If you're not in the habit...

[The Donie Forde]

Pride...call it what you will....


In the past I can accept that the programme may have failed the fans. Not every season, to be fair, but I can see how it wasn't giving people anything new for lengthy spells of its existence. We can all agree in general on that without nit picking here and there in the argument.

This season, I think we can also agree in general that CCFC has taken the programme to a higher plane, at substantial cost to the club and only 50c extra to the punter. You're talking quantum leap here, from a production point of view, and it has not been supported by new sales. Bernie prefers not to give the figures here and I'll accept that, but trust me, it's sad to have made a colossal effort and made no inroads into new buyers.

Call it lack of marketing if you will - and I have argued to the club that it should be better marketed - but on the other hand, let's be honest: how many fans going in don't know that the club produces a programme every game or can't tell, from the cover alone, that you're dealing with a different beast this time around? How many could be bothered to support the club by becoming regular buyers? Practically zip...

The club is regularly slated for its lack of professionalism on various fronts. I think this year the programme can hold its head up as (arguably) the best ever produced on a regular basis by a League of Ireland club. This has made no difference to sales.

Call that lack of marketing if you want to lay the fault at the club's feet...I call it lack of pride in a decent product by those who still cannot bring themselves to support it.

Finally, before inviting the wrath of those who choose not to buy the programme: I fully accept your right not to. I fully accept that not everybody is going to get one every game. I just believe that City fans or, to be more accurate, the vast majority of them couldn't basically give a toss about it. They have no interest in it, generally speaking, and even when it breaks new ground and goes upmarket they couldn't be bothered.

In my opinion, they have no pride at all in it. I'm not throwing a tantrum here, just stating a bald fact, supported by programme sales figures.

Finally, ask yourself a question. If a new magazine hit the shops, say fortightly, produced by Joe Bloggs, but looking cool and generally dedicated to features on CCFC - would you buy it?

Donie

PS: heading off on hols, so I'll have to leave the debate to you all!

[Counting Crow]

I collect programs ( I have quite a collection .... from many sports and from many countries ) and I have to say this years City Edition is one of the most impressive - particularly when you consider the size of the club.
It is really well designed, has a good balance between the necessary adds vs. articles, the photos are excellent quality and the program in general makes a good read.


Well done City.

Keep up the good work.

Hopefully it is being supported enough to sustain the standard for next year and onwards.

[tiktok]

Originally posted by The Donie Forde
how many fans going in don't know that the club produces a programme every game or can't tell, from the cover alone, that you're dealing with a different beast this time around?

there are also people who walk into the cross and can't find the mag (i know it'll be on sale from the ticket shed now), you need people selling (shoving it down the throats of people) at half time (and all over the ground), while the change is heavy in their pockets and they've fifteen minutes to fill (no one reads it while the match is on). once they read it, if it's good enough (and it appears to be), they'll get it again.

[Bernie]

Originally posted by tiktok
there are also people who walk into the cross and can't find the mag (i know it'll be on sale from the ticket shed now), you need people selling (shoving it down the throats of people) at half time (and all over the ground), while the change is heavy in their pockets and they've fifteen minutes to fill (no one reads it while the match is on). once they read it, if it's good enough (and it appears to be), they'll get it again.


There is a designated programme cabin in place which the majority of people will pass coming into to Turners Cross.
I do agree that a more agressive "in your face" approach helps, but we are limitied by the amount of people available to sell programmes.
If you are willing to volunteer to give up your time to help your club, then I'll be delighted to have you on board to help out.

All I can promise in return is long hours and no pay :)

[Éanna]

it's definitely a good read this season. fair play to all involved. I'm with counting crow on this one- i collect them too and it's definitely one of the best i've seen in this league.

[Neil]

Originally posted by tiktok
there are also people who walk into the cross and can't find the mag
Good point. A lot of people seem to walk into the ground and head straight to the right past the Shed. I know there is usually a guy selling the programme on front of the turnstiles but he can't cover everyone (ie. if he is selling it to one person another 10 might not see him).

At the Ireland Germany game I was standing at the Corner between the Shed and Derrynane. I had 2/3 programmes on the wall (holding them for others). 10/15 people came up to me looking to buy a programme! (they didn't know where to get one)

I'd suggest putting a seller at that place for a start.


By the way, I think the programme is outstanding. Easily the best in the League. Fair play and **** the begrudger(s).

[Gary]

I say again that im not a huge fan of programmes in general. I feel they are a bit to much like a pamphlet, but that aside here are a few observations.

1. The club amde a huge mistake in pushing the price to €2.50 straight away. I feel that it is only around now that the price should have gone up. We all know that Cork people in general are very set in their ways, so they are used to paying €2 for a programme. By keeping it at this price at the start, the same people would have bought it. It could be seen as an introductory offer of sorts.

2. Have pub sponsorship. Ive been to a few grounds around the place, and i know for certain that a few of them have a buy one get one free pint docket inside.

3. have younger people selling it. The product doesnt look the most attractive of products when older people sell it. Thats not an insult to the sellers, but that is all about perception.

I dunno. But something obviously needs to be done, and ill call a spade a lagner here, this thread hasnt swayed me into becoming a regular buyer by any stretch. Im not begrudging now you understand...






FAO James, whay did you use the term ye's ? are you from Dublin???
:p

[NorthoftheLee]

just a comment on sales, i dunno if yo've realised this or not but a major size of the city crowds are made up of minors....U18s....they don't exactly have a lot of spare cash....they'll have enough to get in and maybe a bag of chips or something like that...They're not going to be too interested in the programme when they have to chosse between it and a bag of chips or a burger for their final 2.50...

[tiktok]

Originally posted by Bernie
If you are willing to volunteer to give up your time to help your club, then I'll be delighted to have you on board to help out.
All I can promise in return is long hours and no pay :)

if i ever get home i'd be glad to bernie, i've worked under worse conditions too ;)

but to take up some of the recent points.

regardless of how people feel about the price and the availability of the matchday mag, the overwhelming majority agree that the standards have improved and that it's value for money, even people who would never have bought one admit they will again.

everyone seems conifdent that once someone buys it they will be impressed enough to continue to do so. but you've got to get it into peoples hands first.

_the first of july is the date that city were first elected to the league (way back in '84). how about commemorating that with selling the mag at '84 prices to get interest up (on a once off).

_to take off from NOTL's point, why not make the programme available at a reduced rate to those who buy reduced rates tickets, e.g. if a kid gets a ticket and programme at the same time at the ticket shack, give him the programme for 1.50euro (or 2.00euro).

_loads of people go to the ground in groups and share the programme about, why not offer a three for two deal so that the third guy is willing to fork out instead of waiting for a copy to be passed on.

_the idea of looking for pubs and shops to offer coupons is a good one too, if you can get a three pints for two deal in pj turners after the game with a coupon then in effect your programme was free.

i'm sure there are problems with all these ideas (and i realise that some of them might result in accepting a loss for a game or three...i'm no marketing whizz) but i'm sure there are a few people out there with ideas (and time) to offer that can help.

bernie, do you have an add in the matchday mag asking for help with selling or with contributions? why not offer a programme free to those who are willing to sell it beefore the game and at half time (or even get brian to give them a half price ticket).

and why not put a sports crossword in, crosswords are great! :)

[@ndy]

I had a read of the programme last night. I thought it was pretty good quality. Yes there is a fair bit of commercial waffle, but i thought Chairman's and Manager's notes were good. Also, Kevin Burke's article on ucd was a good read (Nice one Kev), and it is fairly well laid out and printed top quality. I'll buy it again certainly. Maybe you should get Kevin to contribute every week

:p

[A face]

To sum up the thread ...

The programme is the business but it needs to be "sold" a bit more, that might be the only way to broaden the customer base. Alot of ppl here are the converted already and tis kinda deaf ears. It is ppl slippin' into the ground at kick off or ten mins after kick off. Half time sales should be up scaled. Maybe more/different types of advertising should be tried.

[Slurms McKenzie]

Originally posted by James
is that the sounds of desperation there donie :D
seems like every matchday you're on here pleading for customer like ;)

I agree with James.

I think everyone in the programme should take a leaf out of James' book wit his straight talkig, no cerap attitude.

[bert]

Bought the Bohs programme at the game last night. Have to say it is a pathetic publication. Only one article (albeit three pages long) on Matt Gregg. All Black and White and all ads.

Couldn't help smiling a little when one of those ads was for adult literacy classes.:D Enough said.