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Post by stapletongas on Oct 2, 2014 20:31:40 GMT
And don't forget the bar scarves need to be long enough for a Parisian knot!
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Post by pressuredrop on Oct 2, 2014 21:10:45 GMT
Utterly pointless that was. As I understood it, it was supposed to be about a group of supporters coming up with ideas to help the club shift some gear. As it turned out it was just Barry telling us about his wonderful relationship with his friends Mann Brothers in West Bromwich. The relationship from what I can gather consists of Barry going to Mann Brothers, Mann Brothers telling Barry what he should buy, Barry buying it and then Rovers having a load of Errea stuff. People in the committee spoke about the idea and really need for non-branded discrete Rovers clothes, think Fred Perry style polo shirts and tshirts with a small bit of Rovers related branding (1883 was muted with various other designs including a cross with RVRS in each quarter) but nothing over the top. Barry wasn't having any of it, Bristol Rovers should be on there somewhere. After all we weren't designers or experts in the field. Which does beg the question why were we there? Then came the talk of bar scarves, now I know a lot of folk on here are of the generation that bloody love bar scarves. That said, I'm 28 and I bloody love bar scarves! What's not to love, they're cheap, they're cheerful and they are probably the most quintessentially English football supporting accessory. No words, no bull s***, just lovely blue and white bars. Barry again wasn't happy with this "surely it needs to have Bristol Rovers somewhere otherwise you can just buy it off of eBay". That's the point Barry, people are. He then basically started getting a bit grumpy with having to deal with people questioning him, it was pretty hilarious to be honest and showed exactly why nothing will really change on that front. Now, I'll be looking to sort some stuff soon and hopefully get some things sorted. I mentioned four legends in the summer, I'll be getting onto that. We deserve a bit more than tshirts with meerkats on. I'm off to eBay to buy a bar scarf.
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Post by pressuredrop on Oct 2, 2014 21:13:23 GMT
Good job I declined the offer of being on the Merchandising Committee then, not sure how Bazza would have reacted to my 'Pirate Nation' pitch?
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Post by Curly Wurly on Oct 2, 2014 22:48:30 GMT
Oh well, there is always Plan B........ John Keys coming up with an annual gem of a T-shirt for sale in the car park.
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Post by Curly Wurly on Oct 2, 2014 23:10:56 GMT
I've just looked on Amazon at some of the Rovers merchandise on there..........boy there's some crap out there!
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Post by bristolpirate on Oct 3, 2014 0:38:00 GMT
I'm on the committee and stuck with it. I must admit i really thought Barry was going to lose it at one stage, when he threatened to pull the plug on the whole idea. Fortunately, we managed to reign it all back in a little and things progressed towards the very end. It was frustrating, every meeting has been to a degree. It's an emotional subject, for which we all feel slightly differently. To find a product we can all unanimously say "yes, I like that and want it" is impossible. You only have to see the forums every season we launch a new kit. Some people like it and some dont, and we are only dealing with a variation of the same thing...a shirt with blue and white quarters. The key will be finding something that appeals to the majority and realising some people will be left unhappy. I am trying my hardest to push for just one thing...subtlety. It's the word that keeps appearing time and again. We agreed errea can stick with manufacturing what I call "match day clothing", the loud, "look at me I am supporting my team" kind of stuff. What I suggested and I think it was agreed, is that we concentrate on the 'everyday' leisure wear. Shirts you would happily wear out socially, without fear of it causing you any problems, but which may attract a nod and a wink from a fellow Gashead. With help from fellow Gasheads we are trying our hardest to come up with a Rovers brand design that isn't the club logo or "Pirate Leisure". Barry doesn't see the sense in this and persuading him might be tricky. It's too early for me to show you guys anything yet as we can't agree on an image. But it is my intention to eventually get a shortlist of ideas and share them here, the other forum and social media for feedback (i realise that's not an exhaustive list of ways, but it's all we have at our disposal). I'm very hopeful that instead of logos emblazoned across the chest, we can consider the use of 'hem tags' or other subtle ways of branding. Examples of what I mean here: www.monsterpress.co.uk/garment-finishingI am also hopeful we could use similar kind of labelling on a bar scarf and other garments rather than a large embroidered official logo. Anyway, just to let you know, the group isn't dead just yet. I'm like a dog with a bone on this one and won't quit until I'm told by Barry the idea isn't wanted.
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Post by DudeLebowski on Oct 3, 2014 1:07:34 GMT
It doesn't come as much of a surprise that BB is way out of touch with what people like. As I mentioned I am late 20's and absolutely love the retro style, I also know plenty of friends/people my age that are of the very same opinion.
One thing is for sure, I know a ton of people who would rather see something just plain and blue & white quartered than have BRISTOL ROVERS FC emblazoned across it! But then I guess there just is no telling some people.
Back to 'toffs', 'classic football shirts' and 'eBay' I go, where I've spent a few hundred quid on Gas products in the last 5/6 years. Shame.
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The Gas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 484
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Post by The Gas on Oct 3, 2014 1:16:25 GMT
I get the impression, probably wrongly, that some of the committee members have a set idea of what THEY WANT.
Do not forget guys that you are supposed to represent the WHOLE fanbase. Also, the fanbase is made up of many supporters who do NOT use the internet forums, twitter, facebook so you need to get out there asking Gasheads you do not know, what their views are.
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Post by bristolpirate on Oct 3, 2014 2:22:30 GMT
We are very much listening to what fans are telling us. Two members of the team work in the Supporters club shop. As I mentioned earlier, time and again the word used is subtlety (when it comes to adult clothing). Also retro gets mentioned a lot. Just read this thread back through and see how many times subtelety is alluded to.
Children's clothing is a different matter and I fully expect to see utilisation of Pirates and other 'fun' imagery.
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Captain Jayho
Andy Tillson
Straight outta burrington...
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 472
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Post by Captain Jayho on Oct 3, 2014 7:28:30 GMT
We are very much listening to what fans are telling us. Two members of the team work in the Supporters club shop. As I mentioned earlier, time and again the word used is subtlety (when it comes to adult clothing). Also retro gets mentioned a lot. Just read this thread back through and see how many times subtelety is alluded to. Children's clothing is a different matter and I fully expect to see utilisation of Pirates and other 'fun' imagery. Your view sounds totally logical to me so I hope you get some traction with your suggestions. There's clearly a market for both subtlety and the more obvious designs so it would be great to think we could tap into both markets. I'm more in the understated club myself and a simple polo shirt with minimal logo or small italic script 'Bristol Rovers FC' is what I'd buy personally. Have you considered getting someone to look at the sorts of products that are available and sell well at existing club shops at well-run places like Swansea or, God-forbid, the s**t? Although I concede that finding someone to actually go inside Ashton Gate and then return without easy subsequent access to an industrial strength personal cleansing facility may be challenging. Seriously though, I hope you can reach a concensus on which direction the committee ends up going in. Not easy!
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 8:14:17 GMT
Seriously, I don't get it - some of these things are 'easy wins' surely? Bar scarves with a simple 'BRFC' at the end in the style of the late 70s/early 80s shirts should be available and on sale - people like them, they get asked for - so sell them.
Not blaming the committee volunteers here at all - they should be spending time on the bigger picture, not trying to persuade the club to sell stuff that dozens of people are telling them they want to buy!
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Post by Bath Gas on Oct 3, 2014 8:15:19 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 8:16:55 GMT
And yeah, just go and look at what other clubs have done. Again, not a dig at the committee folks at all, just can't get my head round how this is so difficult for Bradshaw
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 8:18:09 GMT
I clicked on that - now I'm going to have to delete my browsing history in case someone looks and sees what filthy websites I've been visiting
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 8:26:01 GMT
And yeah, just go and look at what other clubs have done. Again, not a dig at the committee folks at all, just can't get my head round how this is so difficult for Bradshaw According to Barry he's on the phone to other clubs to see what sells all the time...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 8:29:53 GMT
And yeah, just go and look at what other clubs have done. Again, not a dig at the committee folks at all, just can't get my head round how this is so difficult for Bradshaw According to Barry he's on the phone to other clubs to see what sells all the time... That's nice. Then he forgets everything they've said and takes Marlene out for a glass of Rose down the Nag's Head
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bs10er
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 51
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Post by bs10er on Oct 3, 2014 8:43:38 GMT
Glad bristolpirate has given a bit of up to date news. Yes it did get a bit hairy,but things calmed down after the "walk outs" and progress was made.It is early days and we have to convince the club this will work,but as Matt said,we are all keen on this venture and are NOT going to give up that easily.Boycie I think has "mellowed" a bit and prehaps realised he was being too rigid. Someone on the panel is checking out other club shops,and 2 of us are even going to venture over to the "dark side",just in case they have anything worth pinching!
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 8:51:39 GMT
Glad bristolpirate has given a bit of up to date news. Yes it did get a bit hairy,but things calmed down after the "walk outs" and progress was made.It is early days and we have to convince the club this will work,but as Matt said,we are all keen on this venture and are NOT going to give up that easily.Boycie I think has "mellowed" a bit and prehaps realised he was being too rigid. Someone on the panel is checking out other club shops,and 2 of us are even going to venture over to the "dark side",just in case they have anything worth pinching! Don't forget to take a bag of out of date prawns to leave behind a radiator
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Post by fanatical on Oct 3, 2014 9:00:47 GMT
Excellent example of what should be, but fearful that while BB is leading the debate - you are all wasting your time.
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Post by Bath Gas on Oct 3, 2014 9:23:32 GMT
Excellent example of what should be, but fearful that while BB is leading the debate - you are all wasting your time. I get where you're coming from, however, if those on the Committee can get a few of these sort of items stocked, hopefully the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, and BB couldn't ignore successful sales figures.
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