boozie132 said

The only problem with that logic is B&N I believe has 2 separate companies one that handles University Book Stores "Barnes & Noble College Booksellers" and the other is their regular stores "Barnes & Nobel" and are run separately.

Ahh ok! Thanks for the clarification. See what happens when you assume? lol

Jab979 said

boozie132 said

The only problem with that logic is B&N I believe has 2 separate companies one that handles University Book Stores "Barnes & Noble College Booksellers" and the other is their regular stores "Barnes & Nobel" and are run separately.

Ahh ok! Thanks for the clarification. See what happens when you assume? lol

Long ago there was talk of building a super bookstore on campus with multiple stories and merchandise was to be on the bottom and books and supplies on the upper floors Starbucks ect. I think it got tabled to the University Commons going up, Its a shame that the Commons is just enough removed from the campus. With the growth of the campus they will have to remodel and build a bigger book store in the future just might not be to the extent that it was suppose to be.

I appreciate Mark's opinion and facts, but I guarantee you that much of what you see in any given store just sits there because it came from corporate or whatever. I'll snap some photos this week of what I refer to.

2) Someone contacted me a couple of weeks ago and wanted FAU mylar balloons for a party.  You see them for the Dolphins and the prominent schools in Publix, etc.  I went to a company that makes those that you see in those stores and got a quote for them to create FAU mylar balloons for us.  They wanted me to invest $8,000 for a minimum order!  Guess what?  You won't be seeing me offer any FAU mylar balloons, ever.

I have a connection with one of the largest mylar balloon makers in the country (Mobile Ala.), which supplies Publix. I might be able to get you an "in" with them.

Jab979 said

If I were FAU, I would tell Barnes & Noble if they want exclusive rights to sell on campus, which prevents someone like Mark from selling his stuff, than we want our stuff at your bookstore across the street, and not on some narrow wooden shelf hidden in the corner which no one can see. If they have an issue with it, then I find someone else to run my bookstore or tell them they don't have exclusive rights anymore.

I agree with you wholeheartedly that FAU needs to start playing hardball more often, although in this case it's a little complicated since B+N owns the bookstore on campus.

Like you guys I'm sure, I actually own quite a bit of FAU stuff so I don't buy every shirt or hat I see everywhere. I've seen quite a bit of low quality FAU stuff too, especially at Publix in the 5th Avenue Shops, and a part of me feels bad because I want them to continue carrying it but I know that probably nobody will buy it.

I do think there is some demand out there for FAU stuff, though the bookstore (plus the Owl Wear Shoppe in the SU and the broom closet they call a Team Store at the stadium) provide more items, more diversity and more convenience than these other places (ItsOwlTime notwithstanding, which tends to have specialty items you can't get through B+N on-campus). If you can get (and have gotten) a handful of great shirts on campus already, why would anyone be inclined to seek them out at, say, Champs, other than the handful of us here that hope to see FAU out there more in the community?

I used to get more up in arms about this but I think it's a little cart before the horse now. FAU is going to have some very good years and you'll see a wave of this stuff again.

Building our brand is going to be a big part in establishing any kind of longevity. We're not doing a good job of this right now.

According to the 2012-2013 budget, our revenues were $24M. Our expenditures were $23M and of that, we only spent $600,479 on "Advertising/Promotions." It was our third lowest expenditure behind "Insurances" and "Game Guarantees" (what are we spending $495,390 on for game guarantees - attorney fees? Gameday expenses, travel, etc are covered elsewhere)

So at this point FAU can do one of two things to build our brand:

1. Put more money into advertising, or
2. Be more efficient/creative with the money we are spending

BMarkey said

I have a connection wit one of the largest mylar balloon makers in the country (Mobile Ala.), which supplies Publix. I might be able to get you an "in" with them.

That would be great!  Much appreciated.  The company I spoke with was in Texas so it is not the same one.

boozie132 said

Long ago there was talk of building a super bookstore on campus with multiple stories and merchandise was to be on the bottom and books and supplies on the upper floors Starbucks etc. I think it got tabled to the University Commons going up, Its a shame that the Commons is just enough removed from the campus. With the growth of the campus they will have to remodel and build a bigger book store in the future just might not be to the extent that it was supposed to be.

See, exactly - this is the kind of thing we need to be doing.

Years ago

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there was a plan to expand the University Center that would have created a two-story bookstore (as well as the kind of foodcourt we now have in the Breezeway). That got tabled because, well, the whole project got tabled.

Then more recently the bookstore manager told me about an idea to build a newer, bigger bookstore in the Innovation Village area, though I followed up with some general employees a couple weeks ago and they didn't know anything about that. Maybe it's privileged information, who knows, but you'd think if it was happening soon they'd probably know about it.

I worked at the UF Law bookstore (they have separate bookstores for law, medicine, etc, although it's small) for a month to help a friend who was the manager there. After the initial rush for books, the place really died down and people only came in for drinks and snacks (law students love Muscle Milk for some reason). So it makes me wonder if B+N is cautious about building a huge facility because even though they need all that space for books and customers in the first two weeks, after it dies down that's a lot of space with not a whole lot happening in it. Chartwells has a damn Outtakes on every corner of the campus, so people won't be flocking to the bookstore for drinks and candy… so a new facility would definitely have to have another draw.

If they did build it on the north side of campus in Innovation Village, they would definitely build a Starbucks in there to keep people coming through. That would make a lot of sense to me.

Owl_Ranger said

I still think the university has made no progress in getting the FAU brand out there. Perfect example: Yesterday I'm walking around the Wellington Green Mall which is located about 45 minutes north of campus. I come across a kiosk selling holiday sports item such as slippers, reefs for the holidays and santa hats. I saw items of UCF, USF, UM, UF and FSU. So I asked, "Where's all your FAU stuff" the lady at the kiosk replied "We just can't get any. The university refuses to let us sell any material with their name on it." Keep in mind THIS IS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY!! How do you not market yourself in your own region? I can see if this was in Orlando but c'mon man! I really feel like this university has no idea on how to reach put to the public.

So true, but I work for a sporting goods company and we sell FAU stuff but no one buys it but me… when it goes on sale. That lady knows it won't sell but the public relations suck. Think about every time you walk into the stadium. The Howard Statue is cool but what if the dance team was greeting you with a lay or what ever free be their is. Good customer service starts at the front door. It's game but FAU should try to make it an experience that's how you will get people coming back. Why do we not have a grass roots marketing team go to the parks on a sunday or saturday and promote, and sell tickets? I'm volunteer coach and would love for an FAU person to make an appearance.

Owl_Ranger2 said

Owl_Ranger said

I still think the university has made no progress in getting the FAU brand out there. Perfect example: Yesterday I'm walking around the Wellington Green Mall which is located about 45 minutes north of campus. I come across a kiosk selling holiday sports item such as slippers, reefs for the holidays and santa hats. I saw items of UCF, USF, UM, UF and FSU. So I asked, "Where's all your FAU stuff" the lady at the kiosk replied "We just can't get any. The university refuses to let us sell any material with their name on it." Keep in mind THIS IS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY!! How do you not market yourself in your own region? I can see if this was in Orlando but c'mon man! I really feel like this university has no idea on how to reach put to the public.

So true, but I work for a sporting goods company and we sell FAU stuff but no one buys it but me… when it goes on sale. That lady knows it won't sell but the public relations suck. Think about every time you walk into the stadium. The Howard Statue is cool but what if the dance team was greeting you with a lay or what ever free be their is. Good customer service starts at the front door. It's game but FAU should try to make it an experience that's how you will get people coming back. Why do we not have a grass roots marketing team go to the parks on a sunday or saturday and promote, and sell tickets? I'm volunteer coach and would love for an FAU person to make an appearance.

I heard its not for a lack of motivation, but a lack of money to get people out there and doing it. AD Chun apparantley has been making good progress with making connections, but it will be a while. But I like your idea Owl_Ranger. You could contact someone within the athletics department about that and see if they could arrange it.

USMCOWL said

Owl_Ranger2 said

Owl_Ranger said

I still think the university has made no progress in getting the FAU brand out there. Perfect example: Yesterday I'm walking around the Wellington Green Mall which is located about 45 minutes north of campus. I come across a kiosk selling holiday sports item such as slippers, reefs for the holidays and santa hats. I saw items of UCF, USF, UM, UF and FSU. So I asked, "Where's all your FAU stuff" the lady at the kiosk replied "We just can't get any. The university refuses to let us sell any material with their name on it." Keep in mind THIS IS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY!! How do you not market yourself in your own region? I can see if this was in Orlando but c'mon man! I really feel like this university has no idea on how to reach put to the public.

So true, but I work for a sporting goods company and we sell FAU stuff but no one buys it but me… when it goes on sale. That lady knows it won't sell but the public relations suck. Think about every time you walk into the stadium. The Howard Statue is cool but what if the dance team was greeting you with a lay or what ever free be their is. Good customer service starts at the front door. It's game but FAU should try to make it an experience that's how you will get people coming back. Why do we not have a grass roots marketing team go to the parks on a sunday or saturday and promote, and sell tickets? I'm volunteer coach and would love for an FAU person to make an appearance.

I heard its not for a lack of motivation, but a lack of money to get people out there and doing it. AD Chun apparantley has been making good progress with making connections, but it will be a while. But I like your idea Owl_Ranger. You could contact someone within the athletics department about that and see if they could arrange it.

I have after the first game wasn't a sell out. You don't need money, they need to work get your hands dirty. I asked him if we could greet people all painted and take pictures with fans too for volunteer hours and he just said he would file the ideas. Just file them!!!! Come on man!!! Think about how many teams you see at a sporting event at FAU one or two a game, get them in the door and they may come back. There is a at least 40 high schools in broward and palm beach and who knows how many middle and elementary.

I totally agree with you! There's a bunch of things that can be done which don't require money.

Don't get me wrong I like the free tshirts to students but do we really need to make a shirt for EVERY game? Why not save the money from printing out another stupid BEAT shirt. People have draws full of them. Instead, save the extra money and use it for something else, maybe a cooler promotion or hand out to attract fans who pay rather than ONLY students.

Another idea, when it gets closer to the holidays why not get a Santa suit and have Howard dress up as Santa or call him Howard Claus or something lame like that. Promote the hell out of it to the families in the surrounding areas (Boca, Delray, Boynton, Coral Springs, Deerfield, Pompano). I don't care if they're die-hard UM fans, if they have young kids they're likely going to buy tickets to the game so their kids can have a picture taken with "Santa". Being that Boca is predominately Jewish you also have Owsley or whatever the eff his name is on hand and have those kids who don't celebrate Christmas have their picture taken with him.

In fact I would say kids 5 and under get in for free.  If you told your 4 or 5 year old let's go see Santa! wouldn't they be excited to go? It's a win win for everyone involved. Even if they aren't an FAU fan or sports fan, they are buying tickets to the game which benefits FAU and they make their kid happy because they got their picture taken with Santa/Owlsey. Also, if they have more than 1 kid there's a chance they're going to bring the whole family with them which means additional tickets need to be purchased.

The reason I say kids 5 and under get in free is because we want people to attend the game and not go broke. A family of 5, with 3 kids all under the age of 6 shouldn't have to break the bank to go to an FAU game. What you're also doing is creating memories. If this turns into an annual tradition, after 10 or so years, your 5 year old son/daughter is now 15 and in H.S. When the time comes to choose a college they may remember all the fun times they had as a kid at the FAU game. And if they are an athlete the same thing applies. They may choose FAU because they grew up going to at least 1 FAU home game with their family every year. This also builds a stronger relation with the community and will help draw support.

Also having families at the game means there's a good chance, if they enjoy themselves, they'll buy merchandise and concessions and who knows, maybe they come back next season and check out additional games or go to http://itsowltime.com/ and buy some FAU stuf for themselves and their kids.