The Birmingham Mail today reported that “Kids face Birmingham City kit shortage in run-up to Christmas”. They went a little further in the main article, suggesting, “Young Birmingham City fans face Christmas heartbreak because the club has sold out of some children’s replica kits.” They also suggest, “Despite the lack of stock, the junior shirts were still featured on the club’s official website yesterday.”
In actual fact, though they are ‘featured’ on the official website, even today, any attempt to actually buy one is met with the message “Sorry out of stock”.
The fact is, we’re successfully performing in the UEFA Europa League, beyond most neutrals’ expectations. This will have lead to more interest in Birmingham City merchandise. Not to mention our 9 game unbeaten stretch. The Mail seems to be intimating that Birmingham City’s shelves should still be overflowing to the brim with shirts. My how the National Press would have been falling over themselves laughing, if we did, as they would be suggesting ‘nobody wants to buy “lowly” Birmingham’s shirts’!
Before any Blues fan falls on their sword before Christmas, it is worth noting that the ADULT shirts are still in stock, in a variety of sizes up to XXXXL (with or without sponsor!). Even in SMALL (is your child tall enough for one?) , as are the Blues Ladies shirts. Not to mention there is still plenty of European merchandise to be had!
I would have thought the majority of shirt sales would have taken place when they were first released, in time for the new season, though I can see Christmas is a time for increased demand. I think this should be a “lesson learned” but you can’t quite imagine Birmingham City deliberately running out of Junior shirts can you? I’d have thought XTEP will face hefty compensation if they are at fault for a lack of supply; especially when it seems as though they won’t be able to replenish stocks within the next four weeks, though it’s possible it was simply Birmingham themselves who failed to order enough! Mind you, I’ve been in the Club Shop many a New Year, when replica shirts were reduced to £5-£10 as they simply hadn’t sold too well. This isn’t the crisis the press would have us believe, especially when the article itself acknowledges Blues’ statement:-
“Our stock of 2011/12 replica junior kits have been on sale since August but extra demand in recent weeks, largely as a result of our performances in the UEFA Europa League, now means that we currently only have XL boys and XXL boys sizes available to purchase…we’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, but we are aware of other retailers who currently still have stock of our 2011/12 replica junior kits in other sizes and Blues Superstore staff will be happy to assist supporters looking for further information.”
It would seem it’s only the smaller children who will have problems, as things stand, getting their hands on a kit, directly with Blues, but with a huge selection of products aimed specifically at kids like tracksuits, etc, it has to be said, there’s no reason children will really be facing ‘Christmas heartbreak’ due to a lack of Birmingham merchandise.
Those wishing to get onto the ‘XTEP ARE AWFUL’ bandwagon, would do well to look here:-
…where it seems even Umbro can make the same mistake (and as though the Birmingham Mail have a short memory as I had to find that one myself!). Perhaps Birmingham City didn’t learn from their mistakes, or perhaps they believed the doom and gloom merchants, and assumed nobody would buy them, having earned ourselves yet another relegation. I prefer to look at it from a positive slant. The future of our football club is looking bright, as more and more young children want to buy Birmingham City football shirts! I say it’s better to be out of stock, than to attempt to rip kids off with charging £25 for LAST SEASON’S KIT like some clubs…
Ahem.
I’d have thought any parent desperate to get their hands on ‘the next best thing’ would be more than satisfied to learn the junior ‘training kit’ is in stock! If this isn’t good enough, then (in ALL seriousness) a stark reminder of how many children around the world will be starving this Christmas should suffice. Perhaps the Birmingham Mail could discuss heartbreak with a charity aiming to make a difference to children’s lives around the world, this Christmas…
Maybe it’s just because I’m far too big for a junior shirt, but if the biggest news is Birmingham running out of three sizes out of ten sizes of replica kit, then I’m just as happy as Larry that we’re still 13th in the Championship with games in hand, and still in with a fighting chance of reaching the Knockout Stages of the Europa League!!
Oh, and there are plenty of this year’s junior goalkeeper kits still available in ALL SIZES. So perhaps your child could be persuaded that Boaz Myhill is a better role model than Nikola Zigic? Heh heh.
This has (NOT) been an advertising feature by Birmingham City clubshop. Other retailers sell stuff. So there.
Keep Right On!
Russell Dempsey
I live in Weston-Super-Mare and have been trying to buy the second kit and the Yellow kit in size 4XL since they were released but they are ALWAYS sold out on the Blues website????? Theres £80 the club are missing out on………KRO.
kingy, you’re right, and it’s a shame, but the yellow shirt was always limited edition. I think it’s positive that they don’t take your money and make you chase up weeks later, only to be told they’re sold out. Keep Right On.
Good to see your positive spin Russ, but why make anything limited when the fans are crying out for it and the club need money….Makes no sense to me…I got the home shirt without a hitch and buy every shirt every year and wear them with pride all around Somerset, I’m gutted that this year it looks like I’m missing out…….KRO.
I think the limited edition yellow kit had to be, as at the time they produced them, Nacional could have knocked us out. They also have to be careful not to rip fans off bringing out three new shirts every season I guess. Why not call the club shop, ask if they can help you source one, or ask them to call you when they’re back in stock. Somerset needs to see our european kit 😉