Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

High quality is essential - everything we sell must be made to last, not simply the cheapest supplier - otherwise people will buy once and get a bad impression of the quality of what's on offer.

One other point - can we ensure that any clothing which we sell has real sizes on it, not just S,M,L,XL etc. etc. - I've never understood why companies do that and don't put the real size on of 44/46 etc. etc. Or, if lettered-sizes are the only option then at least a size-guide for each item, based on measuring them. I'm sure this can act as a disincentive for purchase otherwise, especially with mail-order items.

J

I'm coming to this late, so forgive me if i suggest something that has already been mooted.

My brother, for his 21st birthday present, wanted a couple of housey buttons silver plated and converted into cufflinks. I couldn't get it done in time, but was amazed that the school didn't already sell them.

I still have some crest cufflinks, but would definitely invest in some button ones.

sport! wrote:Looking at EtonCollege.com (a minor public school I believe) ....they have mugs saying things like "I'd Rather Be An Old Etonian", so why not "I'd Rather Be an Old Blue", "I'd Rather Be A Squit", "I'd Rather Drink Kiff" etc. on mugs, T-shirts etc......plenty of scope for witicisms.....

Old Blues did it at Horsham/Hertford

If possible, Fairtrade goods are a bonus.

Just had another thought,

I am still wearing a pink polo shirt with the marching boy on it which I bought, goodness knows when. I last went to Horsham in 1997 so it must be at least that old and I could really do with a new one.

I don't know if I have mentioned this before but I was wearing it while working as manager in a care home and one of the nurses the agency sent us said, "I went to school there". He was probably at Horsham in the co-ed era as he wasn't surprised to see a woman in one.

Caroline, I think a while back you exclaimed about hoodies being banned.

Hoodies are not only the garments but the word is also used for the marginalised young men (usually) who wear them with the hood up and pulled over the face while they intimidate others. These young men have been banned from some shopping malls. Unfortunately sometimes others who find them warm and comfortable have been tarred with the same brush.

I love wearing hoodies, because they are comfortable and extremely warm. I totally agree with Mary.

I think that tarring everyone with the same brush on the hoodies front is very ignorant but also a result of paying too much attention to the media.

I think that CH Hoodies would sell. My girlfriend went to Uni up in Reading and around town you would always see people wearing the Univeristy of Reading Hoody.

You can never have enough jumpers, especially in the UK

BTaylor wrote:I'm coming to this late, so forgive me if i suggest something that has already been mooted.

My brother, for his 21st birthday present, wanted a couple of housey buttons silver plated and converted into cufflinks. I couldn't get it done in time, but was amazed that the school didn't already sell them.

I still have some crest cufflinks, but would definitely invest in some button ones.

One to look into - thanks!

jtaylor wrote:High quality is essential - everything we sell must be made to last, not simply the cheapest supplier - otherwise people will buy once and get a bad impression of the quality of what's on offer.

One other point - can we ensure that any clothing which we sell has real sizes on it, not just S,M,L,XL etc. etc. - I've never understood why companies do that and don't put the real size on of 44/46 etc. etc. Or, if lettered-sizes are the only option then at least a size-guide for each item, based on measuring them. I'm sure this can act as a disincentive for purchase otherwise, especially with mail-order items.

J

Agreed - we don't want tacky stuff.

I take your point about the sizes, too - without a proper guide the lettering system can be too variable to be reliable.

I think you need things to sell in a range of prices ie. children can afford a pencil or notebook, leaving Grecian may be able to run to a hoodie, high-flying OB lawyer may want to splash out on silver tie-pins. And making sure that the stuff is available and people know where to go to buy it us absolutely vital (whether it's in person from the tuckshop, via mail order catalogue or the internet), otherwise the most beautiful of products will end up languishing in a store room covered in dust.

englishangel wrote:Hoodies are not only the garments but the word is also used for the marginalised young men

= CHAVS !!!!

Edit:- (JT) - Let's keep this thread on-topic - Richard's got a tough job owning this one! - JT

Mrs C. wrote:

blondie95 wrote:i think the college school scarf would be popular, i have mine and know many others would have liked them

I kept my hoodie with CH badge on from games when i was there and my broadie and buckle!

I think things that can still be used by people may be good such as ties, cuff links, hoodie, mug, cds of choir/big band

My daughter hated wearing her CH hoodie for sports - but now wears it around town quite happily!!

yep I wore mine with pride at uni and now wear that and my uni hoodie with a lot pride!

Totally agree with you Amy

I'd love to have my old CH hoodie back, not sure where it went to

Probably thrown out

cj wrote:I think you need things to sell in a range of prices ie. children can afford a pencil or notebook, leaving Grecian may be able to run to a hoodie, high-flying OB lawyer may want to splash out on silver tie-pins. And making sure that the stuff is available and people know where to go to buy it us absolutely vital (whether it's in person from the tuckshop, via mail order catalogue or the internet), otherwise the most beautiful of products will end up languishing in a store room covered in dust.

The previous stock was all available from the school shop - and , as Kerren reminded me, also from the Sports Centre and on-line for some time. There was quite a broad selection of goods - such as you mention, but it just didn`t seem to sell. Whether it was the prices, the type of goods, or the fact that the shop was only open at certain times, I don`t know.
We, at least, found it to be quite a good source of Christmas presents however!

Mrs C. wrote:

cj wrote:I think you need things to sell in a range of prices ie. children can afford a pencil or notebook, leaving Grecian may be able to run to a hoodie, high-flying OB lawyer may want to splash out on silver tie-pins. And making sure that the stuff is available and people know where to go to buy it us absolutely vital (whether it's in person from the tuckshop, via mail order catalogue or the internet), otherwise the most beautiful of products will end up languishing in a store room covered in dust.

The previous stock was all available from the school shop - and , as Kerren reminded me, also from the Sports Centre and on-line for some time. There was quite a broad selection of goods - such as you mention, but it just didn`t seem to sell. Whether it was the prices, the type of goods, or the fact that the shop was only open at certain times, I don`t know.
We, at least, found it to be quite a good source of Christmas presents however!

We might be talking at cross purposes here. However if this is the stuff that used to be advertised in "Housey" magazine the prices seemed quite steep to me.

I'm probably a tight so and so though! My daughters say I am!

Mrs C. wrote:

J.R. wrote:How about stick pins for collar/sweater. (like the U.S. political badges)

I think we still have some lapel stick-pin badges for sale in tuckshop if anyone wants one!

Can you find out for me, Janet ?

What do they depict ? Size ?, Cost ?, Availability ?

Ta !

And I've got a whole (large) 'Flora' box FULL of the old Old Girls' Association badges (and some left-over postcards). I thought that next time OG's congregate at Horsham (?when there's a Memorial Service for Miss West?), I would put them somewhere for people to take, against donations which I would put towards our corporate Presentation Fund.
(NB these OGA badges are plain round blue enamel, with a gold edge, and the plain school crest in the middle. NOT the same as the OGA badge which is currently on eBay - and on which I am bidding! I've never seen one like that before.....)