Commercial Manager leaves

[McMark]

Some really good comments amongst other stuff in the posts above, and the stand out thing surely is that Barrow AFC supporters do really care about our club and yes most things matter! The views may be only from a small percentage of the fan base but ask anyone on match day today Mr Casson and Co and they will tell you how wrong we are with the merchandise side of things.

We were told there would be no Polo shirts and that was reluctantly accepted, but then to produce that dross is an insult to any supporter.

Let the new commercial manager decide what is and isn't required that's what they will be getting paid for and if they don't get it right then they then become accountable. and I'm sure you will soon know if they are getting it right or not!

[EHB]

Pitiful

[Bigfathoss]

The new commercial manager must be a superstar because, as well as Ruins (who I don't know but has made some good points) I also know of another local guy with many years experience in global sales and marketing who was not successful. He was itching for a chance at it and could do it standing on his head. Those abysmal polos would be on the way to the charity shops and homeless shelters right now!

[Jonty]

Has the Commercial Manager role been filled? I know one person who applied but has not heard anything, not even an acknowledgement of his application. Any news on this?

[Steelworks End]

Has the Commercial Manager role been filled? I know one person who applied but has not heard anything, not even an acknowledgement of his application. Any news on this?

The club should be contacting all applicants by e-mail.

Oh, hang on; e-mail?

[GTBLUE]

We were also told a smaller tent was going to be put up for "the fans" What happened to that as well !!!! Fans, Mr. Casson , we ARE Barrow AFC. We have been here forever. You might be the owner and you can do as you want. But you are a visitor and will one day walk away. You say lots of stuff in the press about all your plans for our great club.Some things cant be done overnight, accepted. But, in all seriousness, you have ignored the fans at just about every stage.Even Mr Straker said he missed a trick about merchsndising, what sort of buiseness man is he supposed to be! I could go on, but I dare'nt.
I only write this because I care.

Out of Order

[ruins]

Has the Commercial Manager role been filled? I know one person who applied but has not heard anything, not even an acknowledgement of his application. Any news on this?

I think that's why I was disappointed mate. I really only applied to see what happened as I'm studying late in life to become a teacher. I wanted to get an interview really to be able to share the experience and who knows maybe if I was offered it.....

Even a polite email back would suffice but I am not being big headed in saying I tailored that cv to the job and have experience and good reference but ey oh.

Good luck whoever gets it.

[mickmike wilson]

[mickmike wilson]

Like a lot of people in the locality I finish at lunchtime on a Friday and thought I'd go and look at the fabled waterproof jackets mentioned earlier in the thread. On arrival at the club the shop was in darkness, I asked a bloke at the reception about the jackets and he said that they had gone away for branding and to try again next week.

I'm no expert but perhaps it would have been better to do that first, then put them on display? If Dodger was involved with the shop, I would have been joining a queue Friday afternoon - not looking for the light switch!

I agree the the commercial side of the club still leaves a lot to be desired & also agree that any dodger's involvement would be a massive improvement ( even if it was in the short term only ) BUT....in reality.....Would there be a queue on a Friday afternoon?

We are a small time team with a small time catchment area of interested potential customers, I'd guess as it stands today we have less than 2K folk who are interested enough to buy our merchandise on a semi regular basis, Any Quality stock would have an initial rush then tail off very quickly.
That said we should be doing better & hopefully the future CM will be a huge improvement on recent years.
I also have experience in Sales & Business & want us to do much better but I agree that starting in the pitch was the right call as when we progress we will create a rise in fan base & customers for the club shop, A big mistake was made by not looking after the historical fan base who are the clubs life blood by providing us with quality gear from the get-go.

Many people use Fylde as a comparison of what we should be doing & rightly so but (is it working for them) ID guess we would fare better than them due to our historical exsisting fan base, Do you see the Fylde area population all walking around in Fylde gear?

[PeeSee]

Never mind fylde daz.
The rugby who havent got a pot to [SwearFilter] in knock spots off us commercially.

I'll add further to this; a comparison for you of my experience of the commercial activity of the soccer and the rugby.

I'm manager of the Barrow branch of a national company. I'm fortunate enough to have an entertainment budget which I can use for event sponsorship, golf days, customer days out... whatever I want really. Days out watching sport are always popular amongst our customers so I set off the year with a plan to arrange a day at the rugby and a day at the soccer.

Barrow rugby - I didn't even have to ring them because half way through January they came in to see me anyway. Two retired guys, smart as 'owt in club jackets and ties, full info with them on matchday sponsorship packages & available dates. Very professional, both fellas a credit to the club.

Barrow soccer - First time I rang, someone took my name and was getting back to me. No-one did. Second time I rang, no answer at all.

The result of all this is I'm doing a corporate day with 10 customers at the rugby at a match next month, I'm also the main match sponsor & MOTM sponsor at another match in April, and I've paid to have a new advertising board right behind the posts for the full season.

I don't even bloody like rugby. But if my experience is anything to go by, their commercial activity - particularly when it comes to forging links with local business - is clearly streets ahead.

[The Real Slim Azza]

The above happens too often.

Scary to think how much money has been lost out on due to the club being #notarsed about anything

[Nigel Bamford]

That, PeeSee, leaves me shaking my head in despair. That and the fact that the club is so rude and arrogant, it seems, they can't even be bothered to contact people and say "Thanks for your interest but..." to those who have taken the time and effort to apply for the Commercial Manager's job. Just awful PR.

[mickmike wilson]

Shockingly bad experience you have had there PeeSee, Please contact PC directly & tell him what happened or in this and other cases Didn't.

[liverpoolann]

Re the jackets I spoke to Mr Straker who confirmed that there were jackets on site to be be viewed and tried on in the shop/ reception area.I visited after match and was able to try on a large size and there was also a medium available.One tried had badge ( not too big ) on it.Warm seemed reasonable quality to me.Having ordered one was told £20 deposit required.Hadnt seen that written anywhere luckily they settled for £15 all I had on me.For info any other buyers.Also re polo shirts am informed these shirts which I have viewed and agree badge too large and thin material are Casson juniors choice.He was informed by shop staff they thought badge to big but got them anyway so please don't abuse them about it.He of course back in USA.

[The Real Slim Azza]

Its just a continual dissapointment.

Its just normal not to expect anything different now.