I have seen the phrase new Club Shop next to the ground several times which, unless the Hobbins have branched out into the sports clothing trade, would seem to be a little misleading or if you prefer 'over egging the pudding.'
Is not the real situation that Andreas Carter has opened an outlet next door to the ground and has the sole concession to sell Welling United kits. This is pretty much the same as the arrangement with Sports Scene when I ran the WUSA shop.
I note that Andreas Carter also sell caps which duplicates what the WUSA club shop already sells. This seems to indicate that there was little or very late communication with WUSA since I doubt that they would have invested in a new supply of caps knowing that not only kits but caps would also be available next door.
With the loss of kit sales and Andreas Carter selling other items such as caps I have no doubt WUSA will have to consider the viability of its shop or perhaps change its focus to supporter clothing, which was rejected when some time ago I raised the possibility at a WUSA meeting.
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
I don't know how much profit the club shop run by WUSA makes, but I recall seeing something in the WUSA accounts about it being circa £1000-1200 (happy to be corrected, just going on memory) and if that is the case you'd have to question whether the time, effort and workload of those volunteering is worth it, and whether some items are worth stocking/duplicating.
Somewhat of an understatement of the profit from my recollection of the last season I managed the shop though no longer being a WUSA member I have no information about the last couple of years.
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
I stand to be corrected, I really can't remember, but I do know when I saw the figure I was shocked at it being small in comparison to what I expected. The shop itself is a million times better than it was, and the people that run it do a fine job, but if it doesn't make any money ...
I stand to be corrected, I really can't remember, but I do know when I saw the figure I was shocked at it being small in comparison to what I expected. The shop itself is a million times better than it was, and the people that run it do a fine job, but if it doesn't make any money ...
The new shop looks good and very professional. However it has removed some of the revenue streams that WUSA and the Club Shop relied upon.
When it comes to boost the budget next season, and the support that WUSA and its members provide, don't be surprised if the cupboard is bare....
Well - I agree to all of that BUT I will also guess that the 'club' will get something for letting them stock the Welling merchandise......If that is moved to the budget then all good but who knows
Purely on an professional look view - I think it is another step to make us look far better as a club!!
The WUSA run shop will continue under the main stand where both Gary and myself will be in attendance. We still have a good range of WUSA purchased items including Pennants, key fobs, badges, hats and car stickers. All of which WUSA members obtain a 10% discount. This season we are increasing the programme stock to take into account our loss of replicas etc.
We act as an agent for Andreas Carter sport and can obtain most items from the errea catalogue which is available to view in our shop.
I note Bruno's comments about clothing and I will raise this at the next WUSA committee meeting.
With regard to shop profit this is shown on the balance sheet provided to WUSA members.
Agreed, but I am more interested in strengthening Welling United than the supporters association. You can have both of course, but the aim should be strengthening the former. A great WUSA is no good if we drop back to Conf South.
Agreed, but I am more interested in strengthening Welling United than the supporters association. You can have both of course, but the aim should be strengthening the former. A great WUSA is no good if we drop back to Conf South.
Anyway, great progress.
Totally agree, I do think you can have both.
If WUSA took on a Target 1000 style initiative and brought in new support that then pushes the Club forward.
As an example, the Junior Wings scheme is now set-up and can be taken into schools.
If these structures and initiatives aren't marketed and taken advantage of now, any drop into Conf South will always be a knock.
Maybe people just prefer Conf South (or below), not see the club progress and a have a moan up all the time?
Agreed, but I am more interested in strengthening Welling United than the supporters association. You can have both of course, but the aim should be strengthening the former. A great WUSA is no good if we drop back to Conf South.
Anyway, great progress.
Totally agree, I do think you can have both.
If WUSA took on a Target 1000 style initiative and brought in new support that then pushes the Club forward.
As an example, the Junior Wings scheme is now set-up and can be taken into schools.
If these structures and initiatives aren't marketed and taken advantage of now, any drop into Conf South will always be a knock.
Maybe people just prefer Conf South (or below), not see the club progress and a have a moan up all the time?
Not at all, I want to see the club flourish, as any real fan would, but that is the point, the club, and not WUSA exclusively. Both must go hand in hand. I think moaning and constructive criticism are a fine line, but the moment you stop looking to improve you go backwards as other overtake us. We've all said things in the heat of the moment that are critical. But at least it shows people care and want the club to improve.
Great progress has been made and long may it continue, via WUSA or otherwise. A strong WUSA is a benefit yes, but personally I am not too concerned if WUSA has 100 or 200 members, it is the football and the football facilities I use, like bar, I am interested in. I get the impression that if WUSA were to gain another 100 members it would have minimal impact on anything. The serious hard-core interested people with something to offer are onboard already, and you might find one person that can add real value, but not 100, we just aren't a large enough club.
Getting more supporters is infinitely more important than getting more WUSA members. To me anyway. Any "floating" supporter joining WUSA is doing little more than doing so for the coach travel discount and a cheaper scarf in the shop.
* The team stays in Conference on a shoestring budget
* New Catering facility
* New Sports Bar
* Junior Wings Kids members club
* New Club Shop with a prescence on the High Street.
Target 1,000, with more excellently held events like the Anniversary Dinner is where WUSA should be putting it's membership's time and skills sets.
The promotion of Welling United within the community via Target 1000 can only strengthen WUSA as an organisation.
"The team stays in Conference on a shoestring budget"
The only real plus in my opinion.
"Junior Wings Kids members club"
A potential plus if it is marketed and managed well. There was once a thriving Junior Wings run by supporters Sue and Dave to which both of my now 30+ year old kids belonged. Amongst other things it maintained regular newsletter contact with its members. I believe Tudor Jones RIP was also involved.
New Catering facility, New Sports Bar, New Club Shop with a prescence on the High Street"
All lucrative revenue sources which could have been developed in house but are now franchised as far as I can ascertain. We are not a Professional Club with massive gates where the scale of operation makes sense of franchising. Effectively the Club has capped its revenue stream from all non gate sources. A big negative in my opinion.
"Target 1,000"
I've heard tell of this but to date have heard only talk of meetings to be set up, nothing concrete
"the Anniversary Dinner"
Remind me just how much did the Club benefit from the monies raised at this event?
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
The anniversary dinner was run as a charity event. 2 very worthwhile charities received £4,500 between them. I know that you believed Bruno that money should have been raised for the club, however do you think people would have bid as much for the auction items had the money gone to the club and not charities?
As per the target 1000 project. I'm not sure what's happening with this. I previously said i was happy to be involved and help out but not heard anything since.
__________________
Welling United FC. Banging on the walls of Woking dressing rooms since 1963..
* The team stays in Conference on a shoestring budget
* New Catering facility
* New Sports Bar
* Junior Wings Kids members club
* New Club Shop with a prescence on the High Street.
Target 1,000, with more excellently held events like the Anniversary Dinner is where WUSA should be putting it's membership's time and skills sets.
The promotion of Welling United within the community via Target 1000 can only strengthen WUSA as an organisation.
"The team stays in Conference on a shoestring budget"
The only real plus in my opinion.
"Junior Wings Kids members club"
A potential plus if it is marketed and managed well. There was once a thriving Junior Wings run by supporters Sue and Dave to which both of my now 30+ year old kids belonged. Amongst other things it maintained regular newsletter contact with its members. I believe Tudor Jones RIP was also involved.
New Catering facility, New Sports Bar, New Club Shop with a prescence on the High Street"
All lucrative revenue sources which could have been developed in house but are now franchised as far as I can ascertain. We are not a Professional Club with massive gates where the scale of operation makes sense of franchising. Effectively the Club has capped its revenue stream from all non gate sources. A big negative in my opinion.
"Target 1,000"
I've heard tell of this but to date have heard only talk of meetings to be set up, nothing concrete
"the Anniversary Dinner"
Remind me just how much did the Club benefit from the monies raised at this event?
* I am glad you see Junior Wings as a 'potential plus'. "YOUTH are the future"
* Were there people with the necessary skillsets to finance and develop:
A New Catering facility,
New Sports Bar,
New Club Shop with a prescence on the High Street
'in house'?
Your point about not being a professional club is correct (too many non league clubs are losing the plot at the moment), but there has to be professionals running these new outlets with structures in place to give supporters accountability for the services they offer. They can then have a moan up on here!
* Ask WUSA about Target 1000? and how much money was made on the dinner? It was an excellent night and showed WUSA could run an event like this, thus giving scope for future events.
Bottom line is the club needs more core supporters through the turnstiles, let's hope this happens as the manager deserves the backing.
-- Edited by Falconwood_1 on Friday 8th of August 2014 05:02:37 PM
A reply about target 1000 thanks polo.
It does not seem to have been started by club or Wusa lots of worked involved no doubt.
Hopefully will be up and running soon.
Polo wrote:The anniversary dinner was run as a charity event. 2 very worthwhile charities received £4,500 between them. I know that you believed Bruno that money should have been raised for the club, however do you think people would have bid as much for the auction items had the money gone to the club and not charities?
I am not averse to charity events per se and have been involved in organising in the past and still actively support charity events organised within the rockin' scene. However, the event was marketed as a celebration to mark Welling United's 50th anniversary and was I understand atended by several existing and ex players. The attraction was therefore in my opinion was to be a part of the celebration. For the Club to receive absolutely no benefit from an event on whose back it rode is, again in my opinion, totally out of order.
I appreciate that the auction items may not have reached the same sums had it not been that the beneficiaries were charities but turning your view on its head would the attendance and bids been as high if it was marketed as a charity night rather than a Welling United 50th Anniversary celebration with players past and present in attendance.
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
It was marketed as an anniversary dinner, it was also stated very clearly that the money would be raised for charity.
With regards to franchising out various parts of the club. I was originally against it, however I don't think the club themselves could drive the same profit for the bar versus the fee they are getting from Pure. There was a need for the bar to re-furbished and the club could not do this, in my eyes it's a no brainer. The club shop and catering I don't know anything about the arrangement to know if it's beneficial for the club.
I still don't get why there's still a lot of negativity floating round. The club in the last 5 years have progressed more than anyone could of dreamed of.
I do agree that target 1000 needs to be kickstarted. Getting more people through the gate is how this club is going to progress on and off the pitch. It would be good to also get more volunteers to help drive this project forward when it's up and running. I don't know who is heading this up but it's something that all parties should be focused on this season.
__________________
Welling United FC. Banging on the walls of Woking dressing rooms since 1963..
Falconwood_1 wrote: I am glad you see Junior Wings as a 'potential plus'. "YOUTH are the future"
Sarcasm doesn't become you Falconwood_1
As far as the loss of potential development of the bar and catering services goes investment in both staff and facilities would have been a fundamental element - short term cost leading to long term gain. We have to appreciate that times change and top flight non league football is an almost impossible task to be run by the proverbial 2 men and a dog. This was a fact recognised by the Club when we had our 14 year spell in what was then the Vauxhall Conference and for example our in house catering was the envy of many other clubs in terms of both quality and cost.
I agree that as a club we need to get back to the attendances we enjoyed in our previous stint in the top flight of non league as a minimum.
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
Falconwood_1 wrote: I am glad you see Junior Wings as a 'potential plus'. "YOUTH are the future"
Sarcasm doesn't become you Falconwood_1
As far as the loss of potential development of the bar and catering services goes investment in both staff and facilities would have been a fundamental element - short term cost leading to long term gain. We have to appreciate that times change and top flight non league football is an almost impossible task to be run by the proverbial 2 men and a dog. This was a fact recognised by the Club when we had our 14 year spell in what was then the Vauxhall Conference and for example our in house catering was the envy of many other clubs in terms of both quality and cost.
I agree that as a club we need to get back to the attendances we enjoyed in our previous stint in the top flight of non league as a minimum.
We may agree on the situation but not sure we agree on the remedy. However since the horse has bolted and the revenue streams have been capped for the forseeable future the task is to try and stay in the Conference Premier with the Club being run by the proverbial 2 men and a dog.
__________________
YOUTH are the future
****
"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
Seems a lot of people asking about Target 1000 and not a lot of people knowing who is running it. That suggests to me it either doesn't exist, or is a failure already. And why target 1000. Why not more. Target 800 would be a start with some of our mid-week gates.
There should be an immediate focus on getting more people through the gate, and it should be constant, not a one off "gimmick" and nice tag-line.
The best thing all summer has been the Junior Wings. Get the young-un's hooked, like I was 25 years ago, and it will come good one day.
Personally I believe WUCT /WUSA or a working party group and the club need to sit down and discuss this together and come up with a "business model"" for the project,.- I also think the way forward is targeting 10% at a time as a more realistic target, so say for mid week games our average is 500 for example we look for a gate of 550 then when that is achieved on a regular basis we then go for another 10% and when we reach 605 we go for the next 10% etc - eventually we will hit 1000 or more.
But until somebody takes "ownership" of the project and a strategy is worked out and dare I say it some funding made available for the project it will not get of the ground.
