Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Can anyone offer some advice on how to approach companies for sponsorship and what things we should be asking for. Trying to setup a car for serious comp work.

Drew
Thats a good question. I would be interested to see what people recomend.

Firstly you need to beable to tell them what they will get out of it.

Since they will be spending money they like anyone will want to know what their dollars is going to buy them.

How much it is going to cost them and what your rig will be and look like as everyone wants good things to be remembered about their company. Its all about image.

Guts
Thats what I thought. Its all about marketing and fair enough too. Its the old you sctatch my back and I'll scratch yours, but with $.

You need to be a sales man to get really good deals with sponsorship.

The more you can sell yourself and your rig the better.

You also need to be prepaired to do things that you might not really want to do. Like make your rig all prudy.

I don't mind painting it pink as long as I can put flaps on the rear. :wink: :wink:

Guts
You sound like you have some experience in this field. Which side of the fence do you sit on.

Sorry fellas pink is out of the question. What sort of things should we be asking for or expecting to recieve from sponsors.

They want a return on their investment and you want as many $ as you can get. So may the best man win. Oh yeah and if you have to paint it pink you need a charge account for the local brothel.

I`m sponsored by Snake Racing

Guts
I dont want all the nity grities but what sort of things do you get or ask 4? I dont want to be asking for 2 much and burn deals, or get 2 little and burn myself mind you anything is a help i understand that.

I get a good deal

Fair enough, i appreciate you telling me what you can its good to be able to speak to and get some info no matter how little from someone who is in the know. It is all a help!

Cool

Don`t mean to be rude or anything but the deal we have is between us. I`m shore you understand that.

you need some kind of backing, you need to be able to say i won this this and this and come second in that. Ruff and I have talked with Rob from mickey thompson about sponsorship and basically it is hard to get and even harder to keep, they want to see you preform and preform well, like guts said they want returns. I know with tyres it is 4 sets a year at cost price.

NICK

Guts wrote:Cool

Don`t mean to be rude or anything but the deal we have is between us. I`m shore you understand that.

Drew, what he means is, Ryan wont tell his wife what he spent, guts wont tell his and they will make deals over bourbon



NICK

LOL @ Nick

But there is only one problem with that Nick, Rhino DOESN`T drink. So I`d end up mageted and he`d be getting the good deal by the end of the night

We have spoken to a few buisnesses currently working on our local Nissan dealer, he seems keen to help and has offered his support, i guess spares might be the go here, we were also thinking along the lines of vouchers and merchandise then having some sort of raffle any sugestions

Guts wrote:LOL @ Nick

But there is only one problem with that Nick, Rhino DOESN`T drink. So I`d end up mageted and he`d be getting the good deal by the end of the night

or you could say "raw end of the stick"


NICK

drew wrote:we were also thinking along the lines of vouchers and merchandise then having some sort of raffle any sugestions

i have found that alot of places will have no problem with giving away shirts, hats etc as they do not pay for them (as in dealerships) and it is free advertising for them and often you will recieve parts at a huge discount. It is a return for both parties with next to no out lay.

My sponsor gives me what i want (my wife), but damn it costs me.

If you're going to have multiple sponsers, make sure that the signwriting on the car is in accordance with the value ($) you are getting from that sponser. For instance, if one place gives you some shirts and hats, and another gives you $1000 in cash or work done to your truck, it wouldn't be fair on the second company if the first one got larger and more visable signwriting. That would probably p!ss off a company, and you'd more than likely lose that sponsership. Hope it goes well for you Drew, and hope to see you and your truck at some of the comps. Are you thinking of doing the Outback Challenge? I was there last year as an official, but this year I'm going as a spectator.

I have people ring me asking the same question all the time.

You need a resume that summarizes , you, the vehicle, past accompplishments, what you will be entering for the year, mods you are doing or endevour doing, and most of all what you can offer that company.

Remember that the company has survived without you B4 so you need to show them that you are a viable proposition and will increse sales of there product.

When confronting a company dont ask for too much, be too pushy or pig headed as most companies get asked for sponsorship all the time and think you are another greedy dikhead.

You also need to believe in the product you will be using, because you will be a 7 day aweek 24 hr a day salesman, so make sure it is a good product that you are happy with too.

My sponsers get people asking all the time, so remember you are one of many, so you need to have an edge over the others.



Happy hunting.

drew wrote:We have spoken to a few buisnesses currently working on our local Nissan dealer, he seems keen to help and has offered his support, i guess spares might be the go here, we were also thinking along the lines of vouchers and merchandise then having some sort of raffle any sugestions

Drew Give me a call, 0419 304 176

Steve Rowlandson

drew wrote:Can anyone offer some advice on how to approach companies for sponsorship and what things we should be asking for. Trying to setup a car for serious comp work.

If you wish to clarify anything PM me but

I'll give you some tips...

1: treat the whole exercise like a resume for a job
2: realise companies get approached everyday...
3: the phone is not the way to do it other than get a contact for submission

4: structure your resume simply (IF YOU WANT IT BACK ENCLOSE A SASE)
4:1: who are you? vehicle specs, pics (QUALITY counts), past achievements, future committments and A SUCCINCT summation of what you are offering and what level of suppport you would envisage.

5: how you reflect yourself in public, be it in person, or on the net all counts towards credibility.

6: understand the difference between sponsorship and support

7: understand that an element of luck and timing is involved with budgets and planning

8: if you do snag something... KEEP YOUR supporter informed JUST DONT DISAPPEAR and presume they saw you or heard about you at XYZ challenge!

9: realise you have a responsibility & obligation and reputations are carried for a long time. i check and cross check everything and so do a lot of companies... we all talk about this crap at trade shows... and there are "blacklists"

I aint sponsered in 4wd but I am in another sport, and the best and most simple way to thinik of it is:

"what you can provide for them"

Don't think its your god forsaken right to be sponsered cause you are good, its all about what they get out of it, plus they do have to like you for them to even consider you.

AVGAS454
Definately some good tips there i will make a copy and put in in my 4x4 bible. You are certainly right about not disapearing, and keeping your sponsors in the picture.

I try to disappear but they keep tracking me down, like some wilder beast.
I have 2 sponsers that are regular posters on this BB.
Sorry all I have to say it, Peter from Lightforce and Hayden from Alpine offroad. 8)

Catzook wrote:

I don't mind painting it pink as long as I can put flaps on the rear.

Catzook If its pink an has Flaps Give Libra a call, in the least they'll stop all the leaks !!

AVGAS PUT THAT DOWN ,You might take an eye out !

Cheesey and Avgas thanks. I'm a newbie to this and your answers are right on the money. I hope

When you don't know what do do for sponsorship guys like you are great for ideas and input. Thanks for your ideas they make sense.