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Post by since62 on May 18, 2023 13:42:35 GMT
Hi Ian I think it was Andy K who failed to recognise Andrew F rather than Mark. Bit surprised Andy K did not know who you were referring too given the amount of free time and work Andrew puts in for the club. Guess he moves in other circles.
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Post by since62 on May 18, 2023 13:44:04 GMT
Sorry Ian see you edited your post. Andrew ofcourse collects away programmes for benefit of others.
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Post by is4 on May 18, 2023 13:44:47 GMT
No problem.
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Post by boomboom on May 18, 2023 15:01:06 GMT
I have to admit i stopped buying them years ago as most, but not all, of the content is available on line and i felt i was just buying a programme full of adverts. They take up a lot of space and i can't think who would want them when i've gone. That might have been true once but certainly not recently. The season just ended included for example: - Lyall's introduction editor notes - Matt/Jason's notes - Mark Frake's "On this day" review of past matches - Preview of the match by an EFL writer - Supporters Club update - Review of the Anglo Italian Cup - Interview with the match ball sponsors - SLO update - Mark Frake's review of Cup runs in past seasons (in 2021/22 he looked at grounds where Sutton have played but no longer exist) - One-off features, eg On Her Day, pieces by Jimmy Dack and a Women's Team member (Apologies if I've missed anyone/anything out.) OK maybe just a very small part of those might be online but you'd spend a heck of a lot of time looking for them. Like others, I hope the programme continues in its present format and would be prepared to pay a bit more for it.
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Post by toothman on May 18, 2023 23:11:37 GMT
I e mailed Claire with this question / suggestion previously but didn't get any acknowledgment or an answer. Surely the majority of the cost in producing a programme is the printing - so why not print a smaller number that you know you will sell out of and cover your costs and then make it available as an on line version which you can then sell for £2 which will be pure profit. It must be possible to do as all the programmes during Covid when matches were played behind closed doors were virtual.?
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Post by timall on May 19, 2023 5:30:36 GMT
I e mailed Claire with this question / suggestion previously but didn't get any acknowledgment or an answer. Surely the majority of the cost in producing a programme is the printing - so why not print a smaller number that you know you will sell out of and cover your costs and then make it available as an on line version which you can then sell for £2 which will be pure profit. It must be possible to do as all the programmes during Covid when matches were played behind closed doors were virtual.? Its a suggestion, but in practice how do we know how many we will sell? To guarantee that it would be a small print run, and then we get even more of the matchday (and after) queries regarding availability, why they have sold out etc. Very few people (currently!) let us know in advance and buy a "season ticket" so its not easy. For instance there are over 500 unsold programmes in the shop - many being there for months now - from last season. At nearly £3 each in printing that's £1,500 of cost. To cover those at say 20p margin per sold programme requires 7,500 sales. To reduce that we could do smaller runs for each game (which reduces that 20p margin further) but would increase the number of people that didn't manage to buy one. You are right though an online version would have a higher margin, which is why many clubs do it, but would likely reduce the physical sales with it too, reducing and eliminating the physical margin - and why many clubs stop producing one (to the disappointment of many fans). Not an easy balancing act.
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Post by garethl on May 19, 2023 7:58:29 GMT
I e mailed Claire with this question / suggestion previously but didn't get any acknowledgment or an answer. Surely the majority of the cost in producing a programme is the printing - so why not print a smaller number that you know you will sell out of and cover your costs and then make it available as an on line version which you can then sell for £2 which will be pure profit. It must be possible to do as all the programmes during Covid when matches were played behind closed doors were virtual.? Its a suggestion, but in practice how do we know how many we will sell? To guarantee that it would be a small print run, and then we get even more of the matchday (and after) queries regarding availability, why they have sold out etc. Very few people (currently!) let us know in advance and buy a "season ticket" so its not easy. For instance there are over 500 unsold programmes in the shop - many being there for months now - from last season. At nearly £3 each in printing that's £1,500 of cost. To cover those at say 20p margin per sold programme requires 7,500 sales. To reduce that we could do smaller runs for each game (which reduces that 20p margin further) but would increase the number of people that didn't manage to buy one. You are right though an online version would have a higher margin, which is why many clubs do it, but would likely reduce the physical sales with it too, reducing and eliminating the physical margin - and why many clubs stop producing one (to the disappointment of many fans). Not an easy balancing act. The idea must be a good one in terms of limiting financial cost. Going break even on the costs minimum and having a product available (whether physical or online) for everyone. Won’t the availability of an online purchase give an easy answer to the queries? And naturally people who want a physical copy and are regular will learn what needs to be done to get hold of one. How easy is pre ordering on a match by match basis? Say with 2 week advanced notice for a ‘discount’ on on the day price. Say £3.50 versus £5 or whatever numbers make sense? Then communicate to fans the benefit of pre ordering to club, that on day purchases will be limited in availability. I hadn’t heard of the season ticket option prior to this thread. I probably don’t follow comms as religiously as a lot of people but I can’t recall seeing tweets etc on it. Likely I missed but worth a few messages over the summer pre season. Guess pre ordering match by match adds to workloads for people but with our online offering maybe fairly straightforward, just needs a time cut off. A lot would presumably turn to pre order if they can’t get hands on them on the day and want one, as well as getting the saving. Then on the day more likely to be away fans and hoppers.
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Post by Andy K on May 19, 2023 13:04:26 GMT
Hi Ian I think it was Andy K who failed to recognise Andrew F rather than Mark. Bit surprised Andy K did not know who you were referring too given the amount of free time and work Andrew puts in for the club. Guess he moves in other circles. Sorry what?
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Post by meddles on May 19, 2023 13:38:43 GMT
I e mailed Claire with this question / suggestion previously but didn't get any acknowledgment or an answer. Surely the majority of the cost in producing a programme is the printing - so why not print a smaller number that you know you will sell out of and cover your costs and then make it available as an on line version which you can then sell for £2 which will be pure profit. It must be possible to do as all the programmes during Covid when matches were played behind closed doors were virtual.? As an exile, one of the things I benefitted from during the COVID season was the ability to read every home matchday programme via the downloadable pdf. When I lived locally I’d always buy a physical programme at the match, but after a couple of house moves, bar a few obvious keepsakes, I didn’t really have a use for the rest of the programmes and they were recycled. I’d love the ability to download every home programme as before, and of course, would be willing to pay for it. Would it be possible to create a digital programme season ticket? I would have purchased the physical programme season ticket, but receiving them after the match has occurred puts me off (I realise there is no way around this!)
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Post by FaultyyearsaU on May 19, 2023 13:40:11 GMT
With absolutely no reasoned argument on my part, (and with an understanding we cannot simply loose a lot of money each game) a simple vote for keeping a printed programme please, if at all possible. Even if the cover price needs to increase. I absolutely hate going to away games and not being able to buy a programme (I appreciate other teams not producing a programme is nothing to do with us ofc) . How deflating is this conversation at many away grounds now?..... "Where can I buy a programme please" "We don't do them anymore, it was a waste of time and money - and would you like a slap in the face with a wet fish" Also, how do you strike up a conversation on a train returning from a game when the programme is not on the table in front of you! Being an old fogey, it feels like listening to a prog rock album on Spotify and not having the Vinyl album cover and artwork to look at whilst doing so! Just not the same....
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Post by sufc1898 on May 19, 2023 13:43:10 GMT
Let’s keep it simple - let’s do what’s best for the club both financially, and what resources are available volunteer wise.
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Post by garethl on May 19, 2023 14:08:05 GMT
Let’s keep it simple - let’s do what’s best for the club both financially, and what resources are available volunteer wise. I think that’s what we’re trying to establish. Obviously a lot of factors at play. All suggestions welcome? We’ve rather concentrated on the one issue that arose, I’d much rather hear about the ground stuff tbh!!
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Post by cheshire on May 19, 2023 15:27:27 GMT
Let’s keep it simple - let’s do what’s best for the club both financially, and what resources are available volunteer wise. I think that’s what we’re trying to establish. Obviously a lot of factors at play. All suggestions welcome? We’ve rather concentrated on the one issue that arose, I’d much rather hear about the ground stuff tbh!! Wait. What? You mean there was discussion about ground developments? I thought the entire evening was given over to the issues surrounding match day programme sales!
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Post by is4 on May 19, 2023 17:27:01 GMT
Ground improvements was discussed. I think any response should come from T A or A B. They know what is in hand and whats on going .
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Post by boomboom on May 27, 2023 14:31:22 GMT
For those who could not turn up last night.This is a quick breakdown of what was discussed. Pre match catering and costs and advertising same. Programme sales. Possible open day events ( meet the players and background staff ) The public sound system ( quality)Season ticket sales The way forward regarding the Stadium. Lease of ground and works to be carried out. The relationship with the council. Hopefully I have covered everything . If I have missed anything and I apologise, and no doubt some one else will cover. I think you've covered the main points but there was also mention of pre-season (home) friendlies, the club shop, Supporters' club facilities, attracting younger supporters and hiring out the pitch. Not sure whether it's appropriate to provide answers to the questions on here. I'll leave that to Claire and Tim (should they see fit) and thanks to them for a very informative meeting. I was at GGL yesterday evening at the Boom Boom Club and was intrigued to see a match was taking place under the floodlights. Out of interest, does anyone know who was playing?
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