new club shop

[jonboy29red]

so the club have opend a new shop in town, only for christmas why cant they keep it open full time?

[Tails]

so the club have opend a new shop in town, only for christmas why cant they keep it open full time?

Cost?

[Ian Royal]

lack of profitability.

[paultheroyal]

Customers and Choice?

[Jackson Corner]

They tried it in the past didn't work out.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Perhaps if they shared costs with LI?

Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps have a permanent club shop in the prestigious Eden Centre in High Wycombe, I can't imagine their costs being that much different from what Reading's would be, certainly compared to the Butts anyway.

[Red]

Lack of ambition is the main reason I suspect

[Rex]

Probably a temporary lease leading to Christmas.

[roadrunner]

so the club have opend a new shop in town, only for christmas why cant they keep it open full time?

It would never generate enough income. Leasing a shop in the Broad Street Mall, although a place that hardly anyone goes in now, is still pretty ambitious by the club. I guess they learned and learned fast that sticking a shop in Market Place was nothing short of stupid. Who ever thought of that deserved shooting.

[Rex]

I did amble in. Mostly aimed at the children with pencil cases, cuddly teddies, Kingsley, hats, scarves and a selection of reduced replica shirts.

[peterroyal76]

so the club have opend a new shop in town, only for christmas why cant they keep it open full time?

I'm not sure why, but why don't we blame : Shane Long*, Matt Mills* Brendan Rodgers*, Brian Howard*, John Madejski*


* Delete as applicable.

[SpaceCruiser]

so the club have opend a new shop in town, only for christmas why cant they keep it open full time?

I'm not sure why, but why don't we blame : Shane Long*, Matt Mills* Brendan Rodgers*, Brian Howard*, John Madejski*


* Delete as applicable.

Can I blame Mark McGhee instead?

[Wycombe Royal]

Perhaps if they shared costs with LI?

Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps have a permanent club shop in the prestigious Eden Centre in High Wycombe, I can't imagine their costs being that much different from what Reading's would be, certainly compared to the Butts anyway.

Their shop is in the old Octagon Centre on the first floor where very few people ever go and therefore the rent will be cheap. I would have said a similar location would be top floor of the Broad Street Mall but now that WIlkinsons has opened up there the footfall will be a lot higher and rents will probably increase.

[Red]

Can't imagine that makes a huge difference TBF

[Y21_Royal]

The problem with the RFC shops in town in the past is that they weren't able to sell tickets so never generated that much income, certainly not enough to keep somewhere permanently

[biscuitman]

The problem with the RFC shops in town in the past is that they weren't able to sell tickets so never generated that much income, certainly not enough to keep somewhere permanently

They also went for the cheap option. Market Place was the worse location to ever have a club shop.

[Ian Royal]

The problem with the RFC shops in town in the past is that they weren't able to sell tickets so never generated that much income, certainly not enough to keep somewhere permanently

They aren't actually going to generate much increased income for the club by selling tickets, because very few people will buy them that wouldn't have got them through one of the other routes anyway. There may have been an increase in merchandising sold from people going in to buy tickets who wouldn't have gone in anyway... but I doubt it would have been significant to make the cost of implementing the system worth it. Or enough to make a difference between the shop being profitable or not.

A short lease Xmas shop is a relatively good idea though. One of the best trading times without all the rent and rates in dead times reducing the profitability.

[Y21_Royal]

The problem with the RFC shops in town in the past is that they weren't able to sell tickets so never generated that much income, certainly not enough to keep somewhere permanently

They aren't actually going to generate much increased income for the club by selling tickets, because very few people will buy them that wouldn't have got them through one of the other routes anyway. There may have been an increase in merchandising sold from people going in to buy tickets who wouldn't have gone in anyway... but I doubt it would have been significant to make the cost of implementing the system worth it. Or enough to make a difference between the shop being profitable or not.

A short lease Xmas shop is a relatively good idea though. One of the best trading times without all the rent and rates in dead times reducing the profitability.

It may not generate much of a profit but it could potentially mean that the shop pays for itself. Added to that there's always the chance of attracting a few more casual fans who buy a ticket on a whim rather than going through the process of phoning or going online. A permanent presence in town would also surely give the club a PR boost as well.

All a bit of a moot point because it won't happen but it does mean its a bit easier if I decide some branded tat for anyone this xmas!

[Rex]

Some of the team are at this shop on Thursday. Promotional push ahead chaps.

[Ian Royal]

I would say there is zero point in having a shop unless it is turning at least a decent profit.