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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2019 18:06:18 GMT
I was going to start a thread on my frustrations at the programme selling out long before 3pm but I'll put it here.
Clyde game last season, obviously going to be well over 500 in attendance, programme sold out by about 2.45.
Fort William game, again it was obvious that there was going to be a lot of interest in this game. I got to the turnstile again around 2.45, all gone. None in club shop.
Onto today, I decide to take no chances and I get to the turnstile around 2.32. At first I don't see a seller then I spot him standing up near the turnstile in between the two queues. I get his second last one, his last one goes seconds later. I'm sorry Rovers, this isn't good enough. I'm guessing they only slightly increased the print run, probably to 150. This game was expected to get 1,000 fans, in the end 1,127 attended, so surely the print run should have reflected that? A chance to make a bit more money gone.
One other point, the price of the programme should be on the cover.
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Post by bentherover on Nov 23, 2019 21:55:23 GMT
I was going to start a thread on my frustrations at the programme selling out long before 3pm but I'll put it here. Clyde game last season, obviously going to be well over 500 in attendance, programme sold out by about 2.45. Fort William game, again it was obvious that there was going to be a lot of interest in this game. I got to the turnstile again around 2.45, all gone. None in club shop. Onto today, I decide to take no chances and I get to the turnstile around 2.32. At first I don't see a seller then I spot him standing up near the turnstile in between the two queues. I get his second last one, his last one goes seconds later. I'm sorry Rovers, this isn't good enough. I'm guessing they only slightly increased the print run, probably to 150. This game was expected to get 1,000 fans, in the end 1,127 attended, so surely the print run should have reflected that? A chance to make a bit more money gone. One other point, the price of the programme should be on the cover. We had no way of knowing that we were going to sell out that quickly and if I’m being honest a didn’t think we’d sell out as in previous games against Airdrie they don’t usually buy programs. And if we ordered three boxes we could have been stuck in the same position as we were after the ST Mirren game were we were left with about 300 programs that we couldn’t sell. Overall I think it’s a safer bet making a guaranteed profit than risk being stuck with loads of programs.
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Post by Rovergrant on Nov 24, 2019 8:28:05 GMT
Should never be stuck with `loads of programmes`. Back in the day (yes it was the 1970s) when I ran the programme we had a minimum print run of 300 - enough to give everybody in attendance a programme (or two!) so yes we often had 100+ left over. There was always dealers willing to take these ideally swopping for other clubs` programmes (big English clubs were most popular) which led to the establishment of the wee `club shop` at the side of the stand which became extremely popular with programme collectors. Many a Sunday morning I went to S & J Programmes in Govan with boxes of Rovers `overs` coming back with a variety of programmes from other Scottish and English clubs which were quickly snapped up by collectors at the next home match. Several years running we had a stall at the Scotish Programme Collectors Fair at the Maclellan Galleries in Glasgow - all this meant that the programme never lost money (it was run in those days by the Supporters Club). Use the programmes left over as an asset.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2019 15:56:12 GMT
Come off it, Ben. The experience of the two previous occasions I mentioned should have told you to expect a greater demand for one. To sell out by 2.35 is a poor show. Was I correct that the run was only 150? I'm guessing the Rovers support alone was a good 400 and that wasn't unexpected. The vast majority of the crowd arrived after this time and I would imagine many were left disappointed.
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Post by terrygillooly on Nov 24, 2019 16:09:32 GMT
Come off it, Ben. The experience of the two previous occasions I mentioned should have told you to expect a greater demand for one. To sell out by 2.35 is a poor show. Was I correct that the run was only 150? I'm guessing the Rovers support alone was a good 400 and that wasn't unexpected. The vast majority of the crowd arrived after this time and I would imagine many were left disappointed. Maybe they could increase the number they print and you could buy whatever they have left?
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Post by chris on Nov 24, 2019 16:22:29 GMT
The programmes lose money weekly, in the last year they have lost over £1000, this is through nothing else than not selling the printed ones.
This isn't a phenomenon exclusive to our own club, it's the same everywhere.
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Post by jack11 on Nov 24, 2019 17:22:16 GMT
Come off it, Ben. The experience of the two previous occasions I mentioned should have told you to expect a greater demand for one. To sell out by 2.35 is a poor show. Was I correct that the run was only 150? I'm guessing the Rovers support alone was a good 400 and that wasn't unexpected. The vast majority of the crowd arrived after this time and I would imagine many were left disappointed. You’ve mentioned two games where the programmes sold out. What about the other 40 odd homes we’ve had in the last couple of season were there’s been boxes left over. As Ben said Airdrie don’t buy programmes, so why print more if you can’t guarantee selling them. One other point, you said the price should be on the cover of the programme. Why? You ask the programme sellers the price and it’s not as if the price changes every week. You are the only person to have ever said that.
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Post by Prof on Nov 24, 2019 21:41:35 GMT
Come off it, Ben. The experience of the two previous occasions I mentioned should have told you to expect a greater demand for one. To sell out by 2.35 is a poor show. Was I correct that the run was only 150? I'm guessing the Rovers support alone was a good 400 and that wasn't unexpected. The vast majority of the crowd arrived after this time and I would imagine many were left disappointed. Passerby - I always buy a programme at home matches but didn't get one yesterday as they'd sold out. Am I complaining? - No. The guys who produce & sell the programme are doing this completely voluntarily and do great work What's your solution? - If you think you can do any better then step forward.
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Post by Rovergrant on Nov 25, 2019 8:47:27 GMT
Ian, I suggested a solution ....it worked in the past no reason it cannot work now given the vastly improved facilities - the club shop - that there is now.
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Post by tommysermanni on Nov 25, 2019 9:11:10 GMT
Can someone explain why 'Airdrie don't buy programmes'? My guess would be if there was a large contingent of Airdrie fans than a good few of them would buy a programme if it was available.
I'm not having a go at anyone here.I'm a big supporter of the programme and those who work so hard to make it available.
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Post by jaydee on Nov 25, 2019 9:32:34 GMT
Ian, I suggested a solution ....it worked in the past no reason it cannot work now given the vastly improved facilities - the club shop - that there is now. Without doing any kind of research at all (so VERY HAPPY to be corrected or educated) I don’t think there is a real enough desire anymore to collect programmes, certainly by enough people to make your idea work now. I’d be surprised (again, pleasantly) if the service you described still exists in what has become very much a disposable world we live in. Most small clubs either don’t do a programme or like us limit the numbers to minimise cost. The larger clubs would, in my opinion, just bin the excess and write it off as an expense.
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Post by Rovergrant on Nov 25, 2019 9:46:15 GMT
Google `football programme dealers` and you come up with loads of busineses / individuals who trade in programmes so I would guess there is still a market out there. One of our `regulars` on here `Rab` is a collector, be good to hear his opinion. Maybe the question should be asked on P & B for a wider viewpoint.
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Post by tommysermanni on Nov 25, 2019 10:12:52 GMT
There is a programme shop in Bathgate www.gpfootball.com/and also one just round the corner from Easter Road.http://www.almondvaleprogrammes.co.uk/
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Post by Rovergrant on Nov 25, 2019 11:07:03 GMT
There is a programme shop in Bathgate www.gpfootball.com/and also one just round the corner from Easter Road.http://www.almondvaleprogrammes.co.uk/ If a programme shop can survive in a small town like Bathgate then there must be a significant collectors market
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Post by Rovergrant on Nov 25, 2019 11:26:45 GMT
My local non league club (Worksop Town in the North East Counties League)whose `gates` are about the same as ARFC sell programmes in their shop - and make lists available then ARFC should be able to do similar . www.worksoptownfc.co.uk/shop-2/
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