Shelbourne FC Case Study: Digital Transformation Drives 55% Revenue Growth In Merchandising

League of Ireland Champions 2024 & Irish eComm Awards 2024 Finalist

Champions On and Off the Pitch: How We Transformed Shelbourne FC's Digital Presence

The Challenge: Matching Digital Performance with On-Field Excellence

As one of Ireland’s most successful football clubs and Europe’s oldest, Shelbourne FC’s on-field performance has always been exceptional. However, their digital presence wasn’t keeping pace with their sporting achievements. With a growing fanbase and increasing demand for merchandise, the club faced several critical challenges:

Key Challenges:

  • Content Management Bottlenecks: Staff struggled to manage and make simple website edits
  • Revenue Limitations: Long match-day queues and poor online shopping experience restricted merchandise sales
  • Inventory Management Issues: Manual stock tracking between online and the physical store drained resources
  • Poor Mobile Experience: Fans struggled to purchase tickets and merchandise on mobile devices
  • Brand Inconsistency: The website didn’t reflect the club’s professional status or brand identity

"The disconnect between our on-field success and digital presence was holding us back from delivering the experience our supporters deserve. Our old website was extremely dated, difficult to navigate, and the furthest thing from user-friendly possible… a clunky, vastly outdated website"

The Solution: A Digital Strategy Worthy of Champions

Working closely with Shelbourne FC, we developed a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that would serve both the club’s operational needs and their supporters’ expectations.

1. Website Platform Split Strategy

We implemented a two-platform solution to optimise both content and commerce:
  • Custom-designed content management system
  • Mobile-first approach for news and updates
  • Streamlined match information and ticket purchasing
  • Integrated blog and media centre
  • Dedicated team pages for Men, Women & Academy team sections
WordPress website design Shelbourne Football Club
  • Dedicated merchandise platform
  • Automated inventory management
  • Mobile-optimised shopping experience
  • Integrated point-of-sale system
  • Real-time stock synchronisation
Shopify eCommerce website design Shelbourne Football Club

2. In-Store Innovation

The physical club shop received a digital upgrade:
  • Modern POS system installation
  • Inventory synchronisation with online store
  • Faster checkout process with real-time sales analytics
  • Staff training and support

3. Mobile Experience Enhancement

  • Responsive design across all platforms
  • Optimised ticket purchasing interface
  • Streamlined mobile checkout
  • Improved navigation and user experience

The Results: A Championship Performance

The digital transformation delivered impressive results that matched the club’s on-field success:

  • 42.6% increase in monthly merchandise revenue
  • 55% year-over-year growth in overall merchandise sales
  • Significantly reduced checkout times
  • Automated inventory management
  • Streamlined club content updates
  • Finalist in the Irish eComm Awards 2024
  • Positive fan feedback
  • Enhanced brand presence

The Impact: Beyond the Numbers

The digital transformation has had far-reaching effects:
  • Easier access to club news and updates
  • Smoother ticket purchasing experience
  • Better shopping experience, both online and in-store
  • Consistent brand experience across all platforms
  • Reduced manual workload
  • Real-time inventory management
  • Easier content updates
  • Better sales insights
  • Professional digital presence
  • Increased revenue
  • Better fan engagement
  • Stronger brand identity

Looking Forward

After becoming League of Ireland Champions in 2024, Shelbourne FC. hopes to continue their success on the field. Their digital infrastructure can now support their growth and engage with their expanding fanbase. The new platforms provide a foundation for future digital initiatives and continued commercial success.

Are You Ready for Digital Excellence?

Whether you’re a sports organisation or any business looking to transform your digital presence, we can help you achieve championship-winning results. Contact us to discuss your digital transformation journey