Sound marketing acumen?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be aware that Liverpool have got a very smart new design for their 2017/18 home kit to coincide with their 125th anniversary celebrations.
As the marketing blurb goes, the kit is a ‘perfect blend of heritage and quality, designed for maximum style and comfort. The design takes inspiration from some of the most iconic kits in LFC history.’
Some of the selling points include a specially embroidered anniversary Liverbird crest, ‘tonal’ pin stripes, a modern fit, embroidered New Balance logo, and a commemorative 96 emblem on the neck.
The shirt is also a darker shade of red than usual, to mimic kits of yore:
It costs £50 for an adult shirt, but many fans would argue it’s more than worth it.
But now Footy Headlines report that the club have released a different version of the home kit for the Chinese market, costing over 50% less. It retails at ¥179, which is around £20 and features far fewer bells and whistles.
There’s no pinstripe design, the badge isn’t embroidered, and it doesn’t even feature a New Balance logo.
But it is still official merchandise and still looks very smart. Some would argue it makes sound financial sense to bring out a different kit for a different market, but others would prefer the cheaper kit to be made available to fans closer to home.
