A unique product offering is critical for FC Bayern. Implementing systems to respond rapidly to ever changing demands of the customer by cutting the production times for quickly supplying new products will allow for excellent merchandising performance. To be successful in the soft goods market, the production process needs to be a very well-oiled machine and hot markets need to be quickly identified so that fans can be delivered merchandise tied to championships and/or other personal records in virtually real time. To get the pickup in speed, the fewer pieces there are to put together, the easier the process becomes. The 4 major sports leagues have taken this approach over the last 10 years by trimming their lists of apparel and accessories licensees. However, another new innovative approach starting in 2015 saw some of the major professional leagues purchasing equity in key licensees and starting to vertically integrate their operations. Two examples of this are the NFL investing in Outerstuff, while the NHL took a stake in both Outerstuff and Fanatics. As newcomers will struggle to get into the market, FC Bayern could look to increase their likelihood of success through partnerships, joint ventures, and/or collaboration as a creative way to get to market faster and in a larger way.