Tranmere thread
 

Wednesday night was a matter of bravely hanging on against the silky skills of the Premier League boys, although they never looked 200 times better per man than our lads, which the relative salaries would seem to suggest. 10 times, maybe. Today the boot was on the other foot and we had Tranmere hanging on at times, and to me, they looked the team from a lower league. Some exquisite one touch passing moves when homing in on goal, with every man aware of his mates' positions. Great to watch. Naismith and Webber were outstanding and I really hope we can sign them up. JB's biggest problem on this showing is who to leave out!

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Agree only really 1 team ever looked like winning the game, also the 2 yeh mentioned are a must in my eyes, Tranmere only nabbed the equaliser through a bad error by young Miller, The lad hopefully will learn from that, cos overall nobody had a poor game.:)

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Cracking game, looking strong in defence (apart from that slip up) and dangerous in attack. We really deserved to win this one. Just a pity there weren't more there to see it. One minor gripe - what's the point of having the club shop closed on a match day? You missed out on £30-£40 worth of T-shirt sales there!

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I doubt they lost out on any t-shirt sales :rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Cashy said something similar, Dave. If that's right, then it's downright disgraceful. We're in the middle of a heatwave, two weeks before the new season starts and they don't have any T-shirts in stock? Pathetic, if true. :rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Sadly we've got only hats and scarves in stock!!

If we'd have got some tee-shirts it would be the monsoon season!!

Guess our lack of stock is why the sun is shinning!!

Top result!!

Thank god it was dry last wednesday!!:)

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Hats and scarves, just what we need at the moment, Mr T!

Well, you've missed out on some dosh from me and doubtless from others who fancied a T-shirt for their hols or just to wear around town. Still, I suppose Stanley are so cash-rich, they don't have to worry about revenue from merchandise.

Next you'll be telling us the season tickets won't be ready for the start of the season! :rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I enjoyed watching this game more than watching the Blue noses last week,not just because of the result, though we could have and should have won.
We matched Tranmere in all departments, and I left the ground optimistic for the season ahead.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

The shop was open. We was open from 1030 to 305. Lack of stock is a minor issue but that will be resolved once the stock arrives that has been ordered

Re: Tranmere thread
 

A very short sighted view IMHO, people who do not live local n try to purchase things when they do come oer, What good is that to those folk?:( Its gonna be the same wi season tickets again also i am led to believe. Not good enough.:(

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Right, let's get this straight - the club shop is usually open BEFORE and AFTER the match. As we're not mind readers, it was not unreasonable to assume that this was going to be the case for the Tranmere match. Would it not have been logical to put a message on t'fishy site saying "the shop will only be open before the game for today's match"?

As for lack of stock being "a minor issue" I would say it's a pretty major issue in this pre-season period when people are thinking about buying their Stanley gear for the new season. Anyway, more importantly, are you going to be getting some T-shirts in and when will they be arriving?

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Is this the official response from ASFC ? :confused::eek:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I am sure that Stanley would be delighted to have the shop stocked to the gunnels but it is the off season and incoming revenue is like the proverbial hen's teeth! I am sure that there are pressing commitments that have to take priority as in wages, running costs etc.

Cash-rich? What a blissful situation that would be!

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I was under the impression it was Pre Season.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Whatever you wish. :) It does not change the situation.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Thats true sherry, Fans were never very high up in the pressing commitment stakes at stanley.:rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Nobody's asking to have the shop "stocked to the gunnels". It would be good though if the club had the nous to stock basic items like T-shirts and to have the shop open in windows of opportunity - ie, after the match when fans are walking past it. In that way, the club could generate some income which could go towards meeting those wages and running costs that you talk about.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I am sorry that you do not see that it is a commitment to the fans by the club in regulating its cash flow to ensure that it is there for them. :(

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I see things like that as plain common sense trying to increase the clubs cashflow, I'm sorry you don't see it as well. And whilst speaking of cashflow, why are season tickets normally late, when the money fer em is already gone in the coffers?

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Cash flow does not come from closed club shops and out-of-stock items. One way it does come is from a professional, user-responsive merchandising operation!

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I do see it and it would be the ideal situation but it must be difficult to achieve at this time of year.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I see the clubs position and it must be frustrating for them to not have a fully stocked shop at a time of year when people may want the products. I bet it was equally frustrating for them to have such a poor crowd on yesterday.

No excuse for season tickets though. Many of them have been ordered for weeks and in my eyes should be produced well before the start of the season. Every year it is a matter of hours before the first game before they are available and that isn't ideal. but then again I suppose it saves £300 on stamps

Re: Tranmere thread
 

When ordering merchandise you tend to have to order in hundreds and thousands as a minimum order. Of course Stanley have a small fan base, so they can't shift those sort of numbers, and you have to really pick and choose the items that can be stocked.

The ideal situation is where you have a supplier that can provide a small number of products, where no backup stock is required. If they sell out they get replaced, if they don't there is a minimum loss of profit and no storeroom of stock to shift at below cost price. Of course these sort of suppliers don't exist.

The lads who work in the shop probably feel like a butcher in a supermarket where head office have only ordered sausage and burgers :)

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I felt for the lads in the Shop yesterday there were a few bits & pieces but nothing of any great interest, I would think most Stanley fans as Wyn posted would take a bit of pride in wearing a Club T-Shirt or New Home Top in fact it's one of the greatest Free Advetisng Campaigns the Club can have is it not?

Sure money is tight at this time of the Season for the Club I understand that and wish them well but at the same time I also wish to spend money with them which I will do again on Tuesday with turnstile money.

I also currently have money set aside for the New Home shirt but it ain't half burning a hole in my pocket but coming off the back of our biggest ever pre-season friendly & potentially the Club's biggest free advertising campaign with the high profile fixture on Sky of the Pompey Game I would at least hope stock is in place for that game or it is an even bigger own goal.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

To me unless i'm dense, it would have been good business to mention weeks ago on the fishy, on accyweb etc Stanley are considering ordering T- shirts fer the 125 yrs thing and other opportunitys that crop up, Surely then if there where orders/sizes etc, a smaller supplier could be found, if no orders they have lost nowt!! no unless i'm stupid what would be wrong wi that?:confused:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

There are lots of ways to skin a cat.... you just have to want to do it ;)

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Or perhaps the business acumen.?:rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

The reality is there isn't enough staff. The decision to cut costs took away the person who worked full time in the retail section, therefore the assumption is the retail side doesn't generate enough income to pay a salary. I would imagine the same rules have always applied to the catering side.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Funny how when we were a semi-pro club in the depths of the North West Counties League, we could always manage to knock out a few T-shirts, even in the summer. Now, apparently, it's too difficult for us. Strange that. :rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

suggestion.

Why don't the club go into partnership with the OSC or a likeminded fan/fans who will provide merchandise to the club?
The OSC/fan can a mark up on the raw cost plus a small uplift for their troubles and the club can make a larger mark up selling at retail price?

That way, the club will stock products the fans actually want to buy
The OSC will push using the club shop to increase both the clubs and its own income
If an item doesn't sell, there is no risk to the club as they will only act as a sales front

Re: Tranmere thread
 

There was a bit of experimentation a few years ag with the OSC & various T-Shirts etc. which I wasn't really involved in but Macca may be able to tell you better on lines and how it went?

As somebody who earns a living from procurement and supply I would rather deal direct with Suppliers that way you know your source, get the keenest prices and build up Customer/Supplier relationships.

No risk to the Club but risk to the OSC makes it rather shaky foundations.

There are always ways round situations I know what I would look to do and I am always open to dialogue with the Club in fact if the Club want to engage and pick my brains I will gladly give up some time next week to discuss while I am on holiday.:)

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Think we may have to speak to Lancsdave....... surely he knows how to procure relatively small numbers of printed tee shirts & not make a loss on sales?

Re: Tranmere thread
 

If the club have to order in large bulk to get clothing etc then there has to be the demand to sell the product in large quantities to justify purchasing the goods. If the club feel there isn't the demand there to justify large orders they need to arrange an alternative strategy for procurement on the retail side. Even if it means arranging for a local supplier to produce t-shirts etc in smaller quantities, this has to be a better strategy than the one currently being employed by the club.

The club is losing out on fans money due to a lack of coherent procurement policy, this has to change and the sooner it does the sooner the club will have supporters money in the coffers.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

We like to think so :D

That boat has long sailed. You can only offer to help out so much including sale or return options, free space in our shop for a town centre club shop, we took the decision a while ago not to keep offering because we were just banging our heads against the wall.

We still do the favours and freebies despite vowing not to but reluctantly accept we just aren't seen to be good enough for anything else. You can't please everybody :)

The non-Samurai clothing range is usually supplied by a company outside the area so no idea why they aren't providing the goods.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Well then.seems me quote is pretty near the mark.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Perhaps someone from the club would explain why this particular set of opportunities has been ignored. Sale or return options?...free space in a town centre shop?...it seems to me like the club should have snatched Dave's hand off.

So, explanations please, Stanley staff.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

at the time I wanted to be able to offer a line of products that was affordable and could be spontaneous - ie a quickly produced play-off t-shirt or something topical regarding the next opponents etc. The idea went out and I wanted everybody to be able to offer suggestions on products, pricing, procurement etc. It was a chance for all in the OSC to get involved in running a small business where we had free reign on what mark up we wanted to make. I hated the idea of paying £20 for a t-shirt when I knew it could be produced for far less than a fiver.

I tried to involve the club at every step but the attitude (Eric) was along the lines of "tell us when you've some money to give us". So decisions were made and we spent about £1000 on products and printing and began with a small line in t-shirts, caps, polos, umbrellas and suchlike. We had asked for a corner of the clubhouse to sell our stuff pre-match but when it came to the first game of the season we were told that we couldn't have our corner because the clubhouse was going prawn sandwich. We were also told that we couldn't use The Crown because selling things in there wasn't in their contract. So that left us with Ebay and trying to sell at functions.

From memory I think we ended up having made about £1300 back and had products left over which probably ended up being given away.

In short, we made a do - just, but were hindered greatly by the club taking away much of the market despite knowing our plans so it never continued. In truth the products weren't great but they were produced by people who knew little about the process or creative ideas. Having said that I have no doubt that had we been provided with a route to market the ideas and products would have improved along the way.

It was sad really, I never did get to make the underpants with the Barrow crest inside the gusset ...

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Stuff like that Rob, is the reason Wynonie will never get n answer, Whilst on the playing side our staff continue to work miracles, the other side of things has always left much to be desired, in other words, All the clowns aint in the circus!! Excuses like not enough staff cos of cash restrictions are no excuse at all fer inability to do the tasks.:(

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Undeterred, I once again ask the question - why did the club turn down Dave's offers of help? Free space in his town centre shop and sale or return items sounds like an incredible deal for a football club which is stretched for staff and money.

It's a simple question - why will nobody at Accrington Stanley answer it?

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Perhaps cos yer only a lifelong fan,season ticket holder even now,when yeh spend more than half the season abroad, shareholder, a guy who spends mucho dinero in the shop, sorry yeh probably have to do much more n that to get n answer.:rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

...and don't forget player sponsorer, Mr C! Wonder what happened to my Toto away shirt and "Certificate of Authenticity"? Perhaps, Toto took it with him! ;)

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Who ever is responsible fer summat like that, is certainly unfit to do the job, if yeh have not received or even got n explanation? Its no wonder local business in general don't want to know.:eek:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

We did do a very short spell of providing stuff but new brooms sweep clean and it was very short lived.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

To my mind the only thing that wants sweeping clean,is whomever is responsible fer retail.:(

Re: Tranmere thread
 

We all know he is a nice guy, but doesnt Rob Heys need to take the blame for the commercial failures?
It ultimately sits with the chief exec.

At least that's how its works in other businesses.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Top and bottom of it is that the club made a big mistake,the day they allowed Lew to leave the club,the shop under Lew was making money for the club:(

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Yep, you're right, Mab. However, from what Dave's said, at least there was an alternative on offer - free space in his shop right in the middle of town and goods on a sale or return basis. So why was his offer ignored?...pride?....stupidity?...apathy? The fact that not one representative of the club has the bottle to come on here and talk about it speaks volumes to me.

You know me well enough, Mab, it's in my blood and I'll go on buying my season ticket, purchasing merchandise (if I can find any!) and I might even sponsor another player this season (despite the non-arrival of my Toto shirt) because I'm daft like that as Mrs H often reminds me. However, I'll do it all with a very jaundiced view of the people who run our club - drunken revels (for want of a better phrase) and breweries spring to mind! :rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I know fer fact that this thread has been read by people at the club, so it stands to reason to me, that info has been passed to the right sources, n still sod all, that speaks volumes,:rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

How come Morecambe fans are getting their season tickets this week and ours are still miles away? Could it be something to do with our moving so many home fixtures to Friday?

Re: Tranmere thread
 

It's frustrating when the club shop has no tee shirts on sale in the height of a summer heatwave, and it's frustrating when they have no club sou'westers on sale once the monsoon season starts.
But I do think we should cut the "powers that be" a bit of slack. The club is really run on an absolute shoestring, which is part of the charm of the club. 4 years ago I went to one game at Newcastle United. Now it seems that every day I get an email offering me the chance to proudly advertise Wonga or wear the new training kit or avail myself of the latest Toon Army duvet cover. I wouldn't want Stanley to end up like this.
We don't have the sales volumes to speculate on ordering merchandise but I am sure that with better marketing we could shift more (even putting aside lancsdave's shop offer)

Reading this thread, some of the penny-pinching attitude of previous regimes still hangs on to this day. I hope that the club can put that behind us - remember last season when the online shop was offline for weeks: how much lost revenue did that cost the club?
On the field we are a (sometimes) decent League 2 team. Off the field we are little more than Conference North.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Oh my mistake, never realised part of our charm was letting life long fans down,who sponsor shirts n get sod all.:rolleyes: There is NO slack at all should be cut fer things like that.:(

Re: Tranmere thread
 

I certainly won't be cutting them any slack. Yes, the club's on a shoestring budget, but they don't help themselves. Dave offered them a great merchandising opportunity but they ignored it - why?

And now we find that posters were displayed for tonight's match with the wrong KO time on. Just how amateurish can you get?

And what about our season tickets? Surely, the club has learnt from its mistakes of the past and we'll get them before the start of the season...won't we?

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Ko time was wrong as Google Page Ranking company don't ask questions!!

Season ticket launch will be 8th of August; why do we need them sooner?

All sponsors need to be changed (on season tickets) so thank goodness we've no old tickets left!!

Guess we're getting loads wrong!! But so glad we look at our costs, don't waste much, have multi tasking staff and get the odd thing wrong!! Better than having mascot co-ordinators, head of retail stategy and director of multi media marketing!!

rant over!!:eek:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Rant all yeh want MrT, And if yeh read the threads the reason season tickets should be out Pre-season has been explained already. Excuses for rank bad admin are not good enough in my view n probably many other fans, everyone is aware people have to multi-task cos of our finances, But still no excuse fer not mentioning or tackling the fact that people have put hard earned cash into sponsoring shirts n have never even had n answer never mind the shirt they sponsered.:rolleyes: By the way this aint a rant its just plain fact.:rolleyes:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Mark I think we all to a degree accept as we always have that there are limitations to some things the Club can do and can't do.

Season Tickets why can't they be posted out?

The Launch Night other than a tweet answer and yours on here as far as I am aware has not Been mentioned anywhere else so how are people supposed to know?

The season has already kicked off! people regardless of who like something tangible in their hand for their money, what about fans who can't make the Evening they then collect presumably on the day of the Pompey game?

These are all things people need to know but not a word anywhere.

People who Sponsor shirts we have been here before somebody at the Club has to be accountable for them and ensuring they get to their particular Sponsor.

Communication goes a long way to answering people's questions & perceptions but usually with us the Horse has left the Stable.

Most business's in the Country are having to deal with reduced budgets and less staffing with the Current Economy but you have to evolve and fight even harder to make things happen ASFC are no different.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

The Launch Night will James Beattie be on hand?

Is there some-kind of Q & A being planned, a media day, a family day involving meeting the Players?

Is there a Shareholders AGM planned?

Again all key communication tools but are there plans to use them?

Re: Tranmere thread
 

What's that got to do with a big poster outside the ground? Is it really beyond the wit of somebody at the club to nip outside and alter the poster physically? At least two fans turned up late because of this - two disgruntled customers! With the size of our fan base, every customer counts!

Season tickets should be ready before the start of the season, firstly, because it's simply the professional thing to do. But more importantly, those who can't make it will now have the hassle of getting their tickets before the busiest game of the season when scores of fans will be using the shop and ticket office.

You talk about looking at your costs, so once again, I ask why didn't the club take up Dave's offer - space in a town centre outlet free? A golden opportunity and the club ignored it! Why?

As for the non-arrival of my sponsored shirt, I mentioned this yesterday. Any reasonably competent, customer-responsive organisation would have been in touch offering to sort it out. Apart from anything else, it's just good Google Page Ranking. The fact that this hasn't happened speaks volumes about the attitude of the club. No need to worry though, as I love Stanley so much, I'll still be sponsoring a player for this coming season.

We're all looking forward to what could be a very exciting season on the pitch. The club needs to raise its game off the pitch to match that!

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Whatever that means it's the lamest excuse I've ever heard. If the new KO time was posted on the fishy site, which it was, why on earth did someone not have the gumption to put a sticker over the Crown poster in good time? After all, many more people would have seen the poster from the bus than the few regulars who come on here. Pathetic.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

That should read "it's just good public relations" but it's somehow been mysteriously altered. Strange!

Re: Tranmere thread
 

1. Who is responsible for the sponsered shirt debacle?
2. Season is long over, why has the issue not been addressed?
3. As this is no minor issue,why has our M.D. not got involved?

These to me are perfectly reasonable questions.

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Only if yeh click on Merchandise it seems, click on match tickets it aint.:confused:

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Its maybe a nice way of putting "Sod All In"?:D Seems very odd though doing maintenance on the day its been posted to the pompey fans they are ready to sell ???

Re: Tranmere thread
 

Any time I've looked over the past few weeks it's been down for maintenance so I don't think it's the portsmouth tickets.

It's marginally better saying that than "we've nowt to sell".