Sponsorship?

[Scott Brady]

The first rule of sponsorship, is that it CANNOT be about just building a cool truck. It must go two or three levels beyond that. It is about YOU providing a tangible and measurable value to a company from a marketing perspective. How many people can you touch and make an impression with a truck? Very few. So, it must go several levels higher.

It is one of the first rules of marketing. Influence the influential. Can you influence those who influence the marketplace - on a massive scale? If so, then comp'ed gear and even lots of cash are possible.

The mistake people make is trying to GET something from a company, as opposed to GIVING a great service and starting a partnership first.

Start by giving first, show the results and then you will be suprised what is "given".

Just my thoughts.

 

[NorCalSam]

Hmmm….you know what? That is good advice right there. Thanks Scott!

 

[neliconcept]

The first rule of sponsorship, is that it CANNOT be about just building a cool truck. It must go two or three levels beyond that. It is about YOU providing a tangible and measurable value to a company from a marketing perspective. How many people can you touch and make an impression with a truck? Very few. So, it must go several levels higher.

It is one of the first rules of marketing. Influence the influential. Can you influence those who influence the marketplace - on a massive scale? If so, then comp'ed gear and even lots of cash are possible.

The mistake people make is trying to GET something from a company, as opposed to GIVING a great service and starting a partnership first.

Start by giving first, show the results and then you will be suprised what is "given".

Just my thoughts.

thanks Scott, nice advice

right now Im looking at trying to gain exposure first from select magazines, and attend some shows, then im going to actually go all out for sponsorship. In a way, with the vehicle, depending on who says yes, I want to point out, that Im willing to tavel coast to coast for events and to market their company and give away items at these events. I dont know how that plays out and I dont know if companies are looking for reps in the offroad community

any thoughts?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Scott really layed it out... well done!

I guess I might be in a different community than you guys... here in SLC you can't drive to the gas station without passing a very built rig, be it a Jeep, Toyota, etc... thousands of them all over the road. To boot they are all loaded with stickers, for free. Shops know that... why would they pay someone to "run" their stickers around town? Give them away at a 4x4 show or with every order and they will run them for absolutely free. Utah might be a bit different than some, but I suspect many of the "destination" wheeling states (ie. Colorado, WA state, etc) your going to find the same thing. Getting in some mags, going to some trail-rides, etc... doesn't really equate to much IMO, I honestly wish it did... but it doesn't.

Another MAJOR aspect with companies sponsoring ametuer (ie. hobby adventurers) is the liability of their name being tarnished by your actions. They don't know you, they don't know how you wheel, how you drive, they don't even know how you fab your truck. They might not want to put their name on shoddy work (not saying that is remotely the case here). And again, they can find a plethora of freinds/family, devoted customers that would run the same stickers for free or a little discount one day.

Take for example the big ARB stickers, there is a built Pathfinder that runs around town here in SLC... it has huge ARB stickers on each of the rear windows, BIG stickers like 14" wide :chowtime: In addition there is an assortment of others stickers, Hi-Lift, Warn, BF Goodrich, etc. I remember seeing the truck 8-9 years ago and thinking the guy must have either owned a shop (ie advertising his product line) or some sort of competitor... nope just a random enthusiast.

I don't mean to come across as rude... but your exposure doesn't sound like anything special... let alone worth paying for??

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...I want to point out, that Im willing to tavel coast to coast for events and to market their company and give away items at these events. I dont know how that plays out and I dont know if companies are looking for reps in the offroad community...

Again, I don't want to be a total pessimist (sp?)... but a company with money to do something like that... will be doing it themselves IMO. Why would they pay some guy to go out and have fun, when they can do it themselves or get others to do it for free?? I wish you the best luck with this, and you might be able to get a couple to bite, but not enough to travel coast to coast. At that you would have more sponsors than your could reasonably promote fairly, make sense?

A freind just left on trip that will take him nearly a year to complete, all vehicle based, a truly epic trip. While he didn't push the sponsor deal super hard, he still had a hard time with those he did approach, and this is a trip with more exposure/clout than 99% of us will ever go on. I hooked him up with one of my old competitive rock-crawling sponsors (a tire company), they didn't see much to it, never even responded. The same company gives ~$5k/yr to rockcrawling teams to travel to 5+ events/yr and compete in a $30k buggy... an event with ALOT more direct exposure than going on personal trips and writing an article

I personally would never pay someone to travel to an event for my company... I'll go myself I

 

[neliconcept]

Again, I don't want to be a total pessimist (sp?)... but a company with money to do something like that... will be doing it themselves IMO. Why would they pay some guy to go out and have fun, when they can do it themselves or get others to do it for free?? I wish you the best luck with this, and you might be able to get a couple to bite, but not enough to travel coast to coast. At that you would have more sponsors than your could reasonably promote fairly, make sense?

A freind just left on trip that will take him nearly a year to complete, all vehicle based, a truly epic trip. While he didn't push the sponsor deal super hard, he still had a hard time with those he did approach, and this is a trip with more exposure/clout than 99% of us will ever go on. I hooked him up with one of my old competitive rock-crawling sponsors (a tire company), they didn't see much to it, never even responded. The same company gives ~$5k/yr to rockcrawling teams to travel to 5+ events/yr and compete in a $30k buggy... an event with ALOT more direct exposure than going on personal trips and writing an article

I personally would never pay someone to travel to an event for my company... I'll go myself I

well true with expeditions and general travel, my truck isnt only built for that either. Im going to be in some semi modified comp stuff if I can learn where to start with this 4runner.

But I have already kicked my foot in the door BFG in a way,

I know its harder then hell to get sponsors, but it doesnt hurt for me to ask and put my salesman attitude on with these people (i can sell most ppl a pile of #### and make them think its royalty) (ex carsalesmen, and electronic salesmen)

so I guess I'll just keep my head up and work with everybody.

thanks for all the advice and ill keep everything in mind.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

well true with expeditions and general travel, my truck isnt only built for that either. Im going to be in some semi modified comp stuff if I can learn where to start with this 4runner.

But I have already kicked my foot in the door BFG in a way,

I know its harder then hell to get sponsors, but it doesnt hurt for me to ask and put my salesman attitude on with these people (i can sell most ppl a pile of #### and make them think its royalty) (ex carsalesmen, and electronic salesmen)

so I guess I'll just keep my head up and work with everybody.

thanks for all the advice and ill keep everything in mind.

I really do wish you the best of luck... and its great to hear BFG is receptive. In my experience tire companies can be some of the most receptive and generous. Hope it works out!

 

[NorCalSam]

I certainly do not think you are being a pessimist or insulting in anyway. In fact, I really appreciate your opinion and insight on the subject. I too think that a company paying for you to drive across country and go to show for them doesn’t make since and is not very real. However, I think we would just disagree on the value and marketing effectiveness of advertising on vehicles.

Please don’t misunderstand my goal or intent. I am not expecting or hoping for Toyota and Shell to sponsor me and family so we can go or trips all over the place and such get a couple pics in small time magazine. It has to been the right vehicle, the right companies or type of companies and the right people.

What I am talking about is this and it won’t work for everyone. Develop relationships, and provide a service a little different unique and that dose nothing but benefit both parties involved, by showcasing there product or products, increasing there name recognition to a descent amount of people and on a daily basis, and hopefully sending them there way. I believe my service to be unique or different because no one around here has trucks like this. There are very few good looking built rigs in the area and all are jeeps. Most people around here have trailered trail only rigs now days and the one that are street legal probly shouldn’t be. I only know of one other daily driver/expedition overland rig in and around Auburn, Grass Valley, Nevada City and Colfax and that’s Luke Porters cool HZJ62. Also remember having a rig and actually using it are two entirely different things. It is my wife’s truck and she drives from Grass Valley to Auburn almost every day, this is one of the most heavily traveled SRs in Northern California then she parks it right on the side of the highway in front of her work and also near a stop light. Also we go to sanctioned events, small trail runs, small overland trips or expeditions with the NorCal Wagons witch are usually documented in someway. Teresa and I both have perfect driving records and are curious on aggressive drivers for the country. Moreover, Tree drives some of the trails, and we almost always take our young children with us even on 1 to 2 weeks overland trips.

We are constantly meeting people and talking to them about the truck, the mods/products, the places we’ve been etc. And in turn selling the products we use, everything from the Cruiser itself to the Labs rear bumper to the tires we run to the magazines we read. I think we have been providing a measurable value and were pretty good at it and would only be better if we steeped it up with decals etc. I’m not looking for a bunch of money or a handout I’m just looking a little help form some companies or people that appreciate and see the value in keeping us out on the road or trail selling there stuff. Because frankly I’m having a hard time absorbing the costs associated with all this and for all the good that I have done for these businesses out there I really shouldn’t be.

Years ago, about 9 10 years ago I ran into a guy in Grass Valley that had a clean really well built Jeep. I approached him and introduced myself not because of the Jeep but because I saw the he had several stickers on the rig and it looked to me that he must be advertising for them and most likely was being compensated in some way so I asked him if he was, and he told me that not all but most of the companies “comped” him stuff for it or paid him small amounts of money etc. So I continued to pick his brain about it, how much he made and how he did it etc. At the end of a year he was getting a little over a thousand dollars for displaing the sticks on his rig now that is not much but would help us a lot.

thanks for your input

 

[NorCalSam]

Highway 49 in Auburn traffic volume

Wow….I finally found the traffic volume stats for the area of SR49 that I am talking about

51,000 to 54,000 trips per day!

 

[NorCalSam]

I hope I did not kill this thread rambling too much about me and my rig or with my black humor.

But I am happy to say that I got my first sponsor today a local Toyota dealership and I just wanted to share that with you all. He feels like there is value in this kind of service more so in or for small overland companies. :wings: :shakin:

And this is only the second business I asked. But I did it in person.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I hope I did not kill this thread rambling too much about me and my rig or with my black humor.

But I am happy to say that I got my first sponsor today a local Toyota dealership and I just wanted to share that with you all. He feels like there is value in this kind of service more so in or for small overland companies. :wings: :shakin:

And this is only the second business I asked. But I did it in person.

Thats great, what kind of sponsorship did they offer?

 

[neliconcept]

Thats great, what kind of sponsorship did they offer?

yes im curious, sounds like a good deal. I may have to the same, if possible.

 

[NorCalSam]

Parts and services basically

We are talking 35% discount on all parts any day any time and all labor at there cost (witch is like a 60% discount) this will include all service from the body shop too. They have like the largest body shop in NorCal. Up to like $2,500 dollars a year. For a small ad on the truck. The Body shop would do more for me If I needed it basically I think they would take care of me.

This is what I was looking for from them. I also can learn a lot about this stuff from him because …..Well he knows a lot more about doing this sort of thing than me.

He told me he sponsors or pay someone money for a large or main ad on a car so I could find out how much he pays and that would help me etc.

 

[SAR_Squid79]

I entered my truck into a contest a couple of years ago, right after I had installed the Supercharger and a few other mods - i.e. my truck was nowhere near where it is now.

Well I won one of the sponsorship spots, but they were going to put 20" rims on my truck with stupid tires, and all this stereo and speaker crap, and basically just a bunch of BS that did not contribute to, and in fact detracted from the Off-Road capability of my rig.

I politely told them - Thanks, but no thanks.