Someone, somewhere might absolutely love the Coop and have fond memories of shopping there for years with their parents etc. They’d never in a million years shop anywhere else and plan their week around their shopping. But they’re still a customer, a really weird fanatic one, but a customer all the same.
I love the co op but I do shop elsewhere. If Ihad the money I might upgrade to M&S but I'd never change my football allegiance to Man City!
Well, no, of course not. But that imaginary Co-op shopper might not care two figs about who scores more goals in a game of football but they’d never shop anywhere else! They’d think we’re as crazy as we think they are.
Football clubs are sporting clubs run as businesses through necessity but they are far more than businesses. They were set up for reasons other than making profit. Their mission statements are totally different to a non-sporting business. They are community assets to the point that councils have stakes in the property to protect them. They are regulated by sporting associations. The customers are loyal fans who have supporters trusts (I doubt there is a Tesco shoppers trust). The supporters are and should be stakeholders. There are many within the game (game, not industry) who operate purely on business terms (agents, television companies) and yes it grates when I see those adverts talking about passion, history and "more than a game" from the very people who do treat it like a business. But look beyond those leeches. Look beyond the Premiership (hehe) PLCs. Look at lower and non-league clubs. Suddenly the differences between football clubs are pure businesses becomes obvious.
But would that customer generally give co-op their money a year in advance for the food they'll be buying?
Thats actually not true. The owners made a killing in the sale of Nice, but the club had major problems because of a very strange loan with an exorbitant apr to a strange source that had a caveat of being fully repaid based on a low league position. the former ceo was extremely worried about the situation that he put together a consortium with fan approval to oust them. It’s why I’m extremely worried if the club take out any form of loan once all the Cryne reserves are expended.
No, but a year's worth of groceries (if they only shopped there remember) would be significantly more than £270. Some people do buy gift cards for places in advance as you can get a discount so they could quite conceivably have that amount of gift cards if they shop there all the time or have money paid in advance in saving stamps.
In which case I'd consider them a stakeholder and it would be wise for co-op to take the feelings and opinions of people like that into into account when making decisions that affect those customers. Not that I'm saying the club haven't been doing that of late because I think they have
As a season ticket holder, Yes. £170 For circa £460 worth of shopping. It wouldn't make me a stakeholder just a customer paying up front. I get your point there is no emotional attachment. But neither business would take that into account. Yes the would love to retain me as a customer but not necessarily a stakeholder. A stakeholder generally would be part owner. Edit but tbf. Stakeholder in the dictionary does cover customer. Most folk don't generally see it as that. If I buy a washer from Curry's i don't see it as having a stake in the company. I'm confusing missen lol.