Didn't the club do research when the shop moved from where Game is to the shop near B&M that revealed that almost all people that went into the shop where going to go there and there was hardly any 'just passing' trade? I seem to recall that was the reason given at an ISSA meeting when they moved as the rent was much higher in the original place. If that's the case, and there hasn't been a drop in turnover since the move to the ground, then a shop in town would just be an extra cost.

I mentioned this last year and met with the usual abuse.

The Wigan model appears to work.
A shop in the town centre and then on match day use the shop at the ground (or a trailer)

Well you are gypsies.

I'm sure Saints have measured the cost/benefit analysis of having a central shop presence. If there's drop off in merchandising sales then maybe they'll need to look at but if they remain strong then perhaps there's no need. I bet passing trade is pretty much negligible during the week.

It's been a while but St Helens town centre was a ghost town last time I went, I can't see a central shop generating enough revenue to justify the overheads.

You don't a year round shop in the town centre anymore with the new club shop.

But it would make sense for saints to do a few deals with retailers to sell match day tickets.

Even tickets sold from the bus station info office or the lottery kiosk in the hardshaw would be helpful in the week of the match.

However a pop up shop just for December and maybe Jan sales stocking the brand new kit and last years over stock would make sense especially with the number of empty shops currently available.

Outside of match days it is now destination shop like the old club shop. And on foot its a trek. Outside of the season there is much less need to go.

A peppercorn rent in return for Player PAs, joint marketing etc around xmas could be mutally beneficial for whichever arcade let them set up shop.

There are a number of pop up retailers in the town centre this xmas taking advantage of the empty premises and increased footfall.

a stunning late entry for post of the year!

Getting on for 3 weeks now since I emailed him and no reply or call. He's obviously not that bothered about talking to me about it.

Have to say I'm not surprised really.

Pretty grim that mate, shocking customer service expecially after them contacting me direct via SMS, unless they just wanted to know who you are to ban you from next season

For what it is worth.

I'm a seasoned "moaner" about the shop, going back to KR days when the shop at the ground was shockingly bad - mainly the staffs' attitude I'm afraid and weird unadvertised opening hours e.g. shut saturday afternoon etc.

I have also long "moaned" about the fact that we were incapable of getting both home and away shirts out before Christmas, only to be told on here that it was part of some cunning marketing strategy.

The town centre shop was a slight improvement but a lack of stock in middle sizes, mispricing and the feeling that you were in some sort of pound shop with Debenhams prices made the experience poor. Again I was told that it was because it was temporary and that things would improve with a state of the art shop to go with our state of the art stadium.

It really does grieve me that my experiences at the new shop are more or less as just as bad and there is a poor attitude and no "buzz" about the place even when it is busy. Again it seems the staff are the problem - they just don't seem motivated to giving respectible customer service.

I really wish it was brilliant and I would then happily endorse the place. Nobody wants a poor shop.

The lack of away shirt before Christmas is a ongoing particular gripe of mine - I would have one as a Christmas present from family but will not bother now. The pies and dire seem to be able to get their replica kits for sale before the busiest shopping period of the year but not us.

don't get me started on the cladding..................

Better to have a stadium with a shop in it, than a shop without a stadium...

One of the pop up shops 'The Calendar' shop in Church Street were selling Saints official Calendar in the build up to Christmas. I bought one from there to save me trailing over to the Stadium shop.