EliteXC- the newest big fighting promotion, will have their FIRST ever Nationally broadcasted FREE FOR VIEW this SATURDAY on CBS.
I gotta say, this weekend is an MMA junkie’s DREAM!!! Saturday we get to see the BEAST Kimbo Slice fight, and Sunday we get Pulver VS Faber. The best part about this, is that both events are FREE!!!!!
Free is good. Free is my friend. I am sure though that with all the fans watching, MMA merchandise will go flying off the shelves. This is why I have considered opening my own MMA merchandise store. I see the demand being very high right now, and supply is not very high. Yes, Champs and other sporting goods stores carry TapouT merchandise. But where can I go and try on a TRIUMPH UNITED shirt? Yes, i can buy them online, but there are VERY few stores that sell the merchandise at a brick and mortar type establishment. I like to touch and feel and try something on before I buy it. Clothes and brands fit very differently and look different on people. If I am going to spend $20 to $50 on a t shirt, it better fit PERFECTLY.
I’d like to think I have a good eye and sense for what will sell. I know information that can affect the outcome of retail MMA sales. And I know this just by keeping up with things. For example, I GUARANTEE that Affliction t shirt sales will go down. GUARANTEE IT! Why? Because I read that Affliction decided to start their own fight promotion. Very stupid decision on their part. Of course Dana White with the UFC knows this, and I am sure he doesn’t want to go and PROMOTE his new competition, so I am SURE he has mandated that no fighter will walk to the ring in Affliction gear any longer. Watch any UFC PPV from last year and you will see 75% of the fighters in Affliction gear. Watch UFC Ill Will, and how many Affliction shirts did you see? AHHHHH ZERO!! What I think WILL happen, is that other brands that are being worn more by UFC fighters and shown on PPVs and TV, will have increases in sales. Brands like Triumph United (Kimbo has a deal with them), Sinister (Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell have a deal with them), TapouT (UFC has an exclusive deal with them), and maybe even Death Clutch (Brock Lesnar has a deal with them) will show much increased sales.
Also keep an eye out for No Fear products. Urijah has a sponsorship deal with them, and with his popularity now, I can see people being very interested in their product. The only thing working against them, is that they used to do surf wear, and you could find them at discount stores like Target and Sears. They will have an uphill battle trying to convince people that they have “toughened their act”.
You see, THIS is why I need to open my own retail store up. I KNOW the marketing side of the MMA industry. I understand it. If anyone wants to front me some startup capital, I am ALL EARS!!
