Reds in Business will facilitate and accelerate the development of informal, fun and potentially rewarding business relationships, infused by people's deep emotional connection to Manchester United.
Richard Hytner, RiB member
Deputy Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi
Duncan Drasdo
RiB Founder
REDS IN BUSINESS was the idea of RIB Founder Duncan Drasdo. Duncan is also the CEO of MUST – the Manchester United Supporters Trust and he wanted to find a way to build relationships between the trust and businesses owned or operated by United supporters.
Clearly the relationship needs to deliver something of value to business too and that comes through the fantastic networking (online and event based) opportunities that RIB will create as well as facilitating B2B and B2C sales through a RED PAGES directory advertising RIB services to both other business members and also the millions of Manchester United fans who’ll be encouraged to give their custom to businesses in the United family.
MUST has ambitious aims – firstly to grow, primarily through a social media project, from its current 37,000 members to something approaching ONE MILLION (free e-members). We know this figure is achievable because some of the existing MUFC social networks have membership figures close to one million.
Ultimately the objective of MUST is to deliver supporter ownership (not supporters running the club) of Manchester United along similar lines to Barcelona. This is most likely to involve a partnership with any incoming investor and a transfer of ownership over a prolonged period. However a large membership and strong links with business can only serve to strengthen the credibility of MUST's plans.