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1) Do clubs get a discount on the amount of uniforms they agree to purchase? Bigger the club cheaper the kit?
2) Is there that much of a difference in quality of these kits? Addidas, Nike, Under Armour?
3)Does all of the money from these kits go back to the seller/manufacturer of the kits?
4)Do clubs profit in $$$ from these kits?
Just wondering!!!



In my experience. Most of it very recent

1. Not sure discounts are applied on size of club but certainly on number of jerseys ordered. Some like Score (sponsor of our State Association) actually provide price lists with sliding scale based on units ordered. For the record we happily use Score (and thank them for Statewide support of soccer) in our Little Kickers (3-8) program and are delighted with the product and pricing. We get uniform jerseys for < $8 each that includes our horse logo (4") and number and the printing quality and style is top notch. When you consider typical printing costs alone for crest and number run $5 - $6 per jersey you see the value. Our parents (and kids) are delighted the little ones get a jersey that makes them feel special (compared to discount printed T found in most rec programs) and a delta of cost to us of only $2 to a discount printed T. My youngest (4) has worn hers for two seasons now and it has held up very well.

2. Even within manufacturers there is wide variety of quality. The old maxim generally applies in this regard 'you get what you pay for'. We use baseline adidas jersey and it is prone to snagging. But at < $15 each (retail cost), not a huge issue. I like adidas as a brand in general but that is mainly 'old school' thinking. I've always admired German manufacturing from Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, and BMW (bet sweet has one of them) to adidas and Puma.

3. and 4 together. Manufacturers and retailers work together to provide clubs option. Either local or not. For example we discussed using Nike with Local retailer and Puma with National outlet/retailer. 'Profit' is returned to the club usually in the way of incentives/kickbacks (perhaps in equipment or coaching gear). Margins are lower than retailers on these bulk contracts but then volume and revenue is so much higher. Retailers and distributors often make a little beyond the margin if they are handling and charging for customizations (printing numbers, etc.). Our proposed Puma deal was charging $5.50 for this and most digital transfers of crests will run $1 to $1.50 and mass purchased numbers 40 cents or so. Of course this also takes machinery (heat press that can run $800) and labor charges. Of course anyone can go online to mass retailers and discount wharehouses, buy 300 and print themselves that would surely cut some cost especially if those savings were passed back down to parents but that is going to require effort and often it is easier (and better) to leave supplying equipment and kits to the professionals who can hold inventory, respond rapidly, and better serve the consumer.

In the end analysis I don't think these expensive uniform options are designed to make a ton of money, but more for marketing and establishing differentiators against others that will draw more kids (talented ones particularly like the cool stuff as they watch it on TV) and therefore fees.
Surely a few bucks is made either directly or indirectly through equipment they would have to buy anyway.
In the grand scheme of things, I'm sure there are more profitable areas of club operations where decisions are made, and pricing is set that will generate more cash to oil the machine.

satus quod perago validus - start and finish strong