Fixture release day - blues store

I know there’s little excitement around the club at the minute but it is fixtures release date next Thursday 20th.

Will we get Tinpot Town away or tinpot rovers at home I’m joking.

However I was astonished that the blues store is shut all day. It’s a day that creates a bit of excitement/interest. To have it shut seems very odd and strange business sense, especially as the club has no money.

I've never been too excited about the fixtures coming out. We'll be playing 23 teams home and away at the end of the day.

I do like being at home on the first day of the season and Boxing Day.

That’s no excuse! Ideally the launch should of been done before the 20th.

The club has a day of free publicity. With sky sports news/local newspapers/social media so should use it in their favour.

If just one lad/lass sees the fixtures and gets a bit of excitement and fancies a pop down to get some merchandise they can’t.

The club should be taking every opportunity to maximise sales. Having the shop shut on a day of free publicity is lunacy.

If we get Salford first sky will be all over us!

So I got bored and decided to check the other clubs in our leaue to see if their shop was open. Only Carlisle United was shut, Crewe and Salford I couldn't confirm.

FGR were having a promotion, other clubs I couldn't see.

I know we are having the truck, but if we haven't enough staff to open a shop for a few hours on Thursday or through the week is bad crack. We are desparate for money, surely it should be open and screaming unless there's no stock.

Free promotion day - Shop shut - I personally find that odd, but hey ho. Might explaine why the clubs up the shitter.



Bradford - Open
Cambridge - Open
Carlisle - Closed
Cheltenham - Open
Colchester - Open
Crawley - Open
Crewe - Unknown
Exeter - Open
FGR - Open with free vegan Brownies!
Grimsby - Open
Leyton Orient - Open, but may be closed depending on circumstances
Macclesfield - Open
Mansfield - Open
Morecambe - Open
Newport - Open
Northampton - Open
Oldham - Open
Plymouth - Open
Port Vale - Open
Salford - Unnknown
Scunthorpe - Open
Stevenage - Open
Swindon - Open
Walsall - Open

Mullen103 wrote: Bradford - Open
Cambridge - Open
Carlisle - Closed
Cheltenham - Open
Colchester - Open
Crawley - Open
Crewe - Unknown
Exeter - Open
FGR - Open with free vegan Brownies!
Grimsby - Open
Leyton Orient - Open, but may be closed depending on circumstances
Macclesfield - Open
Mansfield - Open
Morecambe - Open
Newport - Open
Northampton - Open
Oldham - Open
Plymouth - Open
Port Vale - Open
Salford - Unnknown
Scunthorpe - Open
Stevenage - Open
Swindon - Open
Walsall - Open

I really need to know whether or not the Salford club shop is open on that day before passing judgement.

pedals wrote:

Mullen103 wrote: Bradford - Open
Cambridge - Open
Carlisle - Closed
Cheltenham - Open
Colchester - Open
Crawley - Open
Crewe - Unknown
Exeter - Open
FGR - Open with free vegan Brownies!
Grimsby - Open
Leyton Orient - Open, but may be closed depending on circumstances
Macclesfield - Open
Mansfield - Open
Morecambe - Open
Newport - Open
Northampton - Open
Oldham - Open
Plymouth - Open
Port Vale - Open
Salford - Unnknown
Scunthorpe - Open
Stevenage - Open
Swindon - Open
Walsall - Open

I really need to know whether or not the Salford club shop is open on that day before passing judgement.

I can confirm both Crewe and Salford are open, leaving us the only one in the league on Thursday purposely closed, baffling!

It shouldn't be baffling Richard this is after all Carlisle United you're on about. Piss up and brewery etc

nobbyblue wrote: I've never been too excited about the fixtures coming out. We'll be playing 23 teams home and away at the end of the day.

I do like being at home on the first day of the season and Boxing Day.

Are we playing all evening kick offs next season?

The reason I’m making this an issue Mersey Is that we are a professional football club, not some local backstreet cafe, that’s struggling for money.

It has a free promotion oportunity on Thursday. If the club was quick/pro active it could produce fixture cards and hand them out in the shop with say 5/10% discount. But no, our club decides to shut it’s shop.

Yes we have a truck event, but have both. The reason we have no staff to man the shop because it’s all hands on deck for the truck launch is a disgrace.

23/24 clubs in our league shops open on Thursday. I saw a clear opportunity of some free promotion, with a bit of thinking, for a struggling club to get some sales. Instead we shut up shop, that’s why I think it’s baffling. I’m happy for you to disagree though.

You wouldn’t see EWM close their shop through the week because they have a promotion in town on a weekend.Same here!

The staff will be removing all last seasons stock from the shop then replacing it with new stock ....training gear, new kit sweatshirts etc, ready for the shop to reopen again on the Monday morning.

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Youre right there’s no comparison as the football clubs a tinpot and shambles organisation. However they are both businesses needing to make money.

Yes the truck etc but 23/24 club shops being open on Thursday tells you everything you need to know.

There’s plenty of fixtures that get changed throughout the season anyway, I very much doubt anyone uses them anyway but could of been a great novelty thing.

I just see it as a great opotunity lost. The club should do both. It’s losing money so maximise sales you can’t make any money if the shops shut.

Stop being so silly Richard. Who really cares about the other clubs? As said above, the club will make far more money in town than at the shop. How many times have you & others said we need a bigger presence in town, need to get the word out about the club? Some things i agree with you about, but this is not one of them. This is just you nit picking.

BlueBanana wrote: Stop being so silly Richard. Who really cares about the other clubs? As said above, the club will make far more money in town than at the shop. How many times have you & others said we need a bigger presence in town, need to get the word out about the club? Some things i agree with you about, but this is not one of them. This is just you nit picking.

Ok - I think the truck idea in town is potentially a good idea. I've no issues with it and yes the club needs to make a presence in town. Ideally, it could have been done before but I don't have an issue with it and is a good idea potentially. Knowing our luck it'll piss down all day.

However, we are a club struggling to make money. It has a free day of feee promotion and with a bit of planning could of been used for a bit of promotion/sales. Whether we have a promotion at the weekend or not in town doesn't matter, do both. However, to have it shut, I can't get my head around it.

We should definitely be looking at what other clubs do and try to better. Yes it probably is "nit picking" but come on the club needs to make money. Looks like others don't share the same opinion, which is fine.

"The Club Needs Money", take it you've helped out by getting a season ticket then?

Richard, sometimes when you have dug a hole, there comes a time to stop digging.

You appear to think that fixtures day is a day when folk buy football kit. At Carlisle it hasn't been, I asked. ( I felt you were wrong but wasn't going to say so without checking facts).

The launch is immenent, so the kits are going to be here in plenty of time for the kids to get a new kit for their holidays, and will be available for the friendlies, so I don't think anyone can complain about the timing.

Kit Launches are a bit like Christmas, kids get up in the morning and Santa's been. They don't see the work that goes on behind the scenes to make it happen. It's the same with kit. I hope I'm not ruining anyones illusions but that lorry won't be coming straight from Italy on Saturday morning.

Every piece of kit will have been counted and placed in size order by the shop staff. Some will have been stored, some set aside for display in the shop, some set out as display in the lorry, plus a store for that. The online shop will also have been set up with the required stock levels for when the new stuff goes online. It will be a few full days work, which will also explain why the shop is shut.

You keep mentioning that the other club shops are open but are they launching their kit a couple of days later? If they have staff to do both then they are very lucky or possibly very overstaffed. I think it would be a shame to delay the kit launch so the shop could be open on fixtures day, particularly as it doesn't appear to make any difference to sales, where as launching a new kit a couple of days later definitely will.

I think the town launch is a good idea, something different and saves facing the traffic down Warwick Road.

The reason we haven't sold the kit on fixtures day - is likely because we haven't had it.

I apologise greatly for thinking the club shop should be open on Thursday and was a great promotion opportunity missed, like the other 23 clubs. Maybe it might be a good idea closing the club shop completely and just have it open an hour before/after matches.

I apologise for keep going on and on about this is as I'm obviously very wrong! but if just one person takes an interest because they see te club advertised on social media/newspaper/sky/TV and decides to head to the shop and its closed, what sort of image does that send, not a good one is the answer!

Again, I must be living elsewhere and i thought it complete lunancy its shut regardless of what's going on at the weekend. I've never known a business to be shut when their name gets plastered everywhere, but thats our football club i suppose.

BlueBanana wrote: "The Club Needs Money", take it you've helped out by getting a season ticket then?

Not for the shit on offer at the minute - not a chance, like giving money away.

The club needs money, but can't be bothered to keep a shop open!

I've said enough!

Get a load of the new kit into Claire's Bakery when the shops shut, they'll sell loads as Claire's is always the busiest during the week.

Simples.

COYB

The fact that so many people disagree with Mullen, and think that the idea the club shop should be shut on a day when we get some free publicity is totally fine, merely demonstrates how used to mediocrity people have got.

Just out of interest how many folk have bought something at the club shop becaus it's fixtures day?

I can honestly say I haven't. I quite like the buzz of fixtures day. I have, once, booked a hotel on fixtures day, for a weekend away at a certain away game (it was postponed).

I have booked a holiday on fixtures day knowing I would be missing a game I really didn't mind missing, but it's never given me the urge to buy clothes. I could easily have "grown" out of them befor the season starts!!

Mullen103 wrote:

BlueBanana wrote: "The Club Needs Money", take it you've helped out by getting a season ticket then?

Not for the shit on offer at the minute - not a chance, like giving money away.

The club needs money, but can't be bothered to keep a shop open!

I've said enough!

Well there you go if your not willing to support the club why should you rely on others to do it for you. Whether you like the owners or not, I do think the team and manager deserve our support, after all that's what we go to Brunton Park for!!
Besides who in their right mind would try and get to the club shop with all that work going on right out side it??

Exactly. So why is it such an issue that it's open? I don't think we're happy to accept mediocrity, more we see the bigger picture (with regards the club shop/kit launch). As said more chance of selling kit & other merchandise in town. I just don't think it's a case of oh look, we've got Salford away on the opening day, i better get down the club shop quick before they sell out of..... Well anything really!

Bumble wrote: Just out of interest how many folk have bought something at the club shop becaus it's fixtures day?

I can honestly say I haven't. I quite like the buzz of fixtures day. I have, once, booked a hotel on fixtures day, for a weekend away at a certain away game (it was postponed).

I have booked a holiday on fixtures day knowing I would be missing a game I really didn't mind missing, but it's never given me the urge to buy clothes. I could easily have "grown" out of them befor the season starts!!

I'm more bothered about the club image bumble.

As Deeksme said its mediocrity but we're used to it (This has completely bamboozled me). If just one person get interested on a day of free publicity and its shut what sort of image does that portray!

Bluedevil wrote:

Mullen103 wrote:

BlueBanana wrote: "The Club Needs Money", take it you've helped out by getting a season ticket then?

Not for the shit on offer at the minute - not a chance, like giving money away.

The club needs money, but can't be bothered to keep a shop open!

I've said enough!

Well there you go if your not willing to support the club why should you rely on others to do it for you. Whether you like the owners or not, I do think the team and manager deserve our support, after all that's what we go to Brunton Park for!!
Besides who in their right mind would try and get to the club shop with all that work going on right out side it??

I don't et a season ticket as its not worth it.

I may go back next season ad hoc but a season ticket isn't worth it.

Christ there are some people on here will have a go at anything the club do, some people are acting like Northern Souls offspring, (thank god hes crawled back under the floorboards, hoping to be never seen or heard of again) "doesn't matter what it is lets just give them cheap shots, whilst we sit on our arses do nothing and slag em off all day long".
Whilst I agree everything is far from perfect, lets at least give them some credit when its due.

I can see it being really busy in the club shop on a Thursday morning at 10am when the fixtures come out with the kids in school and the majority of people at work.

Not forgetting if you come by car you will need to sit in a half mile queue due to the water main shambles at the Greystone Road junction where the geniuses doing the work have now dug up the same bit they had open about 2 weeks ago & had filled in & tarmaced.

FFS Mullen give it a rest.

The club shop is shut every Wednesday if you haven't noticed.
Fixture release day doesn't matter to those who are boycotting as they won't be there anyway.

At the moment there is very little in the shop as they are selling off last seasons stuff on the cheap and not replacing anything until the new stuff comes out.

Fixtures release day is only known by people that follow CUFC anyway. I doubt all the kids at school and people at work will be bunking off to go and buy a pen, fuelled by the excitement of Colchester away on the first day of the season.

Yeah ok - Hands up apologies as i've obviously got it very wrong.

My bad for thinking the club could of been pro active and done some/used some free promotion (Its one of the few days it gets some close season) and opened the shop.

My bad for thinking about the even bigger picture of the clubs image etc. Club gets a day of free promotion but the shop is shut.

Yes the town promotion is a good idea, but what happens if its a wash out, do both! or at the very least the shop should be open.

I don't know whether people are disagreeing because its me or genuinly believe the club shop being shut on Thursday is a good idea. I'm baffled, but accept i'm wrong by the feeling on here. Going by the comments on here its little wonder the owners have got away with mediocrity for so long.

I can remember the days of enthusustic Knighton where he'd try and sell you shit if he could.

Yes, but, in this case I just think you've got it wrong.

You have some good ideas and make good points. I strongly disagree with you bombing the CUSG thread but am more than happy to agree with any points you make that I agree with, there's nothing personal, I just think you are trying to build up a tinpot case where there isn't one.

Anyone who follows football knows that clubs have a quiet spell in the summer. They have to, the traditional holidays, Christmas and Easter, are busy times and in between the season ending and the next season starting, everyone at a football club needs to have their holidays. So before holidays are cancelled or agency staff are brought in, anything planned in this period has to be justified and be a cast iron money earner.

You argue that the shop should be open to generate interest but you have no proof it will Particularly this year who wants to face the roadworks down Warwick Road to drive to the shop on a working day, when they can go to the city centre on the Saturday or Sunday and buy a shirt then.

People know that a trip down to the club shop at the moment, would be just that. No chance of seeing a player, they are all on holiday. Senior staff,mostly on holiday. There is nothing at the club at the moment to generate any excitement, even the pitch isn't fully grown.

When the players come back, the firendlies start, fun days are mooted, then it's the time for excitement and building up the anticipation for the season ahead. Then the shop will open, and stocked with new things.

You are asking for excitement at a time when no one expects it, Fixture release day is just the very first whisper of the season to come. I asked who went to the club shop because it was fixture day, no one answered.

Sorry Richard, I don't think the club is tinpot or mediocre for this decision at all, and yet I don't realy feel I'm mellowing, there is always plenty else I can kick off about

I think people are under estimating the excitement of Fixture Release Day.

Last year I bought eight scarves when I heard we were playing Exeter first up and then another two when I noticed we'd got Grimsby away on Easter Monday. My brother purchased a full away kit for himself with Richie Bennett's name on the back and he's never been to a game.

Also had the chance to meet John Sheridan that day who told me to move my '[censored] car' as he came through in his big motor. You can't buy those precious moments.

nobbyblue wrote: I think people are under estimating the excitement of Fixture Release Day.

Last year I bought eight scarves when I heard we were playing Exeter first up and then another two when I noticed we'd got Grimsby away on Easter Monday. My brother purchased a full away kit for himself with Richie Bennett's name on the back and he's never been to a game.

Also had the chance to meet John Sheridan that day who told me to move my '[censored] car' as he came through in his big motor. You can't buy those precious moments.

That's very good Nobby that made me laugh.

Bumble wrote: Yes, but, in this case I just think you've got it wrong.

You have some good ideas and make good points. I strongly disagree with you bombing the CUSG thread but am more than happy to agree with any points you make that I agree with, there's nothing personal, I just think you are trying to build up a tinpot case where there isn't one.

Anyone who follows football knows that clubs have a quiet spell in the summer. They have to, the traditional holidays, Christmas and Easter, are busy times and in between the season ending and the next season starting, everyone at a football club needs to have their holidays. So before holidays are cancelled or agency staff are brought in, anything planned in this period has to be justified and be a cast iron money earner.

You argue that the shop should be open to generate interest but you have no proof it will Particularly this year who wants to face the roadworks down Warwick Road to drive to the shop on a working day, when they can go to the city centre on the Saturday or Sunday and buy a shirt then.

People know that a trip down to the club shop at the moment, would be just that. No chance of seeing a player, they are all on holiday. Senior staff,mostly on holiday. There is nothing at the club at the moment to generate any excitement, even the pitch isn't fully grown.

When the players come back, the firendlies start, fun days are mooted, then it's the time for excitement and building up the anticipation for the season ahead. Then the shop will open, and stocked with new things.

You are asking for excitement at a time when no one expects it, Fixture release day is just the very first whisper of the season to come. I asked who went to the club shop because it was fixture day, no one answered.

Sorry Richard, I don't think the club is tinpot or mediocre for this decision at all, and yet I don't realy feel I'm mellowing, there is always plenty else I can kick off about

I'm happy to agree to disagree!

I just thought it was a great opportunity lost if you look at what other clubs are doing as well, but of course, we're entitled to do things differently. I think there are issues why we haven't sold anything/much fixtures release day probably as we haven't had anything to sell, that's a separate issue not worth going into.

Lets hope the truck is a success! We make loads of money from it, enough to maybe offer a 2 year deal.

#22 I’ve said enough!

Just a note to finish on.

The club are saying they can't release the kit yet as they are doing it for the club launch and it's the first day they can get the truck. I don't disagree with that.

However, Clibbens has said, via email, they can't release the new kit yet as they are still contracted to the old supplier. Explains everything!

It would of saved a lot of hassle and your blood pressure getting high if they said that to you in your original tweet!

Mush wrote: It would of saved a lot of hassle and your blood pressure getting high if they said that to you in your original tweet!

But they wouldn't want that to be public knowledge because it would prove that last seasons orders/payment were put in late. Something the club doesn't want to admit too. Likely a years contract Mid June - Mid June.

I'm led to believe, can't verify though, that the strip/stock has been here a while but we can't sell it yet as we're still contracted to the previous supplier. The club says it's the 1st day it can get the truck, this weekend, which I don't doubt but it's been restricted by the previous contract.

Ideally, I would have done the launch this weekend then had another bite at the cherry on Thursday to coincide with fixtures launch etc and do something at the club shop.

I do websites for retailers and I've spoken to some today and they can't believe the shops shut on a day of free promotion, even with a big promotion a few days later. Some have won business awards "Sally's cottages" etc. Completely different businesses I get that, but business still the same buy/sell but hey what do they know!