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Mr Polite 5:57 Fri May 27
The West Ham International Marketing Machine

The times they are a changing...


As our owners endeavour to 'push us on to the next level' both on and off the pitch there is a noticeable change in our marketing strategy as we chase the foreign pot of gold.

As the new shirt for next season is leaked we can see some of this at play as we try to attract overseas interest my marketing ourselves as the London Club, with an Olympic legacy!

I totally get why they feel the need to do this and in principle, I don't have a major issue with is as long as it isn't done in a classless tacky way... which I get the feeling we might struggle with.

So what else can we expect with this new strategy?

Tours of the Far East?
Own TV channel?
Change of name to West Ham London?



Many don't like change, but not all change is for the worse. I just worry that our owners and Brady will change too much too quick all in the name of raising as much money as possible.

I might write them an open letter...

ParadiseLost 3:22 Sat May 28
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

@crassus - I've been a resident here in Colombia now for two years but I did work quite a lot down here in the three prior years. Most of my career ended up being in the States.

Medellin is greatly changed although this is still a very poor country (the minimum wage is around 120 pounds a month)but it's a decent place to visit either for a holiday or to consider as a retirement location. A few Brits pass through - mainly back packers and lads out to party.

Crassus 6:38 Sat May 28
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Lost
Different era to mine mate, I was at school during which we left the area. Fond memories of much simpler times.
Medellin - I was reading recently that it was now ok, tidy and prosperous, saying that there had been quite a change since the days of Escobar and co, East Ham, Walthamstow, Startford to Pablo's manor, blimey, how long have you been there out of interest?

ParadiseLost 2:08 Sat May 28
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

@crassus

No I arrived in 1976 in East Ham a yokel fresh out of school. As I passed the Private Magazine shop on Upton Lane I would never have guessed what influence that was going to have on WHUFC in future years!

From there I went to a rather tatty flat near the Bell in Walthamstow. A few years later and I had the money for a very cheap bottom half of a house in Chobham Road Stratford. That lasted a couple of years until that got sold. It was obvious - Stratford wouldn't ever amount to anything would it?

Medellin's not a bad place to live as an ex-pat. If nothing else Directv runs live just about every Premiership game - many with the commentary from the UK - for around five quid a month.

Any Old Iron 12:59 Sat May 28
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Fuck me, people here getting excited about us playing in the US this summer, when next year it's 50 years since we played Real Madrid in the Houston Astrodome. The first football match on astroturf.
That's the kind of thing that happens when you win a European cup and your captain and two other players win the World cup.
Bollox to all this West Ham London etc. Just concentrate on the team and the rest will follow.

Tomshardware 12:23 Sat May 28
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

We've never had a Chinese/Jap/ Korean players have we?

ChesterRd 12:18 Sat May 28
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

We went on a US tour before going to New Zealand and of course played in a tournament in China. This summer is nothing new, in fact the previous US tour was more prestigious as we played in the MLS all star game.

Crassus 11:20 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Lost

When did you leave and did you go to secondary school there? I was about roughly around that time - happy days. Remember the town show in Central Park fondly.

Ronnie Boyce's family had a greengrocers around there too back in the day.

Fuck me it is a life time away from me in North Bucks but down in Colombia it must seem even more distant.

gank 10:26 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

If we don't sign a slope, no amount of rebranding will get the Asians on board. And there are trillions of the slitty-eyed midget cunts.

ParadiseLost 9:22 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

@riosleftsock

Guess you'd now call it being retired - although I was working down here for a while. Live in Medellin. A little different to living in Central Park Road, East Ham forty odd years ago..

Gavros 8:21 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

shagging brasses

riosleftsock 8:16 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Paradise Lost

What are you doing in Columbia? Apart from shit-loads of gear.

Mike Oxsaw 7:43 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

They won't shift much shit in SE Asia (apart from dozy recent ex-pat fans buying their new bint a "proper" shirt).

In Thailand, even the followers of the local team won't cough up for "official" club merchandise for their side, but they're all wearing the latest kit. Same goes for premier league shirts; latest designs but not an official one amongst the wearers.

The best they can hope for is increased brand awareness.

Son of Anarchy 7:35 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

The US tour shows we are moving in the right direction, fuck we went to New Zealand not so long ago which has to be massively pointless.

ironsofcanada 7:19 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

ParadiseLost 7:14 Fri May 27

On the other side of the coin

When I was younger, I used to get frustrated at people wearing pristine Man U or Liverpool shirts, who had no idea who West Ham were or even who was currently playing for the team whose shirt they were wearing.

If it was not just a fashion thing, they can now follow that team a lot easier now though.

Gavros 7:17 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

international marketing really means fuck all unless you can get money from local/ regional companies to be your soft drink/ beer/ snack/ car tyre partner.

ParadiseLost 7:14 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Marketing is only worthwhile in some regions. It brings a smile to my face here in Colombia when I see someone walking around in a clearly rip off Chelsea shirt with 'Falcoa' on the back. Chelsea get not a single peso from that.

Mind you the other day when I got in a taxi with my ancient crossed hammers t-shirt the driver said 'Enner Valencia' (who is of course Ecuadorian) and gave me a big thumbs up.

If the rumors about us and Carlos Bacca have any truth in them I could probably shift a couple of gross of dodgy chinese made shirts if it's of use to anyone.

Gavros 7:13 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Group WHOmail sent

Eerie Descent 7:10 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

They keep getting things right, so we need to trust them

Best owners ever.

ironsofcanada 7:09 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

One McAvennieeeeee 7:01 Fri May 27

For good or bad, the point is to add people, I assume.

Not sure why that disqualifies them from our marketing if we are trying to build a global brand.

The Premier League is adding new followers in those markets all the time.

Look at NBCs numbers for instance.

One McAvennieeeeee 7:01 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Well those are people who just don't follow premier league football.

An absolute nonsense post, if you will.

ironsofcanada 6:58 Fri May 27
Re: The West Ham International Marketing Machine

Rossal 6:30 Fri May 27

No really sure one way or another myself. But the "foreigners" I have spent the most time with (American and Canadian mostly, but many different ethnic backgrounds) the response to "I follow West Ham" are most often

"Who?"

"Where are they?"

And from the people that know European football, not necessarily the Premier League (Italians, mostly), "Are they in the Premier League?"

Agree or not, I see why they might do it.

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