St. John's Gear in Stores

J

JohnnyFever

Active member
I was just at Roosevelt Field Mall looking for SJ gear and I figured some stores must carry it. I mean, our campus is what, 20 minutes from there? I have driven from Ronkonkoma to the Queens campus in no traffic and made it routinely in 45 minutes so from Roosevelt Field it would be much less.

I stopped at LIDS then another hat store, then I was told to try Dicks then Finish Line. One after one, the store employees clearly knew the brand of SJ but told me they did not carry anything in the store itself. I found Notre Dame gear everywhere, Penn State, Cuse, Michigan State, Michigan, etc. and other distant schools who had gear for sale. Now obviously I know it's football related, but there's zero excuse to not have SJ gear all over the place in Nassau and Suffolk let alone 20 minutes from campus at the mall. I'm not sure who is in charge of all this stuff, but clearly the ball has been dropped repeatedly. It makes it seem like St. John's is St. Joe's or Dowling rather than a real major program playing in the Big East. Like we are not even D1 . This hurts perception badly and instead of being put next to Cuse on a shelf as if we belong, we are not even sold prominently in local stores.

How can we not be in local Target/Marshall's/Bob's/Dick's/Modell's/Finish Line/etc. stores? I realize we will never have the brand of a Notre Dame or Michigan, but there's no excuse to be completely left out of stores within 50 miles of campus.
 
Even if marketing dept wanted to be in these stores, that's irrelevant.

Stores need to decide their is enough demand to justify the shelf space vs. Thousands of other options.

Until we win, it won't and shouldn't happen IMO.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=294644]Even if marketing dept wanted to be in these stores, that's irrelevant.

Stores need to decide their is enough demand to justify the shelf space vs. Thousands of other options.

Until we win, it won't and shouldn't happen IMO.[/quote]

You can't tell me the other colleges are selling that much in these stores either. Again, we are nowhere near Notre Dame or Michigan. Yes there are lots of alums in the NYC area but the same is true with SJ. Just seems to be more of a status thing and not based on demand from what I've seen. If there's a Michigan alum fan they won't buy stuff in Dick's on LI, they will get something from the campus store or online most likely. That's the argument against the demand thing. I'd be shocked if they really sell lots or all of those random school shirts on LI.

How can you brand yourself as New York's team and you aren't even in stores 20 minutes away? Our bookstore probably doesn't sell that much compared to how much they have in stock, but they still sell it.
 
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Yes, but all these national retail outlets are buying at a national bulk cost, from manufacturer or wholesaler and then spreading the stock across stores.

From a category management perspective, they'll tweak and adjust either seasonally, annually or perhaps longer to build right mix of offering and inventory position.
 
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[quote="RedStormNC" post=294646]Yes, but all these national retail outlets are buying at a national bulk cost, from manufacturer or wholesaler and then spreading the stock across stores.

From a category management perspective, they'll tweak and adjust either seasonally, annually or perhaps longer to build right mix of offering and inventory position.[/quote]

So why can't they buy SJ in bulk? How many Michigan State shirts do they possibly sell on Long Island? We have Under Armour, no? Why can't they strategically sell major brands locally within 50 miles of campus? I would think every F5 and Big East school would sell local team gear in each market. Makes us seem like nobodies.
 
It would be nice, but it’s unlikely to happen. I have seen it for sale in Under Armour stores in nyc, but that was during the Lavin era. We also had subway wraps, taxi ads and a billboard in Times Square. I’m certain that cost a bundle but have no clue how and when the decide to spend their dollars on that stuff.

While I would like to see more SJU stuff also in local stores, I agree with the above posts, it’s all about supply and demand. And sadly, all those other schools would still probably sell more gear than us, even if we sold them at the same stores.

I don’t like it either, but next time you go to any mall or on vacation, go ahead a look for people wearing SJU stuff at all. It’s rare at best.

I don’t have the solution, but getting back to the top 25 and making the tourney a consistent basis wouldn’t hurt
 
[quote="CBA1992" post=294667]It would be nice, but it’s unlikely to happen. I have seen it for sale in Under Armour stores in nyc, but that was during the Lavin era. We also had subway wraps, taxi ads and a billboard in Times Square. I’m certain that cost a bundle but have no clue how and when the decide to spend their dollars on that stuff.

While I would like to see more SJU stuff also in local stores, I agree with the above posts, it’s all about supply and demand. And sadly, all those other schools would still probably sell more gear than us, even if we sold them at the same stores.

I don’t like it either, but next time you go to any mall or on vacation, go ahead a look for people wearing SJU stuff at all. It’s rare at best.

I don’t have the solution, but getting back to the top 25 and making the tourney a consistent basis wouldn’t hurt[/quote]

True, but I just have a hard time believing that Michigan State or Maryland gear would be selling way better than SJ gear in SJ's backyard. I'd guess that most of the out of town stuff ends up on clearance racks. In the average store nationally they would sell more obviously, but being right in the heart of SJ territory in western Nassau? We are actually a pretty big university. We are in the biggest city in the US playing at the highest level in college hoops. The only difference is we don't play football at the FBS level. That seems to be part of the reason. It just seems as if we don't make a push to get our brand out there and get stuff on shelves in major retailers. Do you really think we try to? I don't.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=294648][quote="RedStormNC" post=294646]Yes, but all these national retail outlets are buying at a national bulk cost, from manufacturer or wholesaler and then spreading the stock across stores.

From a category management perspective, they'll tweak and adjust either seasonally, annually or perhaps longer to build right mix of offering and inventory position.[/quote]

So why can't they buy SJ in bulk? How many Michigan State shirts do they possibly sell on Long Island? We have Under Armour, no? Why can't they strategically sell major brands locally within 50 miles of campus? I would think every F5 and Big East school would sell local team gear in each market. Makes us seem like nobodies.[/quote]

If we ever become relevant again......in NYC what you propose could happen. But I doubt it.
There were around 62 million visitors to NYC last year. The bottom dwelling team in the Big East was likely foreign to most foreign visitors and Americans alike. While in Manhattan I'm sure the hats and shirts of NYU and Columbia University were a bigger attraction than St. John's. In fact, just plain old New York City shirts and hats are ubiquitous while I'm sure in Lexington or Chapel Hill or Austin the local university may be the top seller.
There are 7 Division One colleges in NYC but until we stand out academically the popularity of our brand will not be any more attractive than Columbia or Fordham. In the area of college basketball we have been mediocre in the NY area with schools like Iona and LIU going to the dance while we lost first round Big East tourney games.
Don't kill the messenger.;)
 
Here are some links to places that carry St. John's gear:

[URL][URL]https://www.prepsportswea...-john-s-university-red-storm-jamaica?schoolid[/URL][/URL]=2498735

[URL][URL]https://www.fanatics.com/college/st-johns-red-storm/o-16[/URL][/URL]+t-24689117+z-904398-545553800

[URL][URL]https://www.fansedge.com/st-johns-red-storm-sweatshirts-and-fleece/o-5[/URL][/URL]+t-2226+d-3088

[URL][URL]https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/st-johns/g/3192[/URL][/URL]

[URL][URL]http://shop.cbssports.com/CBS_St._Johns_Red_Storm/pg/1/ps/60/so/no_sort[/URL][/URL]

I still am waiting to see who will be the first person to show up to a game with the shirt in the attachment ; ) [attachment=387]thumb.aspx.jpeg[/attachment]
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=294675]Note sure the Under Armour deal with SJU is working out.[/quote]

Interesting...any details i.e. why, specific issues, etc. or where we might be looking to go if we ditch them?

Thanks NYCRedman, just wish we were in brick and mortar stores!
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=294678][quote="Paultzman" post=294675]Note sure the Under Armour deal with SJU is working out.[/quote]

Interesting...any details i.e. why, specific issues, etc. or where we might be looking to go if we ditch them?

Thanks NYCRedman, just wish we were in brick and mortar stores![/quote]

BRICK AND MORTAR? ?????

Your want St. John's gear? Shop on Amazon! They have been putting the brick and mortar stores out of business.
And........they carry your size and deliver in 2 days.........unlike Jungle Dave.
 
I found a nice St. John’s hat at Marshall’s in Manhasset for less then $10 dollars and a shirt at TJ Maxx as well. Not even sure how they wound up there. Schools like Maryland, Michigan and Syracuse are very popular on Long Island for a variety of reasons. Notre Dame as well but a different crowd.
 
[quote="Andrew" post=294681]I found a nice St. John’s hat at Marshall’s in Manhasset for less then $10 dollars and a shirt at TJ Maxx as well. Not even sure how they wound up there. Schools like Maryland, Michigan and Syracuse are very popular on Long Island for a variety of reasons. Notre Dame as well but a different crowd.[/quote]

Marshall's and TJ Max buy unsold local market area inventory. You just got lucky.
 
[quote="Class of 72" post=294679][quote="Mike Zaun" post=294678][quote="Paultzman" post=294675]Note sure the Under Armour deal with SJU is working out.[/quote]

Interesting...any details i.e. why, specific issues, etc. or where we might be looking to go if we ditch them?

Thanks NYCRedman, just wish we were in brick and mortar stores![/quote]

BRICK AND MORTAR? ?????

Your want St. John's gear? Shop on Amazon! They have been putting the brick and mortar stores out of business.
And........they carry your size and deliver in 2 days.........unlike Jungle Dave.[/quote]

You're right, but I guess for the time being it's just frustrating when you see other schools at DIcks, etc. and a school 15 miles away with history in a major conference is not among them. Just google mapped it and it says 15 miles, 22 minutes from Roosevelt Field! It kind of reinforces that notion that if you don't play football, you aren't a real major player. I noticed that we used to have new era hats and switched not too long ago to some random brand Top of The World or something weird. It just seems like every merchandise move we make is to save money and cut corners instead of aligning ourselves with the big brands and showing we belong. I wonder if we'd ever try to get back with Air Jordan since Mullin was a dream team guy? Maybe that means nothing idk. Under Armour was exciting at first but then it kind of fizzled out...not sure what happened. I do think Adidas would be cool too.
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=294675]Note sure the Under Armour deal with SJU is working out.[/quote] It sucks
 
[quote="Andrew" post=294681]I found a nice St. John’s hat at Marshall’s in Manhasset for less then $10 dollars and a shirt at TJ Maxx as well. Not even sure how they wound up there. Schools like Maryland, Michigan and Syracuse are very popular on Long Island for a variety of reasons. Notre Dame as well but a different crowd.[/quote] That was great St Joes stuff you bought :)
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=294685][quote="Class of 72" post=294679][quote="Mike Zaun" post=294678][quote="Paultzman" post=294675]Note sure the Under Armour deal with SJU is working out.[/quote]

Interesting...any details i.e. why, specific issues, etc. or where we might be looking to go if we ditch them?

Thanks NYCRedman, just wish we were in brick and mortar stores![/quote]

BRICK AND MORTAR? ?????

Your want St. John's gear? Shop on Amazon! They have been putting the brick and mortar stores out of business.
And........they carry your size and deliver in 2 days.........unlike Jungle Dave.[/quote]

You're right, but I guess for the time being it's just frustrating when you see other schools at DIcks, etc. and a school 15 miles away with history in a major conference is not among them. Just google mapped it and it says 15 miles, 22 minutes from Roosevelt Field! It kind of reinforces that notion that if you don't play football, you aren't a real major player. I noticed that we used to have new era hats and switched not too long ago to some random brand Top of The World or something weird. It just seems like every merchandise move we make is to save money and cut corners instead of aligning ourselves with the big brands and showing we belong. I wonder if we'd ever try to get back with Air Jordan since Mullin was a dream team guy? Maybe that means nothing idk. Under Armour was exciting at first but then it kind of fizzled out...not sure what happened. I do think Adidas would be cool too.[/quote]

Unfortunately it's been this way for over 15 years now and probably longer. If you check the history of this board, threads like this pop up every year. You can never find the stuff in stores. Truth is there is likely no demand for it so stores don't make an effort to carry it. I've always had to shop online to ever get any SJU gear.
 
[quote="Room112" post=294714] Unfortunately it's been this way for over 15 years now and probably longer. If you check the history of this board, threads like this pop up every year. You can never find the stuff in stores. Truth is there is likely no demand for it so stores don't make an effort to carry it. I've always had to shop online to ever get any SJU gear.[/quote]

Correct and it will remain so regardless if it is Under Armour, Nike, Reebok or Addidas until we reverse our course and start making noise during the season, BE Tourny and the NCAAs.

A lot of those other schools that have been mentioned in this thread are national brands (like it or not) and several with a history of success in football and basketball so they do sell.
 
It's been to get gear for as long as I can remember. Solution, go to the bookstore.:p
 
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