So, how many were made? 1,000? 2,000, maybe? No – 20,000. Each shirt cost £18, and they were due to make a total of £360,000 (with £50,000 of that going to the Catholic church).
However, not quite all of them sold. I say “not quite all of them”… They sold just 520 of them. That means they only grossed £9,360.
Paul Sullivan, managing director of 4 Club and Country, blamed negative publicity prior to the visit.
“The Pope won the public over towards the end of his visit but there was hostility and indifference in the early stages and that hit our sales.”
– Paul Sullivan (of 4 Club and Country shirt suppliers), 8 October 2010
So what now for the remaining 18,500 shirts? They’re due to be rebranded ready for the Pope’s visit to Spain.
The company say that they will still give some of their takings to the church.