New Kit unveiled.

[Rich6by7]

Does anyone have any actual sales figures of recent shirts? Is there any evidence that Nike-branded products outsell their Hummel, Diadora, Asics or Reebok counterparts? Ad@m's point regarding the most important brand - Aston Villa Football Club - is a valid one for me, and that brand doesn't change.

One factor that may make a difference is the sponsor- I wear my Acorns shirts with pride, I don't care for being an advert for anyone else on the shirt, and there is no chance I'll buy a shirt advertising a casino. Although that's more down to my bitterness towards the casino business in general after nine years as a croupier, including many years in casinos now run by Genting...

[TimTheVillain]

"You'll never win the League wearing Macron".

Alan Hanson, August 2012.

[KRS]

its about business and money, and I'm merely pointing out that sales could be badly affected. Personally, I havent purchased a Nike kit for years and I doubt that will change with Macron, however I expect that sales will decrease as a direct consequence.

It's been mentioned already but you seem to have either missed or ignored it so I'll repeat it.

How good for sales has been the fact that Nike have repeatedly been late in getting our kits ready for sale over the past few years?  The key brand in the Aston Villa replica shirt is 'Aston Villa' - not Nike, or Macron, or whoever.  The shirts will sell regardless or the manufacturer.

And although some people might not buy the shirt if its made by Macron, at least they'll have the option to buy it.  When Nike didn't have our shirt ready until November it didn't matter whether you were a sportswear snob or not, you simply couldn't buy it.

And that's got to be worse for sales.

I agree Ad@m and I'm not dismissing  the fact that the service from Nike has been nothing short of disgraceful at times, and the 2nd hand kit designs in the last couple of seasons leave a lot to be desired. I havent bought a shirt since the first Acorns which is the best kit we've had in years so its very disappointing that they didnt maintain the standards. Some of the additional Nike merchandise such as leisure and training wear has been fairly decent though. I dont know the full facts on the Nike deal but I'm sure the club may have to take some responsibility for the poor service/designs recently.

With regards to sales, it would be interesting to see and compare shirt and merchandise sales volumes over the last 10 or so years, and then see how they stack up against the forthcoming Macron deal. Only then will we know if my concerns are correct or if I'm just completely wrong.

As you also touched upon, a lot of this comes down to personal taste and preference so an individual shouldnt be critised for their purchasing decisions whether its a fat bald bloke buying a replica kit, a fit blonde wearing an AVFC thong, a chav wearing an AVFC baseball cap...or if a person decides to buy based on the brand which is after all an integral part of the design in most cases (see the Macron, Nike or adidas logos and branding for influence over design).

Its also worth pointing out that not so long ago many ppl on here were complaining about our shirts not being available in a number of sports shops in and outside the Midlands, and how the top 4 clubs seem to be all over the place even in our back yard. I think its safe to assume that this certainly wont be improved under Macron and is more than likely to get worse (this is a completely unfounded assumption so I'll hold my hands up if I'm proved wrong).

Whilst we're on the subject and I've mentioned this before in other threads, but I still dislike the new/current AVFC badge and overall branding associated with the club. There is much room for improvement in this department and have no doubt that this relates to poor merchandise designs; however like someone has also mentioned, on the pitch performance and consistent success in footballing terms is the most vital part of creating a strong brand for AVFC.

[midnite]

I think the point is KRS is its brand association. We'd prefer to be associated with top brands like Nike or Adidas as we see Aston villa also as a premium brand. You'd rather be associated with coca cola rather than panda cola. Or Armani instead of Primark.

Nike insulted us with their attitude. I'm not at all bothered we've parted ways. They treated us like it's an honour we have them making our shirts. Not the other way around.
Macron might surprise us yet with quite a stunning kit and training wear. Until we see it we won't know.

[Holte End Stylist]

We should of asked Fred Perry.
How fucking cool would that be?

I WOULD FUCKING LOVE THAT!!!!!!

[Holte End Stylist]

Lacoste would be nice.

it's a shame John Smedley or Gabbici don't do football shirts

[KRS]

I think the point is KRS is its brand association. We'd prefer to be associated with top brands like Nike or Adidas as we see Aston villa also as a premium brand. You'd rather be associated with coca cola rather than panda cola. Or Armani instead of Primark.

Nike insulted us with their attitude. I'm not at all bothered we've parted ways. They treated us like it's an honour we have them making our shirts. Not the other way around.
Macron might surprise us yet with quite a stunning kit and training wear. Until we see it we won't know.

I agree entirely. We should have dropped Nike at the end of last season.

I dont know how these deals are done but I also acknowledge the fact that it has to be an attractive proposition for the manufacturer, so its no surprise we havent struck a deal with someone like adidas after they recently announced they wont be extending the Liverpool deal. This may also explain why we havent made a deal with the likes of Puma, Reebok or Umbro (although I belive Umbro are now owned by Nike?); however if the likes of Stoke and Baggies can secure adidas then I dont know why we cant...I can only presume the deal on the table wasnt as good as that from Macron.

...and yes, I think an adidas kit would be great especially if it looked anything like the design posted by someone on here.

[The Laughing Policeman]

Does it really matter who makes the kit?
Does having the name Nike, Adidas, Macron, or Primark on the shirt make the team play any better?
As long as the kit is in the traditional Claret body with Blue sleeves and White shorts who gives a flying fuck?
Note to all you fashionistas get a life!!

[E I Adio]

Does it really matter who makes the kit?
Does having the name Nike, Adidas, Macron, or Primark on the shirt make the team play any better?
As long as the kit is in the traditional Claret body with Blue sleeves and White shorts who gives a flying fuck?
Note to all you fashionistas get a life!!

Can we have less of this sort of thing please.

Having worked in marketing for many years, I'm delighted that branding generally has become so universally successful, especially with the younger folk. It makes it all worthwhile.

Macron. You must be joking!

*winky*

[KRS]

Yes. Yes it does TLP.

As much as we may not like it, football is now a massive global brand with PL games being watched all over the world. There is a massive opportunity to push the AVFC brand beyond the Midlands, beyond the UK, and beyond Europe; and having one of the worlds most popular and fashionable sports brands manufacturing your kit can only help to push the AVFC brand around the globe especially if it coincides with success and performance on the pitch.

Since we dont expect success on the pitch for quite a while then we may as well have Macron. Speaks volumes about pretty much everything surrounding the club at the moment...did someone mention apathy?

[TimTheVillain]

Lacoste would be nice.

it's a shame John Smedley or Gabbici don't do football shirts

I think we should go to Paul Smith and get them properly designed - £150 a shirt, BARGAIN !!

[The Laughing Policeman]

Yes. Yes it does TLP.

As much as we may not like it, football is now a massive global brand with PL games being watched all over the globe. There is a massive opportunity to push the AVFC brand beyond the Midlands, beyond the UK, and beyond Europe; and having one of the worlds most popular and fashionable sports brands manufacturing your kit can only help to push the AVFC brand around the globe especially if it coincides with success and performance on the pitch.

Since we dont expect success on the pitch for quite a while then we may as well have Macron. Speaks volumes about pretty much everything surrounding the club at the moment...did someone mention apathy?

The only way for the AVFC "brand" (puke) to be recognised globally is if the team are doing well.
Do you really believe that if we won the Premier League a couple of times that kids in Hong Kong or any where else would say I'm not wearing their shirt because it's not made by Nike or whoever?

[garyshawsknee]

Umbro don't make too many PL teams nowadays,i know they do Englands kits,but theyre British and some of the New York Cosmos kit they do is really nice.

[TimTheVillain]

Yes. Yes it does TLP.

As much as we may not like it, football is now a massive global brand with PL games being watched all over the globe. There is a massive opportunity to push the AVFC brand beyond the Midlands, beyond the UK, and beyond Europe; and having one of the worlds most popular and fashionable sports brands manufacturing your kit can only help to push the AVFC brand around the globe especially if it coincides with success and performance on the pitch.

Since we dont expect success on the pitch for quite a while then we may as well have Macron. Speaks volumes about pretty much everything surrounding the club at the moment...did someone mention apathy?

The only way for the AVFC "brand" (puke) to be recognised globally is if the team are doing well.
Do you really believe that if we won the Premier League a couple of times that kids in Hong Kong or any where else would say I'm not wearing their shirt because it's not made by Nike or whoever?

I think the point KRS is making is the same as yours, IF we were making waves in the Prem., we'd attract the likes of Adidas on a far better footing.

Everything is 'by association' these days, and being associated with Macron does show where we are sadly.

Better be a fantastic kit after all the fuck ups and apathy shown by Nike.

I'm sure PF knows what he's doing.

*Medium Sarcasm*

[E I Adio]

Yes. Yes it does TLP.

As much as we may not like it, football is now a massive global brand with PL games being watched all over the globe. There is a massive opportunity to push the AVFC brand beyond the Midlands, beyond the UK, and beyond Europe; and having one of the worlds most popular and fashionable sports brands manufacturing your kit can only help to push the AVFC brand around the globe especially if it coincides with success and performance on the pitch.

Since we dont expect success on the pitch for quite a while then we may as well have Macron. Speaks volumes about pretty much everything surrounding the club at the moment...did someone mention apathy?

The only way for the AVFC "brand" (puke) to be recognised globally is if the team are doing well.
Do you really believe that if we won the Premier League a couple of times that kids in Hong Kong or any where else would say I'm not wearing their shirt because it's not made by Nike or whoever?

I think the point KRS is making is the same as yours, IF we were making waves in the Prem., we'd attract the likes of Adidas on a far better footing.

Everything is 'by association' these days, and being associated with Macron does show where we are sadly.

Better be a fantastic kit after all the fuck ups and apathy shown by Nike.

I'm sure PF knows what he's doing.

*Medium Sarcasm*

TLP is right, the only really important thing is the team's performance, but in a sense, so are you. It's really sad to see just what the billions spent on branding has done to the perceptions of so many people that they are upset by the thought that their football club is not associated with commercial enterprises who they perceive to be the "biggest brands."