Fran Smith interview, ideas for the future

[sane_tee]

As mentioned in another chat, it would be nice to see a shop in Perth dedicated to Saints, but the likelihood of success is improbable.

 

What could make a shop work though? A museum area? Celebrating our successes corner? Dare I say, a tearoom/coffee shop? Interested to hear how we could make a success of something like this.

[garydavidson]

There is the heritage collection so I assume they would have plenty to display: https://x.com/sjfcheritage

 

[blueheaven]

I wonder if it could stock other Perth/local interest stuff (e.g. books, keyrings, tshirts etc) as well as Saints merch? Would that widen out the appeal a bit more? Or would it just reduce the likelihood of selling Saints' own stuff? Could the shop also have games/activities of some sort for kids?

Just on that Fran Smith interview - I was a little bit critical of the appointment at the time but I think you can really see from that interview that he has the sort of upbeat, open-to-ideas attitude that reflects Adam Webb's own approach. Simo Valakari comes across in a similar way - very positive, energetic, interested in fan engagement etc. I think you can really now see the sort of people and attitudes Webb wants to have at the club and I find that really refreshing. I think it also really shows why someone like Levein was always going to struggle to last here, as he doesn't fit that template at all.

[sjfc99]

On 10/31/2024 at 4:15 PM, sane_tee said:

As mentioned in another chat, it would be nice to see a shop in Perth dedicated to Saints, but the likelihood of success is improbable.

 

What could make a shop work though? A museum area? Celebrating our successes corner? Dare I say, a tearoom/coffee shop? Interested to hear how we could make a success of something like this.

Replica shirt sales fall off a cliff after Christmas, unless you end up with a cup run. It's a lean few months at that point.

Of course, if you introduce re-release versions of kits from seasons past on sale then it would generate money and won't take away from peak kit sales.

Mind you, in terms of generating money, it always amazes me how little is available online compared with what is in the shop. The range is certainly not as extensive as it has been in previous years and could be when compared with other similar clubs.

Perhaps as its Provan Sports running it rather than the club explains that.

[MySpazz]

On 11/7/2024 at 4:07 PM, sjfc99 said:

Replica shirt sales fall off a cliff after Christmas, unless you end up with a cup run. It's a lean few months at that point.

Of course, if you introduce re-release versions of kits from seasons past on sale then it would generate money and won't take away from peak kit sales.

Mind you, in terms of generating money, it always amazes me how little is available online compared with what is in the shop. The range is certainly not as extensive as it has been in previous years and could be when compared with other similar clubs.

Perhaps as its Provan Sports running it rather than the club explains that.

The club merchandise operation is very good compared to what has gone before..... BLK went belly up, Joma (TTL) were not the best of partners, and lest remember the shrinking rags that Surridge supplied..... take Macron all day long!

[johndb]

On 10/31/2024 at 4:15 PM, sane_tee said:

As mentioned in another chat, it would be nice to see a shop in Perth dedicated to Saints, but the likelihood of success is improbable.

 

What could make a shop work though? A museum area? Celebrating our successes corner? Dare I say, a tearoom/coffee shop? Interested to hear how we could make a success of something like this.

probably a bar! 

[Cagey]

10 hours ago, johndb said:

probably a bar! 

Coffee bar as most bars are closing and more will be after NI and other hikes.

[sane_tee]

1 hour ago, Cagey said:

Coffee bar as most bars are closing and more will be after NI and other hikes.

Another ugly fact, adding to how difficult things are to expand small businesses etc.

 

The club might not be interested in having anything other than a shop - if even that gets the go-ahead - but it would be prudent to think of how to get people regularly visiting a shop, continually seeing the merch, getting to know the staff etc, and I think putting the kettle on for the punters isn't too bad of an idea.

[sjfc99]

16 hours ago, MySpazz said:

The club merchandise operation is very good compared to what has gone before..... BLK went belly up, Joma (TTL) were not the best of partners, and lest remember the shrinking rags that Surridge supplied..... take Macron all day long!

All valid and correct points, but maybe I didn't explain that well though. I wasn't so much meaning Macron / Provan as kit supplier per se, more the actual souvenir range is lacking to what has been before when the club ran that side, and to what other clubs of similar fan base sizes have in their stores.

[MySpazz]

7 hours ago, sane_tee said:

  putting the kettle on for the punters isn't too bad of an idea.

That is the maddest thing I've read on this forum.

 

[slf]

46 minutes ago, MySpazz said:

That is the maddest thing I've read on this forum.

 

Ha ha 

[sane_tee]

2 hours ago, MySpazz said:

That is the maddest thing I've read on this forum.

 

Haha, you know what I mean though, don't you? People like to have a place to go for a cup of tea and a cake, nice and simple, footfall paying for the overheads, the shop is there with the Saints goods ready to sell. Maybe not then 🫠

[slf]

12 minutes ago, sane_tee said:

Haha, you know what I mean though, don't you? People like to have a place to go for a cup of tea and a cake, nice and simple, footfall paying for the overheads, the shop is there with the Saints goods ready to sell. Maybe not then 🫠

I think it’s a good idea.

move intae Murray’s the pie shop get

a pie an apple turnover and the latest saints top . 

maybe even get yer haircut and yer nails coloured in as well whilst browsing the latest saints news on yer phone .

Braw

 

[sane_tee]

3 minutes ago, slf said:

I think it’s a good idea.

move intae Murray’s the pie shop get

a pie an apple turnover and the latest saints top . 

maybe even get yer haircut and yer nails coloured in as well whilst browsing the latest saints news on yer phone .

Braw

 

Forward this to ideas@perthsaints.co.uk immediately

[blueheaven]

14 hours ago, sane_tee said:

Haha, you know what I mean though, don't you? People like to have a place to go for a cup of tea and a cake, nice and simple, footfall paying for the overheads, the shop is there with the Saints goods ready to sell. Maybe not then 🫠

I think if you start selling food and drinks for people to eat on site it becomes a whole other operation - you'll need health certificates, toilets, hand washing facilities for customers, etc.

I used to live near a shop that used to have PlayStations set up and let kids come in and play FIFA (as it was then called). It even used to hold tournaments sometimes. I think that sort of thing would get some of the target market through the door. A couple of wall-mounted screens showing classic Saints games/goals on a loop would also be a nice touch.

[St. Paddy]

1 hour ago, blueheaven said:

 showing classic Saints games/goals on a loop 

I've found the flaw in your otherwise fine plan...

 

 

 

[garydavidson]

New club update with Fran is free to view on Saints TV: https://tv.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/videos/140007040

[SaintJet]

20 minutes ago, garydavidson said:

New club update with Fran is free to view on Saints TV: https://tv.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/videos/140007040

Very positive outlook; we must be in the Premier next year, that has to happen.

[blueheaven]

Really positive and proactive stuff. I like all these changes and think Fran comes across really well. I've seen him get a bit of stick from some fans but TBH I've never been all that sure why.

Just one thing: if there are more people being inducted into the club Hall of Fame imminently, presumably King Tommy absolutely has to be on that list?

[garydavidson]

It is good to see them still going ahead with some carpark works if not the full relaying.

[CAH]

2 hours ago, blueheaven said:

Really positive and proactive stuff. I like all these changes and think Fran comes across really well. I've seen him get a bit of stick from some fans but TBH I've never been all that sure why.

Just one thing: if there are more people being inducted into the club Hall of Fame imminently, presumably King Tommy absolutely has to be on that list?

He should be top of the list!

[Strawman]

Where can I see a list of who is in the Hall of Fame ?

Ive obviously not been paying attention but, seriously Tommy isn’t already in there already 11 years after winning our first ever Scottish Cup.

It may have been offered, ( I very much doubt it has ) but I’d have a statue of him hugging the Scottish Cup just outside the Geoff Brown Stand. 

Carlisle Utd have one just outside their Club shop, Hughie McIlmoyle I think and I think he s also still alive at 85. A lot of English teams have them, not so common in Scotland I know, Hill of Beath Juniors have one though. 
 

 

 

[Gekko]

21 minutes ago, Strawman said:

I’d have a statue of him hugging the Scottish Cup just outside the Geoff Brown Stand.

That's an excellent idea. So much emotion in that photograph.

He really should be honoured more than we are doing at the moment.

[RandomGuy]

Yeah add me to those who'd like to see TW honoured. He's not exactly old but I'd rather something happen while he's able to be there too, too often people get honoured when it's too late for them to enjoy it.

[Mizfit]

Spot up the top of the carpark is prime real estate for a statue. 
 

Id say rename the east stand after him, but for me that should go to our most decorated player. 
 

3 Named stands, an owner, A manager and a player.