So I just relocated to the Northern Virginia area. I've noticed that there really aren't many Virginia Tech merchandise stores up here. Sure, lots of places sell Tech gear, but I have yet to see a whole store dedicated to it. I lived in Alabama when I was younger (War Eagle), and pretty much every mall had a split store called Tiger Pride / Bama Fever. It was just for Auburn and Bama gear and sold everything you could imagine. Do y'all think a store like that would do well in Virginia? It would definitely help build brand support and loyalty.
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While there is a strong Hokie Alumni presence in Northern Virginia, there are also people from all over with difference college alumni backgrounds. When the economy went boink, this area was one of the hot beds for jobs. While other areas in the country declined this area somehow seemed to at least barely hold itself up. People that needed work came from all over so it's not just a bunch of people in maroon and orange walking around (as cool as that would be)
One of those reasons stores like that do so well in Alabama is because, as you know, there's only the two teams down here.
In nova, there's VT, sure, but there's also the Redskins (as bad as they may be), the Nationals, Capitals, and other pro sports teams that are nearby. Farther south in Virginia you may find more Carolina Panthers merchandise, etc.
There's just more sports teams/fans around, and there's a lot more people in NOVA who aren't originally from Virginia as compared to the people in Alabama, so lots of people bring their own teams with them. Just a different market.
They have Redskins specific stores in NOVA (one in Dulles Mall), and that largely seems to be in the dominant team in the area. Pro teams, plus more job opportunities, plus more schools in the state just means a watered down interest the further you get from the college. But as someone who grew up in NOVA, I would be stoked to see a Hokie store in the area
Well if you're going to pull that card with the Redskins store, there are a few non-university operated stores that sell only Tech merchandise in Blacksburg.
Just implying that it has to do with proximity. You don't see any VT stores in NOVA for probably the same reasons we don't have any Redskins stores in Blacksburg. Another town, another prominent sports team.
Might be better to do a College HQ type deal with a concentration on VT but make all other colege stuff available go for it Ill take 10% off the top please
In Ohio they have numerous "Buckeye" stores. You could defiantly have a store split by UVA/VT I think it would do well in NOVA, RIC, Hampton Roads. Hell there were two redskins stores in RIC in the late 90's early 2000's.
No doubt our grills and koozies would outsell their cheese platters and wine glass lanyards if such a store opened.
Probably much of a competition in the sales market when the local professional football team is the Browns though
A VT/LOLUVA combined store......ummm....can I sell tickets. That might put UFC out of business!
Whose hiring the bouncers?
I know when I go with my girlfriend to visit her family in the Tidewater region a lot of sports retailers have a lot of Tech stuff. I also see a lot of people and cars with Tech stuff, way more than any other school. I don't live there so it may not be the case, but I think a Tech store would do really well in that area. I know there is a huge alumni base in and around that area.