The problem with that is, from experience, the public will always choose the logo the club aren't most keen on. It's the same situation as when you ask kids/schools to design a mascot, it's great PR and looks good that the club are listening to the fans, however you never get the best possible outcome. ( look at every mascot we've ever had!)

The new Salford Red Devils brand needs to be modern and forward thinking, with a nod to the heritage and tradition of the club. As far as the "matchstick" idea, I think that would be best left to a great line of vintage merchandise. We need to be at the forefront of rugby league marketing in every way, especially now we have the finances to do it.

^^^^What he said ^^^^^^

As long as were talking about marketing does anyone know how long we have left on the current shirt manufacturers deal and main shirt sponsors?

I'd think that with the Docs business connections when it is time to look for new deal he would be able to source better deals, on the manufacturers surely a more main stream supplier would offer a greater range of products, think the only stumbling block here (and I know it's a valid one) would be that the sheer volume of units we shift isn't that large, but then again if the club looking upwards the possibility of greater sales must surely be there.

This is the last year of the current deal with Kooga.

Ignito was quality... do you not remember the big red flares that were let off at the start of the games? Hahaha. Bring back Ignito!!

I think most fans would buy the new shirt with the Red Devil on it.
I remember Sheffield Eagles had a great shirt years ago, with an Eagle on the full front of the shirt. Think that would look good with the Devil logo

This is what we need. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

This is what we need. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

You must be either a city or Liverpool fan. Talk about bitter.

Funny how all of us who support United and Salford are happy to admit Salford got there first. No real need for the hatred, now, is there?

I tend to agree with that, but...



Not necessarily. If you look at some of the big sports clubs and organisations, and how they have rebranded in recent years, there’s a definite move away from heraldry, complexity and in-your-face logos with bombastic typefaceshttp://s3.postimg.org/hoiu3v1wj/Untitled_1.png" >

The new Liverpool crest looks very much what the ‘matchstick’ logo would present. I’m not saying Salford should go this way and I’m not saying the above changes haven’t come without consternation but, paradoxically, the more money you spent on this kind of work, the less influence and input the club and it supporters would have. (Imagine what the London 2012 logo would have looked like if Wolff Olins listened to anyone.) The bigger the agency, the higher the likelihood you would get something like this rather than say the Leeds logo, as per the brief, which would inevitably include a heritage element what with the name change and all.



This is a tough one to balance. On one hand, you want a deal that suits Salford; one that gives the club a fair amount of leeway. On the other, you don’t want to be saddled with a brand name that no-one has heard of. The former is something I’m more interested in as a fan today. But as a kid, I wanted Salford to be wearing the likes of Adidas, Nike, Puma, Reebok etc. — the (then) cool brands. And, as shallow as it sounds, I think this has an influence on some people.

I don’t quite get the advantage of the Kooga deal. I’m not aware of the specifics but from the bits and pieces I’ve heard there doesn’t seem to be many preferential factors over going down to the Adidas warehouse and setting up some kind of trade deal. As far as I’m concerned, a kit manufacturer is a shirt sponsor; supporters are walking billboards for them. So there needs to be some kind of benefit for the club: whether that’s a big payment of some money upfront or a significant advantage in terms of buying and manufacture, which may include a very low minimum order level or a wide profit margin in relation to RRP — so the club could either make a decent sum on each sale or squeeze the margins to bring the retail price down.

Salford Red All Over may be able give an insight on that?

Hmmm tough one especially as I'm now somewhat "out of the loop" but I'll say this first and foremost I know Adidas (UK) couldn't give a xxxx about Rugby League, whether that is down to the tiny sales volume or the fact the head of sports marketing is a former Leicester Tigers captain.

Merchandise/replica has changed massively over the last few years, certainly where adidas are concerned they now go for a partnership kind of thing whereas in the past they paid big money to be "official club sponsor" these partnerships (for want of a better word) are basically where "the brand" becomes official kit supplier or in other words no sponsorship exchanges hands and the club basically becomes retailer for the wholesaler. makes commercial and economic sense. Adidas's first venture was Derby County but now there are loads throughout the divisions including off the top of my head Stoke Sunderland and Swansea in the premier League. Before anyone says Chelsea they don't count as they receive vast amounts of money to wear adidas Ala Real Madrid Bayern Munich Ajax Benfica International clubs Etc.

Just to point out in simple terms adidas's non interest in RL. Last year they dropped Liverpool FC as the return on there investment was no longer "acceptable" as a result LFC now wear an American brand (Warrior) probably down to the owners Fenway but no longer worthy of Adidas's sponsorship.

Adidas's most recent RL involment was Wigan some eight to ten years back. but even that was down to getting their name splashed across one of the stands at the then JJB. There current involment is in RU and is the highly publicised British and Irish Lions touring side a deal going back to at least S.A. 1997.

So it's safe to say I don't see them sending a couple of boxes from Trafford park to Barton via the far east.

In response to Gaz's post I guess the benefits of a Kooga/Kukri/ISC type deal are dependent on the sales volumes they expect as opposed to a sporting giants expectations. As for the trade deal it would become an "Account" a bit like an independant sports shop, the only down side of that is the sports shop orders from the available catalouge of seasonal manufactured goods and Salfords would be "bespoke" requiring design, marketing, account manager, supply, and all the associated logistical/shipping involved.

A non runner and maybe "Impossibe is [isome[/ithing"

Just to add it's not always about the £ bottom line as in footballing terms Liverpool FC consistently outsold Chelsea FC product wise by roughly three times, however Chelsea were returning more in exposure over the last few years by simply being more successful ie as winners, as proven as recently as last week with a global (ish) audience watching them lift the eufa cup.

Adidas will hope Bayern add to the fact they also sponsor the likes of the current European and World Cup winners, thats the kind of associations they like to mix it with, not to mention events like the Olympics and team GB, and worldwide famous individuals e.g. David Beckham.

Does anybody think an approach to a big fashionable sportwear brand like Nike would be a good move? I appreciate there may be far better kit deals out there but I'm sure it would help raise the clubs profile and make the club appear more attractive to potential young supporters? If you think about the new Red Devils branding for 2014 i'm sure the shirt would appeal to many Manchester United supporters, especially with the shirt being red and the same sportwear brand.

I hope we get rid of Kooga after the deal expires barring the special edition home shirt for the last year at The Willows their stuff has been pretty mundane, realistically we could hope for Puma as they have been quite active in RL and will catch the eye I agree with other posts about kit manufacturers if people see a known brand on our shirt it will attract their attention (especially the younger generation) might not put backsides on seats but can only be a good thing. Tbh I think if we do get a new deal it will be ISC as they seem to be monopolizing the league.