samples/sponsorship

[dsmblack]

Recently, I have had several request for samples or people wanting me to sponsor them. A couple has offered to promote my baits by wearing patches etc. Some have just sent emails requesting samples. I have sent out some samples to a few of the people and never heard back from them. (I think a make a really good product so I would hope it wasn't because they did'nt like them). One guy had said he had used my baits and they outperformed the others he was using, and of the requests, I think I have met only one of them at a hunting and fishing show. Most of these request are from people half way across the country. I am not opposed to sending some baits or lots of bait to the right person, but I would rather it be someone that I know, have met or at least used my baits. Actually I would rather sponsor someone on the local level if I was going to do it. As many of you know hand pouring can be very time consuming and depending on how many molds a person has, several packs of baits can be costly. How do some of you guys handle this? Thanks, Donnie.

[yankee jigger]

I touched on this subject in a different thread.

Im launching a new website in a couple weeks to start my own jig company.

I just secured web hosting($9.95 a month) and am gonna check up on business cards today.

My wife printed up a small label that will go with every jig i sent out with my name and website on it.

Im gonna be giving a few,probably a hundred or so to some friends to give to people they know just to get my name out.

Ill probably never hear from most and dont expect to.Just trying to get my stuff out there.

If you want to just stick with the local guys,i say do it.It all depends on your goals.

Could just be people wanting free baits.

[nova]

Yup; there's nothing like free.

This subject has been touched on before. If I remember correctly the someone came up with a good idea of selling the baits to your sponsors at cost + shipping. That will weed out the "grabbers".

Last year I had a guy ask if I would sponsor him and his partner in a major tourny (not local). I told him I would and what the deal was. In the deal there was 50 packs for him and his partner and another 30 for giveaways; gave him a price of $50 and never heard from him again.

www.novalures.com

[VARick]

When I was playing tournament paintball and before that racing cars and looking for sponsorship, the manufacturers would always ask for a resume. What have you done on a local/national level? If someone is just starting out the only thing they may have to offer is local tournaments or races, which might be ok for you, but always there was a cost involved. Usually cost of the part(s) plus shipping and you had to provide monthly updates on your entries and finishes. Once I moved up to national tournaments or races I had those costs come down and at a major tournament (paintball) the sponsor might be there and give (I was with a team) us free paint for the tournament, and if we went deep into the tournament that got expensive dollar wise. As they say in NASCAR, what wins on Sunday, sells on Monday.

There was always someone out there wanting to be sponsored but did not put in the time to get the results that might benefit the sponsor.

If I were a manufacturer I would certainly be looking for return on investment.. ie results in tournaments, name recognition as well as the small things. What does the person return to the sport? Such as talking at conventions, baitshop seminars etc. where a shirt with your name on it is prominently displayed. You definately need something in return for those countless hours of work and research. Good luck to those make that commitment, I wish you all the success you deserve.

Rick

[alsworms]

Yup; there's nothing like free.

In the deal there was 50 packs for him and his partner and another 30 for giveaways; gave him a price of $50 and never heard from him again.

www.novalures.com

Great example Nil. God I wish I had a dime for every time I've come across a deal like that! Sadly, most of these requested sponsorships are looking for freebies; nothing more.

Bottom line is this: you send out samples to 50 people and you might hear back from one of them. Doesn't matter how good your product is.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but be very careful when sending out freebies. After years of hard-learned lessons, I've finally come up with (what I think) is a pretty good deal. I offer them a 25% discount and free shipping for orders of 50.00 or more. If I don't hear from them in a 4-month period, they're back to full price. I expect to get some kind of feedback at least 3 times per year. If they can't handle those terms, they can find another sponsor!

Oh yeah......lots of those guys will ask for samples before agreeing to those terms. Your answer is simple....."Unfortunately, I'm not able to do that. If you'd like to place an order now, I'll be happy to take the 25% discount off immediately". That should separate the goods and the bads rather quickly.

Sorry for the novel. This is a very touchy subject for me. LOL

[dsmblack]

Hey guys thanks for the input. I've got one guy who I met at a show a year ago and was in the military at the time. He has emailed wanting sponsorship and he seems sincere, however he lives in Florida and fishes mostly in Florida. The problem is, and some of you will agree, that when you pour on a part time basis, like I do, if this guy does promote your baits as he says, and it does turn into alot of order, do I want to spend all my time pouring or fishing. I wouldn't mind doing something with him on a limited basis, but again I would rather do it more on a local level. Thanks again for all the responses. you guys have really helped me alot over the past year or so, with all you knowledge and willingness to help.

[Sammy]

Howdy folks, my question has nothing to do with sponsorship,but samples for a tackle shop.Do you guys that pour get many requests from tackle shops looking for samples of your baits?

Sammy

[Delw]

Like Nove said sponsorship is a big joke. Everything wants something for nothing, they will tell you anything you want to hear just to get free stuff.

No offence to anyone in the military, but when they start playing the military card its just another way to get crap for free.

most guys that are sincere will never play the military card, race card , I am a kid card, I am a firefighter card, I am a cop card etc. they throw that in only to give them an edge into geting something for free.

Same thing goes for pros, if they really want your product they will buy it use it and if it works for them they will but it again.

sorry if it sounds so negitive, but everyone thinks cause you are a manufacturer that you can give everything away for free. Especially friends they are the worse ones.

[basskat]

I've got a solution to this problem, just send all your free baits to me!

[dampeoples]

I'm of the opinion that if someone wants to be sponsored, which is a joint deal between you and the fisherman, then the relationship should start out with you making a good product, and the fisherman finding out about your baits, fishing them, then asking. Why would I want to sponsor someone who just found my site on the net, and now wants me to send them free stuff? I think these folks need to earn what they get, be it a discount or free baits.

[D.J.]

I am in the same boat as a lot of you guys. I get a lot of free requests. I generally don't do it. I have two sponsored anglers on a local level. I give them quite a bit of free stuff, but they also promote my stuff very well during tournaments and with tournament shirts, hats, and decals. They also give me imput, on what they like/dislike about the baits. They also give me great ideas on color combinations and new bait ideas. I have also given away 20-30 packs to some local bass clubs to distribute at meetings and for drawings. My reasoning is that the more people who initially get their hands on my product, will be more apt to buy it when they see it at the tackle store. Whatever you do, do not over extend yourself on the amount of product you are physically and financially able to provide.

[Predator Bass Baits]

I sponsor a local tournament here,

You can get full sponsorship of $100 per 7 tourneys and get your banner up at the tournament and be mentioned and get your website on theirs and when fliers are sent out your on them as well, Mine will take gift certificates for your product or $

Or a

Medium sponsor, with no banner and no fliers for $50 each

Or

Minor sponsorship, and be mentioned at the tournament and you give what ever you can give.

About 65 boats in this tournament

[jmik26]

Thanks for your opinions guys, as always gaining the experiences from guys that have been doing this for a long time is easier and less costly then making the mistake yourself. Our company has recently been contacted by a junior bass angler for sponsorship and he really didn't ask for much. Maybe I should reconsider? We did sponsor a local T-Ball team and that was pretty cool to see the little kids running around with the names on there shirts.

[Mattlures]

You guys are way too nice. I dont even respond to those emails (I average about 2 a week)unless I recognize they are from one of the top pros on tour and then they get a discount but not free. Stores get a price sheet with photos unless they aleady have an account with me and they buy alot then I have no problem sending them samples.

[mickeyg]

Junior Sponsonships

I haven't sponsored any individuals kids but I might sponsor one or two this year because I know them and there parents pretty well. Past couple years I have sponsored the MN Junior Champions anglers at the Junior Bassmaster World Championship. Pretty cool to see a kid with my logo on his shirt and he is standing next to Rick Clunn. I also give a box or two of lures at the beginning of the year to give out the about the half dozen junior bass clubs.

Pro Staff

I have only added 1 in the last two years. Most of them are local guys that I have fished against. I don't even consider email any more unless they give me specifics of how they have used my lures. No experience fishing my lures...and how do you plan to promote and sell them?

Free Handouts Requests

Very few if any these days. Have heard the "my club" and they never turn into sales and rarely get a thank you. Most of the free stuff I gave away are part of my Fishers of Men tournament trail sponsorship.

[Shawn M]

Del,

It would be a very slim minority that would pull a "military card" to try and get something for free.

I've been serving in the US Air Force for 19 1/2 years and I assure you my fellow service members, in all branches, do not serve for free stuff. We do it out of such things as "duty", "commitment", "service before self", I could go on.

I wake up every morning pround of the men and women that serve and have served before me. I serve, by serving I mean I serve my superiors, my subordinates, and my great Nation. That is what I have been doing since I was a 17 year old kid.

Maybe you had a bad experience, there are bad apples in every walk of society, but "cards"?!?

I apologize for getting on a soapbox, but this is just insulting.

By the way, I don't list military or USAF as on occupation on my profile because it is not a job, it's who I am.

Done.

Shawn

Like Nove said sponsorship is a big joke. Everything wants something for nothing, they will tell you anything you want to hear just to get free stuff.

No offence to anyone in the military, but when they start playing the military card its just another way to get crap for free.

most guys that are sincere will never play the military card, race card , I am a kid card, I am a firefighter card, I am a cop card etc. they throw that in only to give them an edge into geting something for free.

Same thing goes for pros, if they really want your product they will buy it use it and if it works for them they will but it again.

sorry if it sounds so negitive, but everyone thinks cause you are a manufacturer that you can give everything away for free. Especially friends they are the worse ones.

[rxfish]

I wouldn't have to pour anymore if I had the money I spent on handing out free samples but because I can't make connections with people in some parts of the country I send them. But now I say that if they get me into some of the shops in their area, then I can send them more, and its working. I am sponsoring 1 young kid in Missouri who is fishing the Junior Bassmaster circuit and did in fact send me a resume. Who knows, he may be another Gary Klein. I keep tract of the freebees I send and list it under advertising and if they don't produce an order its not a total loss. And another tid bit for you. 2 worms in a worm bag in a business size envelope mailed anywhere in the U.S. is 52 cents and considered not machinable mail. And I had 3000 requests in the last 2 weeks. You do the math.

[alsworms]

Del,

It would be a very slim minority that would pull a "military card" to try and get something for free.

I've been serving in the US Air Force for 19 1/2 years and I assure you my fellow service members, in all branches, do not serve for free stuff. We do it out of such things as "duty", "commitment", "service before self", I could go on.

I wake up every morning pround of the men and women that serve and have served before me. I serve, by serving I mean I serve my superiors, my subordinates, and my great Nation. That is what I have been doing since I was a 17 year old kid.

Maybe you had a bad experience, there are bad apples in every walk of society, but "cards"?!?

I apologize for getting on a soapbox, but this is just insulting.

By the way, I don't list military or USAF as on occupation on my profile because it is not a job, it's who I am.

Done.

Shawn

Let me just saying something here Shawn. First off, I'm damn proud of every one of you in the military serving our country. Thank you very much!!

Having said that, perhaps "card" was a bad choice of words, but I have received countless emails over the years from people claiming to be in the military to get free baits. This questions my belief in whether or not they really ARE in the military, because I believe a dedicated soldier would not resort to such tactics for a few plastic baits. Not defending or trying to speak for Del, but I believe this is what he meant on his post.

Peace Out!