Thoughts:

1. Designs, okish, but it will probably grow on me.
2. Away shirt looks like a cycling top
3. A 24hr build up wasn't good enough, there was no anticipation
4. We should be staggering shirts, home one year, away the next. I'd probably get a new shirt each year given the chance, but I'm not that interested in shelling out for two all at once.
5. Too much black
6. Happy with the new collar, the one on last seasons shirt used to ride up on me and caused a rash

Thoughts on new jerseys??

Personally I think we have had much nicer home ones in the past and wont be rushing to buy it.

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151012...53561&type=1&theater

Looks like it was more than just a dublin stocking problem, the new jersey is already up on the elverys website. You'd think they could have waited until after todays launch...

Got a sneaky look at the new away jersey! Very different to what we have had before. Like it though, but do not love it, well it might grow on me.

( Due to all mentioned above, i suppose I can not mention much more about it)

A teaser window display is fine for those who pass by the window, but Connacht need to ramp up interest in the gear province wide, and beyond.

I take your point Umm what I was trying to convey that this is what a small shop could do with a little imagination and some initiative.

I know Elvery's are a sponsor but hitting other sports shops in Connacht i.e. the one in Gort just as an example and really pushing this is needed with just a little imagination and the initiative i was talking about we could get people talking about the new strip. Failing that, hire Georgina Salpa for the day and get her to model it.

P.S. (To Sea-point) Boo!

A teaser window display is fine for those who pass by the window, but Connacht need to ramp up interest in the gear province wide, and beyond.

Correct me if I'm wrong but our province has the biggest proportion of emigrants, especially if you count moving to another province as emigration. The Galway market is important for immediate income such as match attendances, but there are on average five thousand people at Connacht matches, but twenty three thousand who follow the Connacht Rugby Facebook page. Any ambitious marketing drive needs to get its head out of Galway and start targeting fans far and wide. It's the internet age, we can sell shirts online and get way more people wearing the shirt.

But maybe leaking on here was Plan B? Aha, we didn't think of that. Clever!

I've been really underwhelmed by the new kit, with the obvious caveats that (1) the now removed phonecam pic might not have shown it at it's absolute best and (2) last year's is a hard act to follow.

That said it could be much worse (shades at the ready):

www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/14393.php

Sorry but could you tell me what I posted was wrong?

Connachtexile asks can they get players in for when it is launched. I respond they have done it before in the stores. You have a swipe at me because I defended Rugbytech who I have a friend working for once beforehand and decide to unload all your problems with Rugbytech on me. You really should have checked my post before your ramblings towards me.

Ohh temper temper its_phil. **removed**

Does anyone remember the Chelsea short launch i think 2 seasons ago in the small Elvery's Store off Eyre Square? They had a two mannequins covered in drapes and the date of the launch and time on it. As well as pictures of all the chelsea teams/wins/trophy lifting etc behind it? It was pretty effective and on the day they apparently had a bigger than usual number who wanted the kit. Something like that were you create a curiosity value and bit of hype is needed with Connacht Rugby in my opinion. I know that the Dumdrum showing was a cock-up out of the branch's hands but I think Alex Saul needs to take the initiative and really ramp up the advertising/hype now that the cats out of the bag.

It seems to me that now Plan A's out of the door lets go with Plan A.

Back in the old days the U18s shirt was different to the seniors. Solid green for the seniors, green & white hoops for the ankle biters.

See the under 18's have been wearing some new training kit also a black and grey version of the the Blue Kit...

From the Connacht Website..

Let he who hasn't been a spotty faced shelf stacker during their summer holidays who made the occasional cock up cast the first stone

In fairness lads... last year's launch was for the HEC jersey and that was just not available until then. That's not Connacht's fault. You could say to move from Rugbytech, but I suppose that the reason they are still with them is because they are cheaper.

As S_P said though, we haven't had great launches in the past, so we can take any promises with a pinch of salt until they are delivered.

Openside wrote: Id like to apologise to the Connacht branch for putting up pictures of the 12/13 Jersey, i just made the assumption that since they were on general sale already i could post pictures my bad

Don't worry about it OS, no need to apologise. I would have done the exact same thing in your place as well. Whoever put them out on the shop floor is the one who should be apologising.

sea_point wrote:
That is not how you launch kit in any way shape or form, you build it up by building some sort of suspense as to how the kit will look, maybe post up some clues over a period of a few weeks (a little viral campaign perhaps utilising the players). Run some competitions, get people interested and ready to buy. Get the kit images available on-line before the kit is available and encourage supporters to pre-purchase the jerseys before they hit the store, maybe throwing in a small branded goodie...

You don't just post a story the day before pretty much saying drop everything because we've finally got something for you to buy, and that was Connacht Rugby not Elverys doing the promotion...

The Munster Rugby Supporters Club recently ran a promo on their Facebook page to launch the new Munster alternative jersey in which they had a mosaic type thingy, each fan clicked on a tile until all 1879 of them were revealed thus revealing the jersey. This was done in partnership with Adidas and there were prizes of some sort offered. I believe something similar, not suggesting that we copy the great Munster but I'm sure similar promo is achievable.
I'm sure something like this will not alone bring attention to the release of new kit but could also drum up more support for the Provence.

I'm putting my faith in Elverys, Rugbytech and the branch that this time I won't have to drive two days in a row (non match days) from the midlands to Headford Road store to get one either. Not sure what the supply issue was last year either but I know that alot of my buds couldn't get them and weren't impressed.

sea_point wrote:

its_phil wrote:

connachtexile wrote: How would you guys rate the difficulty of a launch for Rugbytech and Elvery's? Now remember this is Rugbytech and Elverys two companies that couldn't organise a P*ss-up in a f*cking brewery. Personally I'm going with gargantuan.

Does anyone think it would really difficult to get a few players in Elvery's stores announce that it will be on the shelves at a certain time and date and that the player/s at the store say Johnny O'Connor in Galway will be there to sign it. It would get a few people in they could get some face time with a player and it would be nice publicity for the Club.

Nigh Impossible?

They've done them before so I don't see why not.

www.connachtrugby.ie/2008071081408/conna...ew-jersey-in-elverys

www.connachtrugby.ie/2011101982650/conna...s-launch-new-jerseys

Phil you should have checked these before you posted them...

The first one was posted on the Connacht site the day before the launch (10/07/2008 for launch on 11/07/2008). But at least it was during the off season.

The second was added on the 19/10/2011 for the launch three days later, and launching two months into the season is the norm rather than a rarity for Rugbytech/Connacht kit...

That is not how you launch kit in any way shape or form, you build it up by building some sort of suspense as to how the kit will look, maybe post up some clues over a period of a few weeks (a little viral campaign perhaps utilising the players). Run some competitions, get people interested and ready to buy. Get the kit images available on-line before the kit is available and encourage supporters to pre-purchase the jerseys before they hit the store, maybe throwing in a small branded goodie...

You don't just post a story the day before pretty much saying drop everything because we've finally got something for you to buy, and that was Connacht Rugby not Elverys doing the promotion...

Sorry but could you tell me what I posted was wrong?

Connachtexile asks can they get players in for when it is launched. I respond they have done it before in the stores. You have a swipe at me because I defended Rugbytech who I have a friend working for once beforehand and decide to unload all your problems with Rugbytech on me. You really should have checked my post before your ramblings towards me.

its_phil wrote:

connachtexile wrote: How would you guys rate the difficulty of a launch for Rugbytech and Elvery's? Now remember this is Rugbytech and Elverys two companies that couldn't organise a P*ss-up in a f*cking brewery. Personally I'm going with gargantuan.

Does anyone think it would really difficult to get a few players in Elvery's stores announce that it will be on the shelves at a certain time and date and that the player/s at the store say Johnny O'Connor in Galway will be there to sign it. It would get a few people in they could get some face time with a player and it would be nice publicity for the Club.

Nigh Impossible?

They've done them before so I don't see why not.

www.connachtrugby.ie/2008071081408/conna...ew-jersey-in-elverys

www.connachtrugby.ie/2011101982650/conna...s-launch-new-jerseys

Phil you should have checked these before you posted them...

The first one was posted on the Connacht site the day before the launch (10/07/2008 for launch on 11/07/2008). But at least it was during the off season.

The second was added on the 19/10/2011 for the launch three days later, and launching two months into the season is the norm rather than a rarity for Rugbytech/Connacht kit...

That is not how you launch kit in any way shape or form, you build it up by building some sort of suspense as to how the kit will look, maybe post up some clues over a period of a few weeks (a little viral campaign perhaps utilising the players). Run some competitions, get people interested and ready to buy. Get the kit images available on-line before the kit is available and encourage supporters to pre-purchase the jerseys before they hit the store, maybe throwing in a small branded goodie...

You don't just post a story the day before pretty much saying drop everything because we've finally got something for you to buy, and that was Connacht Rugby not Elverys doing the promotion...