help with sponsorship

[tmadden]

Need help from some of you experts on how to put a proposal together for local sponsorship of my Project 67 Camaro. Hope to do some hot mods and make a show car out of it.

[Nine Ball]

Here is some light reading:

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11291

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13370

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18495

[DRJDVM's '69]

I got some sponsorhsip for my current '70 Cuda build. I put together a nice resume of the car (rendering, specs, show plan, previous car exposure etc) and talked to alot of people at SEMA. I was honest with the build schedule and the intentions of the car.

Basically you can consider it a job interview. If you present a detailed plan, in a professional way, people will take you seriously. If you just ask for free stuff and are unprepared, forget it. You may talk to dozens of companies and only get few bites, but thats the way it goes. You dont always get the job.

Basically 99% of the sponsorship I've gotten is discounted stuff, not free, and I'm not going to order anything until the car is pretty far along and I really need the parts. That way the sponsor can see I'm on track before I formally enact the deal by ordering the parts. Most of the parts will be at cost or dealer prices, so the company is covered if something goes wrong. They cant really lose $$. I prefer not to get free stuff..... that way they dont "own me" for alot of $$.

I'm very commited to projects and would only bail if I had no choice, and if I did I would live by my word and take care of the sponsors no matter what. When all is said and done, my name and reputation is more important to me than a car (and I'm just a private builder, not a pro)

It is kind of like "selling your soul" allittle, but I see it as allowing me to take the car one level higher than i could do myself. Believe me, I'm gonna still dump a ton of my own $$ into the car, but sponsorhsip is gonna allow me to go a couple of step farther.

I was also very honest with my show schedule. I'm only going to do west coast shows and shows I'm probably gonna do anyway, so travel is a mute point as far as I'm concerned. I'm not gonna do big long distance hauls that I wouldnt do anyway, just to get some cheaper parts.

I also have an advantage as I'm building a custom Mopar...there just arent as many out there. Its alittle more unique and a more open market for companies. If you plan on building a 1st gen Camaro or a Nova or Chevelle etc, you had better be something special...the bar is so high for those cars, its really hard to set yourself apart unless you are a big time builder with a huge budget.

[slck6t9]

Great insight and response Ned.

[awr68]

Nice Ned...couldn't agree more! I have had some help along the way too...but it doesn't come close to the out of pocket it still takes to build one of these cars!

[ProdigyCustoms]

Very good Ned. I agree with everything except the talking to people at SEMA about sponsorship. This is actually the number one no - no, the most hated practice a manufacturer deals with at the show, is someone with a proposal looking for sponsorship be it free or a deal. Those manufacturers are spending sometimes $100K to be there to sell product to WDs and dealers. One of my friends figured out his cost to be at SEMA, $46 per minute! PER MINUTE!!!! think about for a second! 76 cents per second! They are not spending that money to give product away. I caution anyone that considers going to SEMA, or any other trade show for that matter, looking for sponsorship. Most all of these proposals piss off the manufacturer and they go in the trash. I know of at least one manufacturer who found someone that was "got in" by a shop, and turned him in. In reality potential sponsors should never be approached in atmospheres in which they have spent money to be there, including car shows. Again, they spend money to be there so they can sell parts. And no matter how great your project, and how great a marketing opportunity your project is for that manufacturer, you need to wait until they are somewhere it does not cost them money to talk to you, like at their home base. Talking to them about sponsorship at a event would be the same as asking them to buy you dinner so you have some place to discuss this!

Sponsorship is hard to get, but I can assure you your chances are much better if you do the request in the proper atmosphere.

Ned, I was trying to pick on you, sorry

[Garage Dog 65]

Interesting insite Frank - we could have easily blundered into that one without your guidance. Thx !! :thumbsup:

[Nine Ball]

Interesting perspective Frank, but that doesn't apply to everyone. When I go to SEMA, the vendors that I know ask me what i'm working on and if they can help with the project. Mostly because they know I'll get them plenty of coverage and referrals. I do agree that unknown builders would probably get frowned on by those SEMA booth staffers though. I'm sure your industry contacts ask you what you are working on too :yes:

[ProdigyCustoms]

Interesting perspective Frank, but that doesn't apply to everyone. When I go to SEMA, the vendors that I know ask me what i'm working on and if they can help with the project. Mostly because they know I'll get them plenty of coverage and referrals. I do agree that unknown builders would probably get frowned on by those SEMA booth staffers though. I'm sure your industry contacts ask you what you are working on too :yes:

Well, I was not going to bring that up, but yes. When your known for being at the show, known builder, dealer for the products, absolutly tha manufacturer will approach you with a "whats new". I will even "mention" a new project sometimes. But those are quick conversations and I am quick to get out of the way of a potential new custmer or another dealer needing to check out the new products on display.

I guess what I am refering to is the unknown shops and retail public. I do not want to say those need to operate differently, but I guess they have to operate differently.

[DRJDVM's '69]

I'm fine Frank...not offended or felt picked on at all..

For most of us small time guys thats the only opportunity to network with some of the reps for some of these companies. I felt like it was the only way to "get my foot in the door" and even find out who to talk to about sponsorship. Sending random emails or making random phone calls usually gets you nowhere. Meeting face to face has much more impact. Theres no other place that I could do that.

I've always been a firm believer in "if you want something to happen, you have to go out and make it happen".Sometimes that means "pushing the envelope alittle", which I guess I did to some extent.

I personally tried to be very courteous and keep my conversation short and to the point and just make a quick contact, hand them my resume and get a name and a way to contact them to discuss the possibility more. I made it a point to not interfere with their business since I fully appreicate what SEMA is really meant to be for these companies.

I made a quick contact and then made sure I followed up with that contact after SEMA and I even waited until after PRI was over.

99% of the reps were great and seemed very eager and willing to talk about the project. Some did kinda brush me off as "thats fine, but lets discuss this some other time/place" and I was fine with that. ALot of time the reps were just sitting "zoning out" and seemed eager to discuss an actual car and not just selling a product. Yes that time costs $$ but if the guy is just standing there staring into space, whats the difference if he's talking to me or zoning out....the $$ clock is still running. Lets face it....there is alot of "down time" of doing nothng for alot of these reps.

I dont think I pissed anyone off or stepped on any toes...at least I hope I didnt.

[rwhite692]

.....I've always been a firm believer in "if you want something to happen, you have to go out and make it happen"......



Truer words were never spoken....:thumbsup: