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Nike NFL Replica Pricing released

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jerzy234

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GREEN BAY — Popular Green Bay Packers jerseys are going to be scarce over the next three months. Then they’re going to be more expensive.

The NFL’s decision to change suppliers from Reebok to Nike, combined with the Packers’ nationwide popularity, is depleting inventories of merchandise, especially jerseys.

“I think all of us that sell Packers merchandise are experiencing the same challenges,” said Kate Hogan, director of retail operations for the Packers. “We bought heavy going in and we bought a lot of jerseys. We are not going to be able to sustain it much longer.”

Reebok’s 10-year contract to supply NFLapparel is ending. In April, Nike and several other new vendors will take over. As a result, retailers say, Reebok ordered conservatively going into the season. The company’s plans also were affected by the NFL lockout, which still was in effect when buying decisions were made.

“Everybody knew coming in it was going to be a tough year for all merchandise,” said Brian Swallow, senior vice president of strategy and business development for Fanatics, an online retailer.

“It’s very tough being a vendor and retailer. You have to prognosticate, sometimes a year in advance. That being said, in your lame duck year you are going to be very conservative.”

The most popular teams will experience the worst shortages, and the Packers are breaking all sorts of popularity records this year, from on-field performance to stock sales to merchandise sales.

“It’s absolutely a great brand, winning team, a lot of press coverage nationally,” Hogan said. “Even I did not predict we’d be doing the level (of sales) we are.”

Sheri Tanner, owner of the Jersey Store, 1931 Holmgren Way, Ashwaubenon, said her business is up more than 50 percent this year with at least two home games remaining. Fanatics said its sales of Packers merchandise was up 170 percent through mid-December.

Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews jerseys were the most popular sold through November by NFLShop .com, according to the NFL, and Packers merchandise led all team sales at the NFL’s online store.

Emptying shelves

Shelves, real and virtual, are getting bare.

“What we have on the site is what’s available. When it’s gone, it’s gone,” Swallow said.

Mike Walters, manager of The Jersey Store, said his shop is buying what it can find and contracting for some exclusive custom pieces, though they will miss the sales they could have offered, particularly of sweatshirts and jackets.

“It’s a nice problem to have, everything flying off the shelves,” he said.

Hogan said adult jerseys, Sideline gear and some other goods cannot be restocked. Women’s apparel, long-sleeve T-shirts and certain colors, such as gold, are also in short supply, but children’s jerseys are plentiful.

Custom-made playoff apparel, however, will be available as always because it is not made until needed.

Joanna Hunter, manager of corporate communications for the NFL, said in an email that NFLShop.com may be able to take up some slack.

“No, we are not concerned. NFLShop.com can supplement other retailers’ offerings so fans can get the gear they are seeking,” Hunter wrote.

Nonetheless, Hogan and Tanner recommended fans who plan on buying do it soon.

“If there is a jersey they want, they should buy it now. We have some inventory left,” Hogan said. “Whether from us or anybody else, they should do it now.”

Nike will raise prices when it introduces its lineup in April, Walters said.

The cheapest Nike jersey will be $100, up from $75. Authentic Jerseys will be $250, a $60 to $75 increase for Packers fans.

The price increase is not unprecedented. Walters said that 10 years ago Reebok spruced up the jerseys and raised the price from $45 to $60.

He said Nike is promising its jerseys will be snazzy. “We haven’t been able to see it. They tell me it’s a great jersey, that it’s a lot better than what’s in the marketplace now,” he said.

With the new contracts, Nike will produce a narrower range of products than Reebok. Other venders, such as Forty Seven Brand and New ERA will provide new items, and others, such as VF Imagewear and G3, will continue to provide merchandise under renewed contracts, Hogan said.

Walters said the new arrangement will be better for retailers and fans.

“What it brings back for us is more variety in the marketplace,” he said.
Packers' popularity

The Internet is boosting Packers’ merchandise sales nationwide, Hogan said. Wisconsin residents continue to purchase the most items from the Packers Pro Shop, but buyers come from all 50 states as well as several countries.

The Packers are working to increase Internet sales. The organization has a good email list, and it has a great brand, but the Pro Shop has to be competitive and deliver on service and product, Hogan said.

“You still have to do the work. If you just sat back, it wouldn’t come to you,” she said.

Fanatics actually sells more Packers items to non-Wisconsin residents than residents, who account for about 14 percent of sales, Swallow said.”I think the angle is who really is America’s team,” he said. “The Packers have just been resilient. It’s a testament to how Packers fans are loyal and passionate about that team.”

For local retailers, Tanner said in-person sales can be affected by the makeup of people attending the games. Playoff game crowds are often different than regular season. She said this year’s Christmas Day turnout was more like a playoff game, because there were a lot of people who don’t normally attend. That meant more sales and a further depletion of stock.

“It was unbelievable. We were overwhelmed,” she said.

Hogan said shoppers might have to adjust expectations, buying road jerseys instead of home jerseys, for example.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/...-switch-may-make-Packers-favorites-tough-find

I think the big addition to NFL uniforms next year will be flywire which is used to improve breathing from the skin and the jersey. I doubt we see too many changes since the NFL likes to stay conservative. Most likely a change in piping and material used will be the noticeable difference. Two teams that have been linked to getting new uni's for next season are the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.

Update 1/23:
From http://boards.sportslogos.net/topic/85018-nike-nfl-predictions-of-change-or-no-change/page__st__240

"Our uniform will be customized by Nike to fit their uniform program, but other adjustments to the uniform will not be made. In other words, there may be some differences between the way Nike makes the jersey as opposed to Reebok, but otherwise there will be no evident changes in the design elements of the current uniform.

Andy Ware
Cincinnati Bengals"
Most teams have already hinted at this response for next years new jerseys. Jacksonville's equipment manager has indicated the Jaguars will get new uni's in 2013. I would expect more changes to break out then.
 
Those prices are ridiculous.

That said... I'm aware that Adidas makes the uniforms in the NBA, but ultimately don't design any real aspect of the uniform besides, in some cases, the types of mesh used and such.

How big of an impact will Nike have on the design of the uniforms. Or how "snazzy" can they make it? Is it just the materials used as you mentioned?
 
How big of an impact will Nike have on the design of the uniforms. Or how "snazzy" can they make it? Is it just the materials used as you mentioned?

The individual teams will have the final say in what the uniforms will look like, but Nike has been working with each team on different designs. Unlike the NCAA, the NFL has a strict uniform guideline and that is why I think there will be more tweaks than major changes. Carolina and Seattle were thinking about getting new designs the past few years and decided to wait til the new supplier contract kicked in.

I don't think it is just the materials that is increasing the cost, however, Reebok has cited this as the reason they have increased prices over the past few years. In addition, I would believe Nike is passing some of the licensing cost to the consumer as a way to get closer to the break even point.
 
If buying NFL jerseys before April, buyer beware
Posted by Mike Florio on January 24, 2012, 7:23 AM EST
Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio - Wisconsin v Oregon Getty Images

We write this item not to create problems for our friends at the NFL. But our loyalty lies primarily to the millions (and, amazingly, there really are millions) who rely on us for information about the sport they love.

If you love the NFL enough to plunk down some jack for a jersey, replica or official, you probably should wait three months.

In April 2012, Nike takes over the apparel contract from Reebok. And on the day that the switch was announced in October 2010, Nike Brand president Charlie Denson told Darren Rovell of CNBC that significant adjustments are coming.

“We plan on changing the NFL jersey dramatically just like we’ve done with the college programs, using new thinking and the greatest technology available,” Denson said. “The NFL program hasn’t had the same type of advancement in recent years.

The looming change possibly explains why players like Vikings running back Adrian Peterson are contemplating a number change. Recently on his Twitter page, Peterson mused about shifting to No. 21 or No. 23. (Maybe Peterson knows something that cornerback Asher Allen, who currently wears No. 21, doesn’t.)

In past years, a player-initiated number change would have been met with a requirement that the player refund Reebok for the existing inventory of jerseys with the number he wants to abandon. With the new Nike jerseys coming soon, there’s a chance that it will be open season for the shifting of numbers.

Regardless of whether we’ll see players changing numbers, the jerseys apparently will be changing. And it would make sense to refrain from breaking out your change purse until the new designs are unveiled.
Source http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/24/if-buying-nfl-jerseys-before-april-buyer-beware/
 
At least people in Cleveland don't have to worry about buying jerseys anymore. Look for the sales of the fake Chinese jerseys to go up.
 
Nike and New Era will be previewing some of their products at the Pro Bowl this weekend.
409463_10150515345629807_242926269806_8919483_923413561_n.jpg

09000d5d82655cff_gallery_600.jpg


Huber,

The problem with Reebok was inconsistency with their cuts and the product had a increased price tag with little improvements during the past few years. I think if the quality is vastly improved, as stated by retailers who have seen the product, you wont see a huge change in rise or drop with counterfeits purchases.


New Nike Gloves:
503907293.jpg


fletchergloves0112c.jpg
 
Nike and New Era will be previewing some of their products at the Pro Bowl this weekend.
409463_10150515345629807_242926269806_8919483_923413561_n.jpg

09000d5d82655cff_gallery_600.jpg


Huber,

The problem with Reebok was inconsistency with their cuts and the product had a increased price tag with little improvements during the past few years. I think if the quality is vastly improved, as stated by retailers who have seen the product, you wont see a huge change in rise or drop with counterfeits purchases.

Still, If I buy ever jersey again it will be the $40 stitched Chinese jersey over the $100 replica.
 
All Gloves. Two teams that got logo tweaks are Carolina Panthers Seattle Seahawks. Carolina has tweaks with the whiskers, mouth area and neck area. Seattle changed the lower stripe from navy blue to silver. No graphic change with Seattle.

426779_10151231220855721_57460905720_22766962_953177391_n.jpg
 
It's really hard to buy Browns gear, just nothing looks good.
 
And of course we have the lamest looking ones...

I think if the Browns and Nike were able to use secondary logos then you could possibly see the dawg logo used. Personally I could see those sell like hotcakes in NEO if the elf was used. The Browns logo is bland, but since the team established the helmet as their primary logo that is what was put on the gloves. Also something minor I saw with the tweak of the Seahawks updated logo, the eye is more brighter neon green and the upper beak uses a thinner lining.
 
i don't understand why the browns don't use the elf logo as their primary. its seriously so awesome, its my favorite browns logo by far.
 
I like the browns cleats/shoes whatever better than the gloves.
 
I wish we had the helmet logo on our helmets. We'd be the most ironic team in all the land.
 

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