Steve Davison


if it were onl selling kits then it wouldnt be economical..but you have to make kit sales only a small part of the overall function of the building

he has operated throughout his career at far far higher levels of business than safc will ever be
What other functions apart from kit launches and big match tickets are you suggesting would make it profitable?
 
What other functions apart from kit launches and big match tickets are you suggesting would make it profitable?
well as mentioned I would have a coffee shop in there and drive traffice for that by having it as a click and collect outlet for safc gear and amazon...also..and Im getting a bit out of my comfort zone here..could the club partner with durham criket and sell their tickets and schmutter from an SAFC shop?
 
well as mentioned I would have a coffee shop in there and drive traffice for that by having it as a click and collect outlet for safc gear and amazon...also..and Im getting a bit out of my comfort zone here..could the club partner with durham criket and sell their tickets and schmutter from an SAFC shop?
You've clearly never worked in retail. The three most important things for a shop are location, location, and location. Fundamentally, the shop is on about the worst place imaginable. Even moving it to BCH would only make it bad instead of terrible. An outlet requiring a special trip with no other outlets in the same area will be a disaster area. There's no point in paying staff and energy costs to open when there's little or no footfall for a large parts of the week. Most retail staff are part time. Next used to run with a skeleton staff from Monday to Wednesday and then ramp up numbers towards and through the weekend.

As much as people want the shop open more, there's no point in opening if you'll lose money on that day's trade.
 
You've clearly never worked in retail. The three most important things for a shop are location, location, and location. Fundamentally, the shop is on about the worst place imaginable. Even moving it to BCH would only make it bad instead of terrible. An outlet requiring a special trip with no other outlets in the same area will be a disaster area. There's no point in paying staff and energy costs to open when there's little or no footfall for a large parts of the week. Most retail staff are part time. Next used to run with a skeleton staff from Monday to Wednesday and then ramp up numbers towards and through the weekend.

As much as people want the shop open more, there's no point in opening if you'll lose money on that day's trade.
He has no idea on its location mate hes never stepped foot in Sunderland.
 
well as mentioned I would have a coffee shop in there and drive traffice for that by having it as a click and collect outlet for safc gear and amazon...also..and Im getting a bit out of my comfort zone here..could the club partner with durham criket and sell their tickets and schmutter from an SAFC shop?
Good points re Durham CC. Why not combine the fans museum, with the shop and cafe? What about using space at the Sunderland Museum?Other clubs have done similar. The riverside is being developed which will centre the SoL within a vibrant community. Use existing sports shops to sell SAFC kits with ticket points in other areas, such as the one in the Market Place in Durham or Barnard Castle. The current marketing regime is unacceptable and needs to be urgently addressed.
 
You've clearly never worked in retail. The three most important things for a shop are location, location, and location. Fundamentally, the shop is on about the worst place imaginable. Even moving it to BCH would only make it bad instead of terrible. An outlet requiring a special trip with no other outlets in the same area will be a disaster area. There's no point in paying staff and energy costs to open when there's little or no footfall for a large parts of the week. Most retail staff are part time. Next used to run with a skeleton staff from Monday to Wednesday and then ramp up numbers towards and through the weekend.

As much as people want the shop open more, there's no point in opening if you'll lose money on that day's trade.
I used to work in the shop many moons ago and tbh its absolutely dead mon-fri during the season only busy on matchdays and kit launches, however the fact they are shut for large parts of the season means the online version should be absolutely shit hot and even that has been ran to the bear minimum, it needs to be looked at where its easy to use and accessible to locals and fans around the uk and beyond, so good stock levels free delivery over certain basket values and a quality product which all seems to not be the case currently. I also hasten to add that you can have the best gear in the world but if the team is playing shite it really affects it and vice versa when they are doing well, so they should be taking advantage of the feel good factor currently
 
The ticket office is the biggest mess. Even if it’s not open every day, having it open til say 7/8pm Thursday and Friday then on a Saturday would have been better. All season we were told how busy they are and taking three days to reply to emails. Why not just employ a couple more staff? If they’re that busy surely we’re making enough money to pay a couple of extra staff to make it more efficient.
 
Keeping the club shop at the SoL open during regular shopping hours and selling matchday tickets in there would seem to be one of the easiest things to do.

The clubs online shop is poor, outdated and in need of a major overhaul, especially with more people buying online these days.

I can't see cash turnstiles making a return like.
Aye fair enough.

We should have cash turnstiles till we as a country decide we wont have currency. It will easily pay for itself. Contactless too. Lets just make it as easy as possible to follow the lads.
You are great supporter and good poster.

However, from what I can see here people are making constructive criticisms of the Club. I for one dont like having a pop at the Club for no good reason.

We want to maximise our support and income and just make it as easy as possible to support and put money into the Club.

I dont know Mr Davison but if he as appears is overseeing the merch and ticketing operation it is very plain he needs to massivley up his game.
Good points re Durham CC. Why not combine the fans museum, with the shop and cafe? What about using space at the Sunderland Museum?Other clubs have done similar. The riverside is being developed which will centre the SoL within a vibrant community. Use existing sports shops to sell SAFC kits with ticket points in other areas, such as the one in the Market Place in Durham or Barnard Castle. The current marketing regime is unacceptable and needs to be urgently addressed.
This - lets have some imagination.
 
Last edited:
I know
They can buy them in a week's time or whatever. There's no rush.

As soon as they start selling though, it becomes a massive ballache for season ticket sales.
Some people’s ability to attend games depends upon the booking of long distance trains. There’s a rush.
well other clubs have shops as well..i think what hinders safc is that the stadium, and there fore shop, is nort really near any town centre..so gets less footfall thsn other clubs-even clubs with much smaller fanbases.


THE VAST VAST MAJORITY OF SAFC FANS DO ONLINE SHOPPING REGULARLY
Once again the mask is slipping. How would a non safc connected fan know this? What % of PL/FL clubs stadiums are nearer to their respective town-city centres?
You've clearly never worked in retail. The three most important things for a shop are location, location, and location. Fundamentally, the shop is on about the worst place imaginable. Even moving it to BCH would only make it bad instead of terrible. An outlet requiring a special trip with no other outlets in the same area will be a disaster area. There's no point in paying staff and energy costs to open when there's little or no footfall for a large parts of the week. Most retail staff are part time. Next used to run with a skeleton staff from Monday to Wednesday and then ramp up numbers towards and through the weekend.

As much as people want the shop open more, there's no point in opening if you'll lose money on that day's trade.
In his defence (I can’t believe I’m saying this!) he was on about a city centre location. iirc the one just inside the bridges location.
 
Last edited:
You've clearly never worked in retail. The three most important things for a shop are location, location, and location. Fundamentally, the shop is on about the worst place imaginable. Even moving it to BCH would only make it bad instead of terrible. An outlet requiring a special trip with no other outlets in the same area will be a disaster area. There's no point in paying staff and energy costs to open when there's little or no footfall for a large parts of the week. Most retail staff are part time. Next used to run with a skeleton staff from Monday to Wednesday and then ramp up numbers towards and through the weekend.

As much as people want the shop open more, there's no point in opening if you'll lose money on that day's trade.
Have you never heard of destination shops GOM.....football is a business like no other!In the case of the shop i would argue untill the dell boy collective arrived was about supplying service to your loyal fanbase ,its worth is greater than the sum of its parts.
You buy a ticket to a club and you enter a world where you expect the club to adhere to some unwritten conventions ,to provide some services that might not be in the accountants 101 guide to maximizing profit.
A physical club shop is part of the fabric of the game and most clubs run one ,would they prefer 100% on line to maximize profits? probably! i quickly googled Huddersfield shop hours ....

Store Opening Times

If we want to be known as a professional unit and not a barrow boy collective we need to seen to provide a decent service to our fans and this should involve physically running a club shop open five or six days a week and absorbing the costs within the business model and be happy to do so. Online just doesn't cut it imho.
 
Last edited:
The stadiums concourse is shite really and all it's good for is a half time quick pint and a pie for the desperate. The surrounding area should be vastly improved with bars, cafes , restaurants and outlets (including a new club shop). Not just for match day crowds but non matchday as well.
 
Have you never heard of destination shops GOM.....football is a business like no other!In the case of the shop i would argue untill the dell boy collective arrived was about supplying service to your loyal fanbase ,its worth is greater than the sum of its parts.
You buy a ticket to a club and you enter a world where you expect the club to adhere to some unwritten conventions ,to provide some services that might not be in the accountants 101 guide to maximizing profit.
A physical club shop is part of the fabric of the game and most clubs run one ,would they prefer 100% on line to maximize profits? probably! i quickly googled Huddersfield shop hours ....

Store Opening Times

If we want to be known as a professional unit and not a barrow boy collective we need to seen to provide a decent service to our fans and this should involve physically running a club shop open five or six days a week and absorbing the costs within the business model and be happy to do so. Online just doesn't cut it imho.
It shouldnt even need to be discussed, totally pisspoor, plenty non league outfits with better arrangements.
 
Have you never heard of destination shops GOM.....football is a business like no other!In the case of the shop i would argue untill the dell boy collective arrived was about supplying service to your loyal fanbase ,its worth is greater than the sum of its parts.
You buy a ticket to a club and you enter a world where you expect the club to adhere to some unwritten conventions ,to provide some services that might not be in the accountants 101 guide to maximizing profit.
A physical club shop is part of the fabric of the game and most clubs run one ,would they prefer 100% on line to maximize profits? probably! i quickly googled Huddersfield shop hours ....

Store Opening Times

If we want to be known as a professional unit and not a barrow boy collective we need to seen to provide a decent service to our fans and this should involve physically running a club shop open five or six days a week and absorbing the costs within the business model and be happy to do so. Online just doesn't cut it imho.
Fine to have a destination shop but you have to assume you are unlikely to create enough new sales, which wouldn't otherwise buy, to make much, if any, profit. If it's a branding exercise, that's fine
 
Fine to have a destination shop but you have to assume you are unlikely to create enough new sales, which wouldn't otherwise buy, to make much, if any, profit. If it's a branding exercise, that's fine
As i said football isn't like any other business..............a club shop is part of the fabric of the club and the game itself ...most clubs carry the shop as part of the business entity that is the football club.....so yes t could be viewed as part of the branding as you put it .
 
I get peoples concerns about the club shop etc, but I’d bet good money the same people would be whinging about spaffing money keeping it open if it was empty 90% of the time.

I get some people struggle with may not be confident using online platforms but unfortunately that’s the way the world is going, places like the metrocentre are dead as online shopping is used more.
 
Have you never heard of destination shops GOM.....football is a business like no other!In the case of the shop i would argue untill the dell boy collective arrived was about supplying service to your loyal fanbase ,its worth is greater than the sum of its parts.
You buy a ticket to a club and you enter a world where you expect the club to adhere to some unwritten conventions ,to provide some services that might not be in the accountants 101 guide to maximizing profit.
A physical club shop is part of the fabric of the game and most clubs run one ,would they prefer 100% on line to maximize profits? probably! i quickly googled Huddersfield shop hours ....

Store Opening Times

If we want to be known as a professional unit and not a barrow boy collective we need to seen to provide a decent service to our fans and this should involve physically running a club shop open five or six days a week and absorbing the costs within the business model and be happy to do so. Online just doesn't cut it imho.
Did you see the post below the one you quoted from an ex-employee in the club shop who said it was dead Monday to Friday? It's only a destination shop if people go there. Frankly, not enough will ever do that enough to justify opening 9-5 six days a week.
 
As i said football isn't like any other business..............a club shop is part of the fabric of the club and the game itself ...most clubs carry the shop as part of the business entity that is the football club.....so yes t could be viewed as part of the branding as you put it .
All depends on whether you are willing to trade branding for debt or a player.
Did you see the post below the one you quoted from an ex-employee in the club shop who said it was dead Monday to Friday? It's only a destination shop if people go there. Frankly, not enough will ever do that enough to justify opening 9-5 six days a week.
To be fair, it's hardly a destination at the moment either at the SoL or if we had one in the Town Centre. Could work if the Sheepfolds or High Street developments genuinely brought in lots of people. I agree, never going to be worth it in its own right.
 
Last edited:

Back
Top