
It's a profit making business, justifying the initial outlays, and a model that could fit well into City mould. What it doesn't do is rely on the shirt or memorabilia sales to survive. They merely promote awareness and local loyalty for a semi professional club in the Maltese league

Hi Hern!

And so the wheel turns, and we end up back having a conversation of many years ago.

If my memory serves me correctly, you have been an advocate for the Trust to invest wisely in non-football related business in order to grow it's finances. AS such, I couldn't be more supportive. It is the only way for the Trust to grow. Reliance on subs can only mean stagnation. We've had more than ten years of that now. It's time to evolve and move forwards.

 

[hern]

Lol..hi...yep, still banging on. However, my money on this notion would be for it to be a Club commissioned project supported by the Trust. We (the Trust) have not developed either the skills or the confidence to undertake such a project imho. Taggy and colleagues /contacts have however always had them, and a joint venture sold to him by the Trust could well prove lucrative and gain locality presence?

 

[Saint James]

Perhaps folk are thinking too narrowly. For sure there will be an insufficient market to either make money or raise awareness selling branded gear. This has been demonstrated over the years.
However, a joint club/Trust initiative to lease and professionally run licensed or unlicensed and themed cafe bar in the city would be a different matter.
There are a couple of jazz/blues bars already but successful competition would be possible, attracting differing clientele at different times of the day. The raising of club awareness and sale of branded goods and possibly tickets then becomes a secondary but vital addition. The Far Post could once again be an active brand.
Leasehold costs in the city range from 35k to 125k with rents from 40k up.
This isn't volunteer territory.
We have just left the Sliema FC cafe bar in Malta which is a supporter/club based business away from the ground in the main retail area. Very successful. Very effective, though it could be improved with more imaginative decor and music.
It's a profit making business, justifying the initial outlays, and a model that could fit well into City mould. What it doesn't do is rely on the shirt or memorabilia sales to survive. They merely promote awareness and local loyalty for a semi professional club in the Maltese league

Hern, this isn't meant to dampen your enthusiasm but such an enterprise as described would require a very hefty six figure sum to get off the ground and in the absence of a detailed business plan wouldn't start delivering any return on that investment for at least five years and that would be if it was successful. I don't think the club or Trust could justify anything so high risk? I would advocate pump priming something commercial at a much lower level of investment as a trial though perhaps? Im also not sure something in Malta can be a barometer for something in Exeter? Just my thoughts