San Jose Sharks End Fanatics Relationship Early

[guest23]

https://tealtownusa.com/2021/01/exclusive-sharks-part-ways-with-fanatics/

 

This is another good case study illustrating a completely predictable outcome of an enterprise attempting to lock up market share through exclusive agreements and overpaying for that position. The reasons outlined were entirely predictable and likely foreshadow more franchises across leagues jumping ship and doing their own thing. Rarely do these exclusive mega deals work in B2C or B2B because of the chronic over promising/under-delivering and the need to make a contract profitable (e.g. poor quality and lack of compelling product).

 

Short List of Totally Predictable Reasons

• Quality Control
• Local management of retail sales and responsiveness to the local market
• More bespoke product/designs unique to the franchise

[logo-maker]

14 minutes ago, guest23 said:

https://tealtownusa.com/2021/01/exclusive-sharks-part-ways-with-fanatics/

 

This is another good case study illustrating a completely predictable outcome of an enterprise attempting to lock up market share through exclusive agreements and overpaying for that position. The reasons outlined were entirely predictable and likely foreshadow more franchises across leagues jumping ship and doing their own thing. Rarely do these exclusive mega deals work in B2C or B2B because of the chronic over promising/under-delivering and the need to make a contract profitable (e.g. poor quality and lack of compelling product).

 

Short List of Totally Predictable Reasons

• Quality Control
• Local management of retail sales and responsiveness to the local market
• More bespoke product/designs unique to the franchise

 

One can hope. From a fan perspective, I want to buy something that identifies with the team not the league. Sadly the team I root for is too cheap to see that.

[Bmac]

Good. Hopefully all other teams across the other leagues follow. Fanatics is garbage.

[jp1409]

It's totally crazy when every single website where you can buy fan merchandise looks exactly the same with the same inventory (usually lack of inventory) and prices. 

[WSU151]

17 minutes ago, Bmac said:

Good. Hopefully all other teams across the other leagues follow. Fanatics is garbage.

 

I wouldn't say Fanatics is garbage (polarizing grades on everything on this board seem to be hyperbolic), but 27 teams in the NHL already run their own merchandising, and I'm all for teams running their own shops. I think increased inventory of stuff that is planned to sell well but doesn't will be the biggest issue for most of the teams. 

 

The problem with Fanatics is just how little effort they give to NHL merchandise, which is sad considering they wanted to be partners with the NHL.  

[guest23]

19 minutes ago, WSU151 said:

 

I wouldn't say Fanatics is garbage (polarizing grades on everything on this board seem to be hyperbolic), but 27 teams in the NHL already run their own merchandising, and I'm all for teams running their own shops. I think increased inventory of stuff that is planned to sell well but doesn't will be the biggest issue for most of the teams. 

 

The problem with Fanatics is just how little effort they give to NHL merchandise, which is sad considering they wanted to be partners with the NHL.  

 

While the nhl is definitely 4th in line in terms of popularity I am willing to wager that their fans purchase an above average amount of merch due to having a disproportionate amount of die-hards that make up the fan base. Also anecdotally I would say that next to the nfl it's probably the best sport for selling replica jerseys to adults which makes for a nice target consumer. If someone has data to confirm or refute I'd be curious to know.

[WSU151]

3 minutes ago, guest23 said:

 

While the nhl is definitely 4th in line in terms of popularity I am willing to wager that their fans purchase an above average amount of merch due to having a disproportionate amount of die-hards that make up the fan base. Also anecdotally I would say that next to the nfl it's probably the best sport for selling replica jerseys to adults which makes for a nice target consumer. If someone has data to confirm or refute I'd be curious to know.

 

Yeah just from pure anecdotal evidence I'd say aggregate jerseys sales/ average attendance would look like 

1 NFL

2 NHL

3 NBA

4 MLB

 

Which should suggest to Fanatics that they need to do a better job of getting jersey inventories online (both blank and player-crested)

[FiddySicks]

Fanatics is an absolute dog :censored: company who ruined what was left of the sports apparel market (Admittedly, it was already not great), and I for one hope they die a long, painful death where everyone behind the money dies with it. 
 

 

I literally just went through some bull :censored: with Fanatics last week after vowing several years ago to never buy from those incompetent clowns again. My fault on that one. But yeah absolutely :censored: Fanatics. I hate them. 

[Gothamite]

Good to see that most NHL clubs also run their own sites.  Best of both worlds; if you like the Fanatics merchandise, you can buy it through the league.  And the club can also offer its own stuff.

 

I know the Packers have a similar deal with Fanatics and their league, as do the Brooklyn Nets.   What really confuses me is when a team goes to all the trouble of setting up their own independent shop and then... farms it out to Fanatics.

 

https://www.shop49ers.com/

 

That's gotta be entirely about skirting the rules on revenue sharing.  I know the Packers get to keep revenues from their own shop, both online and brick and mortar, while everything sold on shop.nfl.com gets split 32 ways.

[dont care]

2 hours ago, WSU151 said:

 

I wouldn't say Fanatics is garbage (polarizing grades on everything on this board seem to be hyperbolic), but 27 teams in the NHL already run their own merchandising, and I'm all for teams running their own shops. I think increased inventory of stuff that is planned to sell well but doesn't will be the biggest issue for most of the teams. 

 

The problem with Fanatics is just how little effort they give to NHL merchandise, which is sad considering they wanted to be partners with the NHL.  

But is not just the NHL they give little to no effort in. They are awful across the board in the products they produce, their crap logistics, and terrible customer service.

[WSU151]

59 minutes ago, dont care said:

But is not just the NHL they give little to no effort in. They are awful across the board in the products they produce, their crap logistics, and terrible customer service.

 

But it's also the only league of the Big 4 that doesn't have Nike flooding the market with products, which is what I originally thought Fanatics would do with the NHL. Fanatics' NHL jersey inventory leaves a lot to be desired, considering Fanatics' inventory rate of Nike NFL jerseys. Here’s what I really hate...an NHL team will unveil a new jersey, and Fanatics/NHL Shop will either have a bunch for sale in infant or toddler sizes but not adults, sell their own replica jerseys with player name and number but not blank (Blues’ 90s, throwback Sharks, new Caps alt), or not have the jersey online for months. Just lazy planning and ordering. 

 

However, I've bought Fanatics NHL hats that were better quality than MLB or NFL New Era hats (90% of New Era hats are garbage and it's frustrating finding a hat without flaws).

 

And I guess I've been lucky, but I've had good customer service with Fanatics like 98% of the time. They've resolved everything fairly well. Shoprunner is a must have, and Fanatics.com's 1-year return policy is actually far better than Dick's or the other smaller online stores that sell licensed merchandise. 

[flyersfan]

I don't have a problem with a centralized place to buy sports apparel of my teams. I've made multiple orders where I bought from different teams. I've had multiple terrible experiences with the fanatics merchandise. Bought a Jaguars and Sixers branded T-shirts, the colors were faded, and through 2 washes the design had already worn halfway off. I bought a nike T phillies shirt at the same time, and no signs of wear to this day, bought it last march. When the only designs come from either the on-field apparel or the fanatics brand of shirts, it sucks. Especially when there is absolutely zero alternative. Buying the Nike branded items of jerseys and on-field apparel, Fanatics works great!

 

I will forever be upset with them for ruining NASCAR's fan fairs. At each track every team would bring their own merch hauler and create a giant community of all sorts of fun things. Once fanatics took over, they pop up a giant tent that acts like a department store, and it sucks.

 

I'm glad one of these teams sets a precedent of being done with them, I hope my teams follow.

[gosioux76]

8 minutes ago, flyersfan said:

I don't have a problem with a centralized place to buy sports apparel of my teams. I've made multiple orders where I bought from different teams. I've had multiple terrible experiences with the fanatics merchandise. Bought a Jaguars and Sixers branded T-shirts, the colors were faded, and through 2 washes the design had already worn halfway off. I bought a nike T phillies shirt at the same time, and no signs of wear to this day, bought it last march. When the only designs come from either the on-field apparel or the fanatics brand of shirts, it sucks. Especially when there is absolutely zero alternative. Buying the Nike branded items of jerseys and on-field apparel, Fanatics works great!

 

I will forever be upset with them for ruining NASCAR's fan fairs. At each track every team would bring their own merch hauler and create a giant community of all sorts of fun things. Once fanatics took over, they pop up a giant tent that acts like a department store, and it sucks.

 

I'm glad one of these teams sets a precedent of being done with them, I hope my teams follow.

 

All apparel is generally cheap to make, but there's something about the Fanatics stuff that seems particularly commoditized. It feels cheaper and of lower quality relative to other brands, which isn't always reflected in the price.  I've heard many stories like the one @flyersfan described. 

 

My experience with them is related to the unmentioned group from the Big 5. (I refuse to relegate MLS to some minor league.) A decade ago, I was in Portland when the Timbers joined MLS, well before the Fanatics era. Merchandise was everywhere immediately after the brand was unveiled, from the obvious sporting goods retailers to neighborhood grocers and general merchandise stores. And it was plentiful: Hats, shirts, blankets, coozies, accessories, you name it.

 

Now I'm in St. Louis, and the merchandise for the new expansion team is remarkably difficult to find out in the wild. Even the selection on the team's Fanatics-powered official online store has been lacking. They bumped up their selection prior to the holidays, but not with a huge amount of variety. Headwear was virtually nonexistent for a while, and they only recently added a knit cap. My kids bought me a Fanatics long-sleeve shirt. I love it, but it's flimsy, and definitely feels disposable. 

 

To be fair, it's hard to tell whether this is a Fanatics issue, whether the pandemic affected distribution and supply availability or — noting the pandemic — the club intentionally decided to limit its inventory until they get closer to fielding a team.