[g-mann17]

I don't really want to ask this because (1) I could be wrong and I hate being wrong, but (2) worse yet, I could be right.... but....

What if no kids want to buy Akron basketball jerseys?

Well, here is the deal with that.

If I want to buy something in the jersey area, I don't want the generic version of it. I think most people are like that. Why spend $40-50 on a cheap un-authentic version of something.

Since we have never offered the real thing (except when we were closing the Rubber Bowl and dumped a ton of the old real jerseys on people which sold out in minutes) we don't know how well they would sell.

The problem is asking the right people, Barnes & Noble unfortunately handles our Zips merchandise. So they get the request of the AD but corporate probably doesn't see fit to do it. It took me 10 e-mails and 3 phone calls to get the Akron Fathead to be available. But I can't make any ground on authentic jerseys.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I don't really want to ask this because (1) I could be wrong and I hate being wrong, but (2) worse yet, I could be right.... but....

What if no kids want to buy Akron basketball jerseys?

Then shame on UA for not spreading their message and marketing their excellent product.

I see hundreds of kids walking around the JAR at every home game. After Christmas, most of them should have been wearing the Zips basketball jerseys they found underneath their tree.

There are plenty of customers for nice jerseys.

Sorry to hijack the dadgum thread. I'll cease.

[Zip Watcher]

My kid got a Zips football practice jersey for his 6th birthday. He was completely pumped. He'll be even more pumped when he's 12 and it actually fits him.

[ZipRoo]

Another jersey idea that should've been used for the past 4 years. I mean, how often is something so usable just dropped into your lap?

 roo_MCCLANAHAN.JPG ( 8.47K ) Number of downloads: 17

[GP1]

What if no kids want to buy Akron basketball jerseys?

This could be the case. I would guess that even our crack group of marketers has some data on how MAC merchandise sells....maybe. I don't recall seeing may jerseys of any MAC school being worn around Ohio. Perhaps it isn't just us. Butler went to the final four last year. I wonder how their jerseys sell compared to IU.

I guess it is just a matter of putting your money where your mouth is. Perhaps this is a great business opportunity for someone. If I was certain this was a great money making idea, I would probably buy a couple thousand jerseys, give them to UofA on consignment, suggest a retail price that would return whatever profit I thought was appropriate and wait for the cash to start rolling in.

[xu9697]

This could be the case. I would guess that even our crack group of marketers has some data on how MAC merchandise sells....maybe. I don't recall seeing may jerseys of any MAC school being worn around Ohio. Perhaps it isn't just us. Butler went to the final four last year. I wonder how their jerseys sell compared to IU.

I guess it is just a matter of putting your money where your mouth is. Perhaps this is a great business opportunity for someone. If I was certain this was a great money making idea, I would probably buy a couple thousand jerseys, give them to UofA on consignment, suggest a retail price that would return whatever profit I thought was appropriate and wait for the cash to start rolling in.

If you go to the MAC shop on the MAC's site, Akron is one of only 3 schools (Akron, Ball State and BG) to not have a "jersey" section. Now, some jerseys for other schools are not great/pure replicas, but for all we spend on the Fieldhouse, Stadium, etc....seems we are serious about athletics...and merchandise is or SHOULD BE a part of it. I still wonder how much of an issue Akron has b/c they have Nike on the basketball side and Adidas on the football side. I have no data, but I feel that it might play a part.

http://mac.teamfanshop.com/

I'm not saying the MAC shop should be the indicator/barometer for good apparel...but it says something that we are one of only 3.

[GP1]

but for all we spend on the Fieldhouse, Stadium, etc....seems we are serious about athletics...and merchandise is or SHOULD BE a part of it.

I'm not saying the MAC shop should be the indicator/barometer for good apparel...but it says something that we are one of only 3.

I don't disagree with your post. We should have merchandise. We should have merchandise that turns over inventory and generates positive revenue because we do have to pay for everything you mentioned. Merchandise isn't going to bridge the gap, but it needs to produce contribution dollars.

I'm not sure what being one of three schools offering jerseys says about us. Are we in a small group of schools who have figured something out or are we in a small group with their heads up their butts?

I have a difficult time buying the idea that a kid receiving a jersey at a young age produces a long term fan. Kids like to go to games and have their parents buy them things. They don't really care what it is, they just want things. Most are so over indulged, they really don't value what they get...they just want more.

[xu9697]

I don't disagree with your post. We should have merchandise. We should have merchandise that turns over inventory and generates positive revenue because we do have to pay for everything you mentioned. Merchandise isn't going to bridge the gap, but it needs to produce contribution dollars.

I'm not sure what being one of three schools offering jerseys says about us. Are we in a small group of schools who have figured something out or are we in a small group with their heads up their butts?

I have a difficult time buying the idea that a kid receiving a jersey at a young age produces a long term fan. Kids like to go to games and have their parents buy them things. They don't really care what it is, they just want things. Most are so over indulged, they really don't value what they get...they just want more.

I agree with much of what you are saying. I really only quoted you b/c you mentioned the "MAC jerseys being sold around Ohio thing", which made me think of what I had seen in the past (and confirmed today) on the MAC site. I should have really bolded out the part I was referring to. Bad quoting by me, dadgum!!!

[GP1]

I agree with much of what you are saying. I really only quoted you b/c you mentioned the "MAC jerseys being sold around Ohio thing", which made me think of what I had seen in the past (and confirmed today) on the MAC site. I should have really bolded out the part I was referring to. Bad quoting by me, dadgum!!!

Not a problem. Have a great weekend.

[BirdZip]

Another jersey idea that should've been used for the past 4 years. I mean, how often is something so usable just dropped into your lap?

 roo_MCCLANAHAN.JPG ( 8.47K ) Number of downloads: 17

So for McClanahan's last game, should the Rowdies sing "Thank You For Being a Friend"?