Marketing
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Marketing
How has the marketing of MLB stuff in Japan changed since good Japanese players are playing in America?
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Re: Marketing
[ Author: CFiJ | Posted: Mar 14, 2002 2:12 PM
]
> How has the marketing of MLB stuff in Japan changed
> since good Japanese players are playing in America?
Well, I don't think there really was marketing of MLB stuff before Nomo went over, but I wasn't there then so I can't say for sure. When Nomo went to the Dodgers, Dodgers gear became very popular. When Irabu went to the Yankees, Yankees stuff started to sell, and has continued to sell as Yankees went on their run of 3 World Series (Japan loves a winner). St. Louis stuff started to sell when McGwire broke the record in 98. Mets gear started to sell when Nomo and Yoshii were teammates there (the Bobby V connection was also a factor, I think), and continued to sell when Shinjo crossed over. Seattle stuff started to sell when Sasaki went over and of course spiked when Ichiro started tearing up the league. I imagine this year will see continued sales of Mariners, Dodgers, and Yankees gear, with probably the Mets and Giants also making some sales.
The thing to remember is that in general Japanese fans don't root for American teams. They root for Japanese players. So when any team's Japanese player starts to do well, that team's merchandise starts to sell.
Of course, I must warn you that I know no concrete sales figures; this only my impression from what I have seen people wear and what has been available in sporting goods stores.
> since good Japanese players are playing in America?
Well, I don't think there really was marketing of MLB stuff before Nomo went over, but I wasn't there then so I can't say for sure. When Nomo went to the Dodgers, Dodgers gear became very popular. When Irabu went to the Yankees, Yankees stuff started to sell, and has continued to sell as Yankees went on their run of 3 World Series (Japan loves a winner). St. Louis stuff started to sell when McGwire broke the record in 98. Mets gear started to sell when Nomo and Yoshii were teammates there (the Bobby V connection was also a factor, I think), and continued to sell when Shinjo crossed over. Seattle stuff started to sell when Sasaki went over and of course spiked when Ichiro started tearing up the league. I imagine this year will see continued sales of Mariners, Dodgers, and Yankees gear, with probably the Mets and Giants also making some sales.
The thing to remember is that in general Japanese fans don't root for American teams. They root for Japanese players. So when any team's Japanese player starts to do well, that team's merchandise starts to sell.
Of course, I must warn you that I know no concrete sales figures; this only my impression from what I have seen people wear and what has been available in sporting goods stores.
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