Sponsorship?

Josh,

Lots of info on sponsorship. Can't even begin to give you all the info. I would suggest talking
to other clubs and asking them how they go about getting sponsorship. Go for both local and
national sponsors.

All sponsors are looking for is exposure and furtherment of their product being used. Pick sponsors
that fit this. In other words, don't concern yourself with Bob's Autobody or Clara's Yarn shop.
Typically responsive sponsors:

Powerbar Rudy Project Desoto (not sponsor but discount) Zoot Triathlon magazines

Hope that helps. Let me know if I can help more. Also, get in touch with local pros. They are an
awesome source of direction.

-Andrew

Joshua Randall said:

College student wondering how to go about the sponsorship process. I am here at Washington State
University and the Triathlon Club is looking for sponsors for the 2004 year. I have never asked
for sponsorships before and we would like some donations of equipment and funding to go to some
competitions. This is our second year as a club and do not have a history of past performances. We
do have some who have competed before and placed. There are also a couple of us, like myself, who
are looking for a good tri-bike and cannot afford an expensive bike. Would it be better to have
sponsors support the team, individuals, or both? What should we do in return for the sponsorship?
We are going to place the logo of our top sponsors on our gear. Any suggestions will help.

Josh

--
Andrew F. Halperin - boulder, co

"Joshua Randall" <[email hidden]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

College student wondering how to go about the sponsorship process. I am here at Washington State
University and the Triathlon Club is looking for sponsors for the 2004 year. I have never asked
for sponsorships before

and

Quoted message said:

we would like some donations of equipment and funding to go to some competitions. This is our
second year as a club and do not have a history of past performances. We do have some who have
competed before and

placed.

Quoted message said:

There are also a couple of us, like myself, who are looking for a good tri-bike and cannot afford
an expensive bike. Would it be better to have sponsors support the team, individuals, or both?
What should we do in return for the sponsorship? We are going to place the logo of our top
sponsors on our gear. Any suggestions will help.

Josh

hi josh, 1st of all = no results/ real talent = no sponsors for the best individuals is a single
sponsoring better. but for the wohle club would be a majorsponsor bit better. without having any
results or big (local) nemes, it would be quite difficult. you must specify between:
a) sponsor in equipment (local bikedealer, bike factory, shoes, food, restaurant, free gym, van for
travelling) or stuff like this
b) and moneysponsor (bank, insurances, big local companies)

return:
1. integrate you mainsponsor in your team name. e.g.: sponsor team Washington triathlon geeks

2. create contacs in all media and minutes, papers, etc in newspapers, radios, ... and on
your website

3. give the sponsor place on racewear, helmet, bike or even on body (tattoos: normann-normann-Open ↗
stadler.info/img/im_hawaii_03/stadler.jpg)

--
kind regards kai baumgartner [ valid email addresses for reply can be found here: www.3athlon.de &
www.lightweight-premium-dealer.com ]

Joshua Randall said:

College student wondering how to go about the sponsorship process. I am here at Washington State
University and the Triathlon Club is looking for sponsors for the 2004 year. I have never asked for
sponsorships before and we would like some donations of equipment and funding to go to some
competitions. This is our second year as a club and do not have a history of past performances. We
do have some who have competed before and placed. There are also a couple of us, like myself, who
are looking for a good tri-bike and cannot afford an expensive bike. Would it be better to have
sponsors support the team, individuals, or both? What should we do in return for the sponsorship?
We are going to place the logo of our top sponsors on our gear. Any suggestions will help.

Josh

Were kind of in the same position with our club this year. Fortunately we have several
members that have experiance in the area. If your looking for help buying a bike, I doubt
sponsorship is the way to go, unless your really good and plan on going pro. I know of a
couple of good agers, consistant Kona qualifiers, and other than getting discounts for some
products they have not been able to get any serious "sponsorship" for years. Sponsorship for
the club is a bit easier. Many groups have a yearly budget that goes toward charity. The
hard part is getting your piece of of it. As far as local sponsors look for sponsor that
have similar interests. Hospitals with "Wellness" groups, rehab or weightloss. Also look for
groups that have a "wellrounded" customr base. Banks, grocery stores, etc. Trying to get
sponsorship from a narrow based sponsor could be difficult.

~Matt

Josh, et al
I run a bike shop in southwest VA. We are often approached for sponsorship of
individuals, clubs and teams. Speaking from this point of view, I can make a
few suggestions that I feel may translate to other potential sponsors, too :
1) Start the process with a short letter detailing who you are, what you want, and what you
can offer. If it's a detailed proposal package, all the better. Cold calls on the phone are
the worst.
2) Attack the issue from the "what we're going to provide your business" vantage point. I know that
in most instances, I could not care less about race results. Until you're talking someone who's
really "up there" (ie, winning races at the regional or national level), it just doesn't affect
things. Logos on racewear is nice and essential, but there are some key things I look for in
sponsorship: -The individuals or club involved need to be good ambassadors of the sport. They
need to be friendly and approachable and recognized as generally nice people. -There needs to be
a relationship established, meaning that the people we sponsor either have been involved with our
shop for a period of time, or they recognize the importance of doing so in the future. Buy stuff
there. It doesn't have to be everything, but make your presence known. Give feedback. If you
don't want to shop there, let them know why. Give suggestions as to what they might carry that
would appeal more. -Support the sport. We're working on sponsorship of the local tri club in
large part because the goals of the club for this year include a training program to get people
ready for the big local sprint race. That is HUGE for us. Build the sport, build the customer
base, the business is happy. -Volunteer at local events. Anyone in the club who's not racing
should be out there helping out, especially if it's an event that the business sponsors. Have the
whole team run a water station, help at registration, marshall a turn, whatever, but be out
there. -Under-promise and over-produce. Come up with a plan of what you're comfortable you can
provide, and then promise just a bit less. Then do more than you promised.
3) Bike shop and bike company sponsorship is a tough nut to crack. Shops don't generally have a
bunch of money, and many do get too many requests. The industry is so tight right now, it's tough
to get much out of most companies. I'd shoot for a bit of stuff that's industry specific, and
then go after other local companies who may have a vested interest in what you're doing (someone
else suggested health care companies--I think that's a great idea.)

I had a few other specific ideas, but I'm coming down with the flu and my head is fading fast...I
guess that long ride I had planned for today will have to wait... Anyway, I hope this helps. Email
me if I can answer any more questions. Wes runmntsATaol.com