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| The Other Side Of Sponsorhips; Interesting article | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 14 2008, 02:16 PM (310 Views) | |
| renegade | Feb 14 2008, 02:16 PM Post #1 |
Administrator
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The Other Side Of Sponsorhips Author:Steve Masters It seems that most tournament fishermen are willing to stop just short of selling their souls to be sponsored. I was recently on a website that had several tournament fishermen listed and their sponsors. Some of these guys had eight or ten sponsors and have never left the ranks of the weekend tournament circuits. Out of curiosity and maybe a bit of envy I started looking at some of the pro staff sections of their sponsor’s websites. I stopped looking after three. The first join our pro staff page told me they would love to have me be a part of their team. All I had to do was sell $500 worth of their products to receive a window sticker and a 50% discount. I’d be watched over by a pro staff director and could be terminated if I didn’t continue to prove my worth. The next one also had a hitch. To climb aboard their team you only had to purchase a $200 starter pack which was not even $200 worth of baits. It also included stickers, fliers, and other promotional items that they expect you to buy from them, then give away. The next was the same as above except a bit less expensive at $150. It amazes me that they have people wanting sponsorship so badly that they would buy it. I’m not shy when it comes to spending money on fishing but I would have to buy $400 worth of their bait just to break even, when all I would have to do is work an extra day at my job and have more than 50% of what I would have spent with them, but then I couldn’t tell turn everyone green with envy at how successful I am at gaining sponsors. If you fish the top level tours you already know the ins and outs, but if like me you rarely if ever compete out of your home state you’d be far better of to seek sponsorship from local companies, preferably from someone you already know, or even better forget the idea completely. Sponsorship takes up a lot of time and even money. You may offer or be asked to put fliers on windshields at a large tournament for example. How many baits at a 50% discount would you have to buy to justify the travel time, gas, and time it takes to put fliers on a couple of hundred windshields? Sponsors are looking at this also. If they were to provide you with $1,000 in entry fees how many baits would you have to personally be responsible for being sold would it take for them to start showing a profit on their investment in you? For the vast majority sponsorship is not feasible. Most of us would be far better of to work on improving our skills instead of trying to impress other anglers with our patches and stickers. I’m not saying all tackle companies are like this or that no sponsorships should be considered. I have one sponsor, and enjoy helping him out what I can. I’m just saying don’t expect sponsor to smother you with discounts and entry fees just because you are sporting their logo on your truck, boat, and shirt. They will give you the stickers but expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $150 for their tournament shirt. |
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| Bronzeback | Feb 17 2008, 01:32 PM Post #2 |
Smelt
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As far as sponsorship is concerned, I think, unless you are on one of the bigger circuits, or are incredibly successful, it is best to stick to local buisinesss. Even then it is tough unless you are on the podium once in a while in order to mention and thank your sponsors giving them a form of advertising. Since I was fortunate enough to finish well in a few larger tournaments I have had a little success with sponsorship, but certainly just a drop in the bucket when it comes to total expenses. I can usually garner about 500-1000 dollars in cash sponsorship by prospecting local buisinesses for the Fort Francis Bass, plus a few little extras like oil and tackle, but that is about it. Crestliner, gave me and my Fort partner an assortment of free Crestliner merch, including some great tournament shirts, but aside from looking professional it really does nothing to help the pocket book.  I do know, however, of a few local guys who get quite a bit of their gas (co-op) covered through sponsorship, which in this day and age is a biggie, but only a half dozen guys, and only if they stay consistently in the top 5 in big tournaments. One bad year and they may be back to the bottom with the rest of us  . Rod, reel and bait companies sometimes donate some free equipment if you push them enough and have some street cred, and you could get a nice rig as a loaner if you are lucky enough to get signed on with a big manufacturers's name, but it takes a lot of dedication and hard work and a little luck to attain that goal ( see Davis Viehbeck  ) and you pretty much have to live and breath fishing. At the end of the day, only the elite top fishermen in the area have access to these types of remuneration. My point is, that in northern Ontario there is some sponsorship money and merch available, but it is hard to come by and you need to prove yourself in some area of fishing, be it expertise (consistent top finishes) advertising (you are affialiated with newspaper or radio) or some other quality that can help a company sell more merchandise. That really is the bottom line. How can you help a company become more succuessful. At least, that is the question they are asking.If you do find yourself lucky enough to get some good sponsorship, just remember that it is not a free ride. Mention and thank your sponsors every chance you get (podium preferably) and be a good role model and strong ambassador for the product. A few great little speeches goes a long way to keeping a sponsor in your corner through a bad (unlucky) year. BB. |
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| Stinkbait | Feb 17 2008, 09:51 PM Post #3 |
DINK MASTER
  ![]](http://209.85.62.24/static/1/pip_r.png)
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I prefer to pay my own way...that way I have no one to impress but myself! Or should I say disapoint!lol Stinkbait Edited by Stinkbait, Feb 17 2008, 09:52 PM.
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| chevy man | Feb 17 2008, 10:25 PM Post #4 |
Walleye
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i agree i would rather pay my own, in case something happens you dont have to answer to no one but yourself 
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| GET R DONE | Feb 17 2008, 11:32 PM Post #5 |
Fishin' for Loch Ness
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agreed with you guys. |
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| davis viehbeck | Feb 19 2008, 05:37 PM Post #6 |
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Larvae
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Guys, Trust me, there are some major benefits to working with fishing industry companies or non-endemic companies (car dealerships, etc). I'm really fortunate to work with some of the most reputable brands in the fishing industry, and I can say that the companies I work with really do take care of me. Yes, there are time commitments and to a lesser extent some financial commitments, but the companies I represent are behind me 100% and that's what counts. A number of my promotional agreements with companies started as business relationships and have turned into friendships which is great too! Most companies will attest that it's more important to them to have a respectable, clean cut angler that's willing to answer questions, assist dealers and promote product through writing, public speaking, guiding and tournament angling than it is to have one hot shot tournament angler that wins all the time. I can tell you that I wouldn't be able to fish the way I do now without the support of my promotional partners, these guys have been great to me and I'd go out of my way to help them out in any way. -Davis V. Edited by davis viehbeck, Feb 19 2008, 05:39 PM.
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