Belisarius wrote:
Bomba Sheldon wrote:
The club is happy with our new record high, but some of the key people at the club do agree that our membership should and could be higher
A positive is that even though we are behind clubs like Hawthorn, their stats are inflated by the likes of pet memberships where ours are genuine members
We also have a lot of memberships that have seating packages that are big dollars e.g. $500 + packages, this makes a high percentage of them. So we are probably doing a little better than what it looks like on face value
But my opinion is that we need to be more aggressive in the marketplace, i stiil think that a lot of our supporters believe that millionaires will just keep pumping money into the club and that membership isnt as crucial as it is for other clubs
Might be time for new blood with some new strategies in the membership department???
I think you are spot on with that Bomba. We seem to have a higher proportion of our supporter base than other clubs who are all about what the club can do for them rather than the other way around. I'm not sure that slick marketing campaigns will really change that.
I guess we could offer more in the membership packages and up the advertising etc, but that would result in an increase in membership expenses across the board and a dilution of the financial benefit more members could bring. It probably doesn't help if we get more members but actually make less money. I'm not sure where the balance is, it's a real tough one.
You have made a good point here, but seemtimes you need to take a step backwards to take two steps forward. Getting people in as members will bring in a revenue stream that may be small intially but that small amount from a lot of people over a lot of time adds up.
Its no different to the old Coles Vs Myer scenario, Myer sell less items that cost more with a bigger profit per item. But Coles sells a lot more, with a smaller profit margin but comes out in front overall.
There are a lot of members should jump on or jump off from year to year renewing, its always going to happen. But then there are the people you secure for life. My older brother became a member in the mid 70's and converted his 3 younger siblings to Carlton. I have been a paid up member since 1979, all my kids have been members from day 1. My younger brother has been a paid up member from mid 80's and his 4 kids are members. My sister fluctuates a bit, but i have bought a membership for one of her daughters. So in effect, from my older brother being a member this has cascaded to a total of 13 members a year, a 14th next year when the missus pops out my fifth and final kid in the next day or so.
Basically if the membership profits drops a bit to increase the membership base, then so be it. Swell the member numbers, you get more to the games especially if you are winning. From that sponsors jump on board and you get prime time TV, our crowds this season have been impressive as the club are playing an impressive brand of footy.
Give families more package options - this day and age you need to cater for the customer as not everyone can go each week so that their membership is value for money.
3 game concepts are great, do we need to have 6 game or game
I dont know exactly what the club does and does not offer so I apologise if i do suggest somthing if the club already provides, but
* Do we have 3 game family tickets or 6 game family tickets
* Are our country members looked after (value for money, buses, clinics - SPirit of Carlton does some work here i think)
* what do we offer for our interstate members (we had 2000 people turn up to West Adelaide to watch us train leading up to the Power game - how goods that!!!!
We just need to have a membership departmnet to think outside the square and be aggressive. Slogans such as They know we're coming and No Passngers are great. TV ad's can help
I am one who will be a member until I am pushing up daisies, but there are a lot of people who feel they need to be getting enough bang for their buck
We are a club that should be pushing the Pies for most members, not be 25,000 behind them