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Post by swansgills888 on Jan 27, 2015 4:04:02 GMT 1
I went into the gills club shop and looked at the merchandise that was for sale. I must say the quality and styles were very poor indeed. I think we have one of the worst club shops I have been into. The logos on the jerseys and other tops are of a very poor detail and I decided against buying anything to wear because of that and my female friend also commented on how poor our home kit is, which I tend to agree. They look cheap.
I think I wait and see how next seasons top looks like, the merchandise manager at the club should get the bullet because the shop looks like a charity shop.
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Post by larkmoronson on Jan 27, 2015 5:54:03 GMT 1
Did you show Shefki Kuqi inside the club shop?! What did he make of it/the stadium in general?
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Post by terryjolleysboot on Jan 27, 2015 8:20:32 GMT 1
Charity shop that's a bit strong!
I know they don't do any blow up sheep but this is England!
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Post by mrpthegillsfan on Jan 27, 2015 8:26:27 GMT 1
totally agree - I think you will find scally is responsible ultimately - obviously you need as a high a profit margin as possible in any business particularly retail but there is a fine line between cheap tat to maximise your margin and offering your customer value for money and a quality product
about 12 years ago one of the many commercial directors suggested that we spend an extra £1 per replica shirt as we would get a product ten times the quality - the chairman refused as in his eyes if we sold 10,000 shirts that is an extra £10k profit - the flip side being the shirts were awful and many were returned after 1 wash!
everything in there now is cheap and of the poorest quality - market stall products at oxford street prices!
the cufflinks break easily, the mugs fade in 6 months, the shirts look 10 years old after a dozen washes and some of the badges on the items are quite frankly embarrassing and look like sweat shop knock offs - oh wait a minute - he admitted to making it abroad! I wanted one of those panoramic photos of the ground - a pity it was of Gordon road and not the main stand - he should have done one from both sides giving you the choice - but what put me off was the cheap, tacky mount and frame it was on - there are several people in my office with these on their desk back boards - Chelsea, Liverpool, Walsall (yes we have their only south east fan here!), millwall, man u and Tottenham - every one looks ten times the quality of ours - which likewas done as cheaply as possible at the expense of actually putting some buyers off - a false economy for this type of product!
the range of products has not changed either - nor has the design - it has to be the poorest club merchandise I have come across for sure
it is a difficult one - but I know a few people who refuse to buy the merchandise for the price given the quality - he either needs to reduce prices to something more reasonable given the poor quality or to improve the quality without raising the prices - both of which should increase turnover. I personally would be happy paying the current prices if you ended up with a quality product - business is business but he has a somewhat different and loyal market that deserves a quality item -sadly under his tenure I fear we will continue to be the Gerald ratner of the football world and selling 'c/rap'
ultimately whoever runs the merchandising can only do what they are allowed by him
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Post by technical on Jan 27, 2015 9:12:47 GMT 1
I think it's very mixed. The replica shirts are outrageously priced for the quality, but then aren't they all? If buying for kids, you only need them to last a year and then they've grown out of them, keeping them as "cheap" as possible there is probably good practise. Personally I think no man over the age of 15 should wear a polyester football shirt, unless he's actually playing football, so poor sales of adult shirts would be going the world a favour IMO! It's really not a good look over a beer belly and it makes you smell!!
I know an elderly man who does all his shopping in the club shop. He wears only Gills Polo shirts, fleeces and coats, buys two new polo shirts a year and a new jacket every now and then. They seem good quality, wash well and he always looks well turned out.
The souvenir type stuff is terrible. Things like clocks and pennants look like they belong in a pound shop and the ties actually made me LOL last time I was in.
You did make me laugh mrp with the suggestion that the quality's poor because the shirts are made abroad. Unless you're having your clothes handmade in Saville Row, I challenge you to find a "Made in England" label in any item of clothing you own.
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Post by gillsjan on Jan 27, 2015 10:36:01 GMT 1
I've still got s sweat shirt I bought in 2000 although I've bought others I think this is my lucky shirt so often wear it...can't complain about the quality with this or any other subsequent item I have bought.
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Post by swansgills888 on Jan 27, 2015 10:45:25 GMT 1
Lucky I didn't show kuqi the club shop he was waiting outside and on the phone. I wanted to buy a gills replica top this season but time and time again I say no to myself because they look very cheap and the badges on the jerseys are awful. Yes, I agree the stationary products and other small items are not very good at all. I would be love to buy some gills t shirts and polo tops with the badge on them but they look really poor and nasty so I haven't bought any for the last few years.
Do I have to wait another few seasons before Scally gets it right ?? I could quite easily help him there because I go to south China on business and heading there after chinese new year, to the garment areas.
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Post by swansgills888 on Jan 27, 2015 10:53:06 GMT 1
Shefki thought the stadium was a tight compact ground with the gillingham end being rather poor. I think its one of the worst in the country. He told me he remembered scoring in the Rainham end before many moons ago. Probably for sheff wed or his stockport days.
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Post by swansgills888 on Jan 27, 2015 10:59:45 GMT 1
The British heart foundation shops and 99p shops have better quality gear than we do. Seriously thought, this needs to be redressed because fans know when they are not getting value for money. Peter taylor ...proved that !!
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Post by mrpthegillsfan on Jan 27, 2015 21:03:04 GMT 1
technical
obviously I wasn't saying the reason the quality is awful is because they are made abroad - but seeing as I obviously have to put things in black and white as you are unable to read between the lines, here goes
most clothes are indeed manufactured abroad, in fact anywhere but the uk, correct
but as with any sort of production, the quality will vary depending on what you are prepared to pay in terms of costings
we do it as cheaply as possible but at the expense of actually not offering a quality product to our loyal customers
there is cheap and then there is just cheap - as in too cheap and an insult
we do the latter
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Post by swansgills888 on Jan 27, 2015 22:49:30 GMT 1
Let's be totally honest our replica home kit is very poor indeed. I wouldn't buy one until they get a quality one. Many non league sides have better kits than us.
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Post by muppet on Jan 27, 2015 23:26:28 GMT 1
Blimey 888, when you get your teeth into something you wont let go! Firstly PT, then individual players, followed by style of play, then PS, the ground and now the club shop; is there anything about gills you actually like!!?? Personally there is a blade of grass in the corner by the flag that grows quicker than the others, really gets me angry.
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Post by swansgills888 on Jan 28, 2015 3:41:17 GMT 1
Peter taylor and the kit are poor as each other. The boss is gone but the kit stays till end of the season.lol
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Post by swansgills888 on Jan 28, 2015 3:52:12 GMT 1
Muppet...These are issues that gillingham need to address and surely you can understand it needs to be looked at and resolved.
do you.think our replica tops are nice and the gills badge on the tops sharp or not ?? They are nasty and the reason I didn't get one for my friend because she said it looks cheap, so I said I would get her one next season if they better than the trash at.the shop now.
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Post by eccles on Jan 28, 2015 11:29:31 GMT 1
Got to agree with 888.
Off-the-field, the commercial side of Gillingham FC is sub-optimal, as a result, the important point here is that it is not producing the potential revenue that is there for the club. This includes the merchandise of course, but extends to the corporate hospitality and player sponsorship, both of which have a 'done on the cheap' feel. Also, if you sponsor a player for a full season at some clubs and the player moves on during the season, you get a full refund. Not at Gills. It doesn't help that the staff turnover seems high and the package on offer seems to change depending on who you talk to. Frustrating and reflective of a club that is not very well run.
We love the Gills, but we don't love the club is my conclusion.
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