Richard Sweet's Blog "Update That ‘Vardrobe…"

[MrMustang1965]

I'm wearing Blue. Never liked Red in the first place-that's what Arkansas, Tech and Houston wear. Its not my fault some Aggie with a Design Degree wants to tamper with a Classic Jersey

Yes...but what color blue will it be?

But seriously, folks...I hate to tell ya'll this but Sweet's blog post is just more of the same ol' b.s. that's been pumped out of the A.D.'s office time-after-time, ad infinitum for several years under Copeland and now Orsini.

SMU is in last place in the college apparel market. No one - outside of the Faithful 500 - wants to wear SMU's letters. Who wants to be associated with a school that LOSES more than it WINS?

Sweet can talk it up all he wants but I will guarantee you that at this same time next year you will see the same amount of SMU clothing in the Dallas area stores that you see right now...little to none. It doesn't sell.

I've done what Sweet has asked numerous times over the years. Whenever I've been in a Dallas area store that is overloaded with U.T., aTm, OU, Texas Tech, etc. apparel and have asked the manager why they don't carry items for SMU - the only Div. 1-A team in Dallas - they just laugh.

[Ponymon]

As Ron Meyer used to say, "Winning cures cancer!" If we win, the sales will improve. If not....well there is always NEXT YEAR!

I believe that Doherty will provide a winner in BBall. It may take a couple of years, but I'm convinced that he will get there.

Football is another matter. Bennett has had plenty of time and this is his BIG year. The QB position will probably be his maker/breaker. I can't believe that he hasn't been able to keep some experience around at that position. I also can't believe that we are STILL so YOUNG after all the years that he has been coach. Is it the school's academics or the coaching staff that is our problem retaining eligible players? Better win this year or I fear he will be TOAST!

[tmustangp]

I've been to sporting good stores, mega-stores (i.e. Wal-Mart) and grocery stores in recent weeks that sold crap from UT, A&M, Froggy High and other schools -- nada from SMU. There are a lot of stores out there that need to start carrying SMU stuff. In the meantime, I got some shirts and hats from the Spirit Shop, and it's fantastic. Wearing it already -- sort of my version of 2-a-days, getting ready for the season.

Thank you Mr. Sweet, I have asked several stores and sporting goods stores why they don't carry SMU products and their quote was, "we are not allowed to sell the SMU brand"... great thinking Copeland(what a moron)..

This is fantastic news, finally and hopefully we will see SMU around town at stores as we do Tamu and UT..yes there are more alumni in dallas, but we are located in Dallas.. We should be branded here.. Thank you Mr. Sweet

[DiamondM]

tmustangp --- that is the store's bs excuse. Every store can go order licensed merchandise through the same channel as they order licensed merchandise for any other school. I checked on this numerous times and would often hear this, but it's simply not true. The Collegiate Licensing Company handles SMU's licensed merchandising, and all the store has to do is go through CLC. SMU has no special rules different from other schools that have licensed their products. When they tell you that, one of three things is happening: (1) they are just saying that so you blame SMU instead of them; (2) they don't know a hole in the ground from you know what; or (3) they are really talking about an attempt to sell unlicensed merchandise, which rightfully is shut down by both SMU and CLC. Call them on their BS, and direct them to CLC, and promise that if they do, you will be posting on the fan boards and telling your SMU friends to patronize their store.

[LonghornFan68]

tmustangp --- that is the store's bs excuse. Every store can go order licensed merchandise through the same channel as they order licensed merchandise for any other school. I checked on this numerous times and would often hear this, but it's simply not true. The Collegiate Licensing Company handles SMU's licensed merchandising, and all the store has to do is go through CLC. SMU has no special rules different from other schools that have licensed their products. When they tell you that, one of three things is happening: (1) they are just saying that so you blame SMU instead of them; (2) they don't know a hole in the ground from you know what; or (3) they are really talking about an attempt to sell unlicensed merchandise, which rightfully is shut down by both SMU and CLC. Call them on their BS, and direct them to CLC, and promise that if they do, you will be posting on the fan boards and telling your SMU friends to patronize their store.

All that is true, but if no one is buying the stuff (or if the store has the perception that no one will buy the stuff) then why would they carry it? It just adds to their overhead? I think the onus is on the SMU consumer to go buy as much smu paraphernalia as possible (even if it's crap) to make the stores realize there's a market. Just a thought.

[MrMustang1965]

I think the onus is on the SMU consumer to go buy as much smu paraphernalia as possible (even if it's crap) to make the stores realize there's a market. Just a thought.

Sure seems to work for U.T. I've never seen so many people wearing that school's stuff and the majority of them never went there and/or have never even set foot on the campus or attended one of their games. And a lot of 'em can't even speak English.

[DiamondM]

Well, the point Sweet and others are making is that we can't buy it if the store won't carry it. When they don't have SMU stuff, call them on it, don't buy the "we can't get it" line, and tell them you and your friends will buy it if they carry it (and won't return if they don't). Then you can post here if stores give you the finger or whatever, and follow through.

I'm sorry, but regardless of the frogs success, I just don't buy that TCU crap is flying of the shelves in stores less than 5 miles from SMU, and SMU stuff wouldn't sell.

[Cadillac]

I think the onus is on the SMU consumer to go buy as much smu paraphernalia as possible (even if it's crap) to make the stores realize there's a market. Just a thought.

Heh. So the Supermarket I shop at (The Market St. in McKinney), has TONs of A$M, UT and Tech crap. There is the occassional odd TCU and Baylor item, but I'm constantly [deleted] to my wife about the total lack of SMU gear. So one day I'm in there buying some last minute items for a road trip and voila! there's a crappy $10 SMU hat.

Even though I already have a ton of Pony hats, and even though I have one that's damn near the same (though nicer) as this one, I bought the stupid thing.

We do what we can... we do what we can lol.

-CoS

[jtstang]

Supply and demand, people.

[DiamondM]

Well, it's not exactly supply and demand, since clearly there is some demand but no supply. It's perceived demand -- and that is what Sweet and others are trying to change.

[mrydel]

I have asked 3 different places when I have been shopping in Dallas and one just laughed at me and the other 2 said they had tried in the past and never sold enough to warrant stocking. They are not going to stock unless they know they will have the demand from what I have experienced. I wish Mr. Sweet all the luck in the world in overcoming this catch 22 of "we won't stock until there is demand" vs. "we can't buy because there is nothing on the shelf".

[jtstang]

Well, it's not exactly supply and demand, since clearly there is some demand but no supply. It's perceived demand -- and that is what Sweet and others are trying to change.

The warranted supply is already out there at the SMU bookstore and the Spirit Shop and some of the little shops on Hillcrest. Nobody else is going to eat the cost of a bunch of SMU stuff they will never sell. I am not in wholesale/retail relations, but I doubt you can get a shipment of two shirts a month from any distributor out there if you are Dillards or Tom Thumb or whatever.

[mrydel]

Well, it's not exactly supply and demand, since clearly there is some demand but no supply. It's perceived demand -- and that is what Sweet and others are trying to change.

The warranted supply is already out there at the SMU bookstore and the Spirit Shop and some of the little shops on Hillcrest. Nobody else is going to eat the cost of a bunch of SMU stuff they will never sell. I am not in wholesale/retail relations, but I doubt you can get a shipment of two shirts a month from any distributor out there if you are Dillards or Tom Thumb or whatever.

And doesn't Tom Thumb need little bitty shirts and hats?

[PonyKai]

I think the onus is on the SMU consumer to go buy as much smu paraphernalia as possible (even if it's crap) to make the stores realize there's a market. Just a thought.

Sure seems to work for U.T. I've never seen so many people wearing that school's stuff and the majority of them never went there and/or have never even set foot on the campus or attended one of their games. And a lot of 'em can't even speak English.

I'm sure Notre Dame would put UT to shame. At least UT has around 30,000 students in the school at any given time. Yet Notre Dame has a population similar to ours and look there's a hat! a shirt! sweatshirts! Line up 10 people who are infatuated with Notre Dame and 5 will actually know where South Bend is, 3 will have ever traveled to within 100 miles of the campus and 1 will actually go there- maybe.

[SMUtrojanFAN]

Well, it's not exactly supply and demand, since clearly there is some demand but no supply. It's perceived demand -- and that is what Sweet and others are trying to change.

The warranted supply is already out there at the SMU bookstore and the Spirit Shop and some of the little shops on Hillcrest. Nobody else is going to eat the cost of a bunch of SMU stuff they will never sell. I am not in wholesale/retail relations, but I doubt you can get a shipment of two shirts a month from any distributor out there if you are Dillards or Tom Thumb or whatever.

And doesn't Tom Thumb need little bitty shirts and hats?

And when you have a Dillard heir as a recent alum, you'd think there would be a few more bones thrown SMU's way...

I guess the people at Dillard's are probably smarter businessmen than I.