View Full Version : LOI/FAI shop in Dublin city centre
DSandy
13/02/2009, 1:55 PM
Just wondering if this could be a runner or not. A merchandising shop for both the FAI & for all LOI clubs. There are more and more empty retail units in Dublin city centre (unfortunately) which must offer an opportunity to get a location at a knock down rental price. Would offer exposure for all the club with the onus on each club to provide the stock for the LOI section.
Any thoughts on this from anyone?
garyderry
13/02/2009, 1:58 PM
Just wondering if this could be a runner or not. A merchandising shop for both the FAI & for all LOI clubs. There are more and more empty retail units in Dublin city centre (unfortunately) which must offer an opportunity to get a location at a knock down rental price. Would offer exposure for all the club with the onus on each club to provide the stock for the LOI section.
Any thoughts on this from anyone?
This has been mentioned loads of times in the past, not sure if its ever been brought up with the FAI though.
sligoman
13/02/2009, 2:03 PM
Great idea, do no harm really.
Rovers1
13/02/2009, 2:05 PM
Just wondering if this could be a runner or not. A merchandising shop for both the FAI & for all LOI clubs. There are more and more empty retail units in Dublin city centre (unfortunately) which must offer an opportunity to get a location at a knock down rental price. Would offer exposure for all the club with the onus on each club to provide the stock for the LOI section.
Any thoughts on this from anyone?
is this a planned business venture of yours Sandy or is it just a thought?
Great idea, do no harm really.
Unless it lost money. Money which the league/clubs doesn't/don't really have to lose
I thought Elverys are the "official" shop of the FAI
They could also sell the dead and injured monkeys from the half time fights there.
Bound to be a decent market for that in all fairness.
stovelid
13/02/2009, 2:18 PM
I'd assume most supporters prefer to buy stuff direct from their clubs?
dcfcsteve
13/02/2009, 2:25 PM
Unless it lost money. Money which the league/clubs doesn't/don't really have to lose
I assume the plan was for the FAI to pick-up the tab though, as a de-facto marketing exercise.
As for supporters preferring to buy direct off clubs, such a city centre store would be aimed more at the general public and tourists than existing core suport. They'd still buy from their clubs. It would also be helpful for 'exiled' fans in Dublin who wouldn't want to have to go all the way back home to pick-up a new scarf etc.
Don't forget that Dublin City shifted a load of kit (precise numbers never revealed) purely by having a city centre tourist presence. Tourists buy footy kit - I've a drawer full of football tops from my Summer trip to Peru, for example (some sweet ones in there !).
I think it's a good idea that the FAI should give serious consideration to.
For the record steve most Dublin clubs have been selling their jerseys in sports like Elverys, Champion and Arnotts for the past few years.
Elverys brand Rival is the Kit Supplier For GUFC and sell their gear in their shops countrywide and online.
CuanaD
13/02/2009, 3:04 PM
For the record steve most Dublin clubs have been selling their jerseys in sports like Elverys, Champion and Arnotts for the past few years.
Yes, but that's not exactly the point.
A dedicated shop city center - with Ireland Kit & all LOI kit complete with all paraphernalia associated. it will pull in Tourists & county exiles & could do a reasonable turnover. At the very least it would be a good advertisement.
Wonder what rents/overheads are down to in the city center these days?
it will pull in Tourists & county exiles & could do a reasonable turnover. At the very least it would be a good advertisement.
Lads I'd love this to be true but I wouldn't be too confident of it working. Its very easy to make statements like "it will pull in tourists" when nobody has done any research on it.
It may bring in tourists, but will it bring in enough to pay for itself?
DSandy
13/02/2009, 3:26 PM
Well my thinking would be exactly as dcfcsteve & some others have said, a main presence in the city centre, aimed more at exiles and tourists. Clubs would stock and get a percentage of anything sold but would be an FAI venture. I would envisage a 50/50 split between FAI international gear and LOI club gear, which would include mugs, scarfs etc. as well as kits.
This would be more a marketing tool, which would hopefully make enough to cover costs and bring brand awareness to the masses rather than a way for any club or the FAI to make big money. It would also centralise availability of FAI International/LOI gear. I know some club gear is available in different stores but in a rather patchy manner.
Worth an email to the FAI? Would be better if it came from a supporters grouping or club though and would be good to get a consensus and then maybe float the idea to them. They would then investigate the initial proposal and come back with thoughts, feasibility etc. This is an idea, the ins-and-outs of it would need to be done by people who know what they're doing!
Rovers Maniac
13/02/2009, 3:40 PM
Seen some Bohs tops even seen some Shams but thats about it in Dublin for LOI kits although i think the soccer shop do Shels as well as the others mentioned.
Rovers1
13/02/2009, 3:43 PM
For the record steve most Dublin clubs have been selling their jerseys in sports like Elverys, Champion and Arnotts for the past few years.
i only ever see Shamrock, Bohs and Shels jerseys in Champion. Lifestyle dont do LoI shirts at all. The best shop in Dublin for LoI shirts is as RM said The Soccer Shop, plus they can order in any jersey you want.
oldyouth
13/02/2009, 3:44 PM
A mail order business is the only way to do it. How many potential customers from outside Dublin would visit it?
MariborKev
13/02/2009, 3:51 PM
Worth an email to the FAI? Would be better if it came from a supporters grouping or club though and would be good to get a consensus and then maybe float the idea to them. They would then investigate the initial proposal and come back with thoughts, feasibility etc. This is an idea, the ins-and-outs of it would need to be done by people who know what they're doing!
Nice idea in theory, would never work in practice.
The rental costs of a city centre, high profile, outlet would make it completely unfeasibible. If high end labels are closing their doors there is no way an outlet like this could survive.
As others have said, fans can now purchase tops in Lifestyle, Champion etc etc. Okay they might not have the full range of a club shop(hold on, knowing the LOI they probably have more) but they would still enough to cover any tourist market.
i like the idea and it would work well if combined with the Carrolls shop on Westmoreland Street (expanded or rent upstairs) or the Irish gift ahop on Grafton Street. A lot of passing tourists go in there. Jerseys etc can still be sold from club shops but chances of increased revenue from the "floating" customer if something like that was explored by the FAI, with an agreed cut going to the teams.
Sure, the ideas are not without flaws but they also have quite a bit of potential...
Candystripe
13/02/2009, 4:40 PM
i like the idea and it would work well if combined with the Carrolls shop on Westmoreland Street (expanded or rent upstairs) or the Irish gift ahop on Grafton Street. A lot of passing tourists go in there. Jerseys etc can still be sold from club shops but chances of increased revenue from the "floating" customer if something like that was explored by the FAI, with an agreed cut going to the teams.
Sure, the ideas are not without flaws but they also have quite a bit of potential...
This could be the best way to do it.
How many tourists start their tour in Dublin and finish in Dublin? Probably the vast majority of them.When I go somewhere I am always looking for places to get replica sports gear and having a designated area in a popular tourist shop on Grafton St would be perfect and would also be financially feasable.
Youths4Ever
13/02/2009, 5:03 PM
i like the idea and it would work well if combined with the Carrolls shop on Westmoreland Street (expanded or rent upstairs) or the Irish gift ahop on Grafton Street. A lot of passing tourists go in there. Jerseys etc can still be sold from club shops but chances of increased revenue from the "floating" customer if something like that was explored by the FAI, with an agreed cut going to the teams.
Sure, the ideas are not without flaws but they also have quite a bit of potential...
Probably the best places to have it as then both have high profiles already
I know for Dublin based supporters of their local team it can be difficult to get merchandise as I know Wexford have bought jerseys to Dublin for Dublin based fans who cant get to home games to often I am sure may other teams have situations like this.
The Lep
13/02/2009, 7:16 PM
The big Lifestyle sports in Blanchardstown centre had a good stock of Footy shirts from all around europe last year and stocked Sporting Fingal's, Wexford Youth's , Shamrock Rovers, Bray Wanderers and one or two others.
soccerc
13/02/2009, 7:42 PM
Worth an email to the FAI? Would be better if it came from a supporters grouping or club though and would be good to get a consensus and then maybe float the idea to them. They would then investigate the initial proposal and come back with thoughts, feasibility etc. This is an idea, the ins-and-outs of it would need to be done by people who know what they're doing!
Possibly, but it was considered and investigated in 2004.
The costs associated with a city centre retail location were far too prohibitive at even the most optimistic sales forecasts.
A 500sq ft ground floor space would have required revenue of over €2.5m and a study suggested that was not achieveable
Darkglasses
14/02/2009, 1:04 AM
The Soccer Shop in George's street is closed up, Pat retired and sold the lease back to the landlord.
Réiteoir
14/02/2009, 11:38 AM
Found some decent stuff - and not just jerseys but rain jackets, etc. in Sportsmith on Cathedral Street (just off O'Connell Street).
Apparently they supply several LoI players with boots and such
Ceirtlis
14/02/2009, 4:13 PM
i only ever see Shamrock, Bohs and Shels jerseys in Champion. Lifestyle dont do LoI shirts at all. The best shop in Dublin for LoI shirts is as RM said The Soccer Shop, plus they can order in any jersey you want.
Id say the shop with the biggest range is the Elverys at the corner of O'Connell Street. It is clearly aimed at tourist because they have some odd ones in there, Longford Town etc. Very small outlet though.
Réiteoir
14/02/2009, 9:39 PM
Id say the shop with the biggest range is the Elverys at the corner of O'Connell Street. It is clearly aimed at tourist because they have some odd ones in there, Longford Town etc. Very small outlet though.
Managed to get a yellow Bohs jersey (last season's third kit) in there printed up with a number on the back of it
corkharps
15/02/2009, 12:16 AM
This is a great idea. There are loads of premises at the moment which are going for next to nothing. It would take someone who doesn't need a bank loan to stock the shop to set it up but its a buyers market at the moment....
dcfcsteve
15/02/2009, 12:44 AM
As an aside - I assume there'll be a shop at the new Lansdowne, and I assume the FAI will have a section in it.
Will therefore be interesting to see :
1) How much (or little) LOI stuff they stock in it, and
2) How much sells to the ROI and RFU crowd.
i like the idea and it would work well if combined with the Carrolls shop on Westmoreland Street (expanded or rent upstairs) or the Irish gift ahop on Grafton Street. A lot of passing tourists go in there. Jerseys etc can still be sold from club shops but chances of increased revenue from the "floating" customer if something like that was explored by the FAI, with an agreed cut going to the teams.
Sure, the ideas are not without flaws but they also have quite a bit of potential...
watch this space;)
watch this space;)
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=112872
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=112872
i knew i was good, i just never realised HOW good... ;)
BonnieShels
06/03/2009, 5:45 PM
The Soccer Shop in George's street is closed up, Pat retired and sold the lease back to the landlord.
I ionly saw that the last day. Loved that shop. :(
citybone
07/03/2009, 3:47 PM
Possibly, but it was considered and investigated in 2004.
The costs associated with a city centre retail location were far too prohibitive at even the most optimistic sales forecasts.
A 500sq ft ground floor space would have required revenue of over €2.5m and a study suggested that was not achieveable
that was 2004 in the boom years its now 2009 and recession
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