The Oxford United Club Shop, located opposite the Kassam Stadium, is set to reopen for the first time in 2021 with additional measures in place to ensure all supporters and staff remain safe when visiting.
Retail has always been a key revenue stream for the club, but the importance has been heightened with Match Ticket sales not being available during these uncertain times. Head of Retail and Ticketing Lee Barton had this update:
"I’d like to thank the supporters who’ve continued to make purchases online throughout the pandemic.
"While we’ve seen strong growth in our e-commerce numbers, we haven’t been able to completely replace our in-store trade. It is now 13 months since the store first closed its doors back in March 2020, and it is important we reopen to supporters at the first and safest opportunity.
"We’re all really looking forward to welcoming the Yellow Army back through the doors when we are able to do so April 12th."
"We’ve been able to introduce exciting new product lines to retail during the past few months from our Year Of The Ox YOTO range to our Club Ox merchandise monthly subscription boxes. Last week saw our 1995 Retro Shirts, in partnership with our official license partners The Terrace, land online for pre-order. Licensed partnerships is an area of retail that will be growing in the next 12 months with more brands coming on board to offer supporters a wider range of quality official merchandise.
"While sales of official merchandise have grown online, so have increased numbers of bootleg traders. We have partnered with a leading brand protection agency to combat the rise of unofficial merchandise sold online. Merchandise purchased through official channels is a direct investment back into your football club, just like a match ticket. If you’re unsure whether an item found online is official, please do contact the retail team and we’d be happy to verify."
The store will be operating Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00 from Monday April 12th. Supporters will be able to make purchases in store, arrange click and collect, and place telephone orders on 01865 747231.