In today's global stage, some Brazilian clubs seem to miss an opportunity when it comes to marketing & merchandising their clubs.I went and visited a small sample of the top clubs in Brazil via their official websites:
Sao Paulo, Gremio, Fluminense, Cruzeiro, Atletico Mineiro, Internacional, Vasco da Gama, Botafogo, Palmeiras, Atletico Paranaense, Coritiba, Santos & Flamengo.
I wanted to check:
1) Was the Main website clearly available in English (or another language)?
2) Did the Virtual shop website clearly allowed for orders to be taken from customers based abroad?
Out of the 13 clubs checked, only 2(!!) actually had their websites available in english: Inter of Porto Alegre (english & spanish - probably taking advantage of the fact that they have just won the World Club Championship) and Atletico Paranaense (english & german - due to the number of people in the region of Parana with German heritage). However, Cruzeiro did have some of its website information in english detailing an exchange ('intercambio') opportunity with the club.
The lack of websites available in english was a huge surprise to me - I contacted a few of these clubs to check whether there were any plans to update their websites - which in the majority were very interactive and great from the Brazilian fan's perspective. Gremio of Porto Alegre replied to state that they were planning to update their website and provide an english version.
Looking at the Virtual Shops, eight out of the 13 stores allowed for orders to be taken and sent abroad - a list of which have the links is attached below. However, none of them seemed to clearly offer the virtual shop webpage in English or any other language at present.
Sao Paulo http://www.saopaulomania.com.br/ allows orders abroad
Gremio of Porto Alegre http://www.gremio.net/shop/ no orders outside Brazil
Flamengo http://www2.ciashop.com.br/flaboutique allows orders abroad
Fluminense http://www.lojadoflu.com.br allows orders abroad
Cruzeiro http://www.lojacruzeiromania.com.br/ no orders outside Brazil
Atletico Mineiro http://www.lojadogalo.com.br/ no orders outside Brazil
Inter of Porto Alegre http://www.lojadointer.com.br/ allows orders abroad
Vasco da Gama http://www.ciashop.com.br/vascoboutique allows orders abroad
Botafogo http://www.fogaoshop.com.br allows orders abroad
Palmeiras http://www.pontoverde.com.br allows orders abroad
Atletico Paranaense http://arenastore.webstorm.com.br no orders outside Brazil
Coritiba http://www.gloriosoverdao.com.br allows orders abroad
Santos http://www.santosmania.com.br no orders outside Brazil
Obviously, there is an opportunity for Brazilian clubs to 'sell' themselves to a wider audience here and the 1st basic steps include the offering in english of their websites (including history of the club, virtual shop, etc) and the opportunity to maximise their financial return by taking advantage of any future national or international success on the field - such as it seems Inter of Porto Alegre is doing after their recent triumph.
Given the lack of money at clubs and the huge debts most of them are saddled with, how can they afford not to sell themselves to a wider audience??
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