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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
   
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Let me preface this by saying that I am a firm believer in not asking for a hand out and I work my tail off to make extra to show, etc. I think you should earn your way.
Last year, as a writer, I sponsored a youth barrel racer who I know personally that's not a big name but her family works extremely hard and they make their own horses which I respect greatly.
I also sponsored a small horse horse show in SC.
For me personally, I like the grass roots approach of sponsoring the nobodies of the world. Kind of like the same approach Big & Rich took with Musik Mafia in helping talent that wasn't known. A person doesn't have to be well known or even the best - they just have to be someone I believe in and a hard worker doing all they can. I like helping someone like that
From a business stand point it makes sense to me too because you don't have to be famous to get the word out about something - you just have to talk a lot and know enough people. Plus, the average person is relatable on a different level to the majority of people out there.
I'm not the only one that thinks this way as I've recently read about plus size athletes in Australia that have gotten big sponsorships because they are someone that the public can relate to first hand.
But I know some folks won't even consider a sponsorship unless a person is well known and made some big titles.
So my question is, from a business standpoint or competitor standpoint,.what qualifies a person for sponsorship? Titles won? Celebrity status? Or something else?
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Expert
Posts: 2531
 
Location: WI | A business will look for a return on their investment. If someone is in the public eye and will advertise your products, that will lead to more sales. If you are a nobody, but can show that you will increase their revenue, presence, etc. I think you have a chance. |
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | From a business standpoint I don't do sponsorships even though I'm asked quite often. I'm more than happy to donate prints and occasionally an original piece to benefits for people I know or organizations that I believe in locally. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| from a business standpoint if I am going to sponsor local they not only need to be winning and the talk of the town but have a sterling reputation and be someone that others can look up to and depend on. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | RodeoCowgirl4u - 2015-03-19 3:40 PM
from a business standpoint if I am going to sponsor local they not only need to be winning and the talk of the town but have a sterling reputation and be someone that others can look up to and depend on.
Exactly this. We usually sponsor awards and race added money. |
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 Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
Location: Way up North | I work for a small company that has started to get pretty involved in sponsorships. Last year we sponsored several races within our state and we sponsored some entries for individuals. This year so far we have sponsored a nationally recognized name and have been looking at what we would like to do for races and other individuals. At the end of the day it really comes down to what we have available for advertising dollars and what we are looking to accomplish with them.
I will say the difference in response we get from the nationally recognized name verses the races and more locally recognized names is night and day. We sponsor the local races and riders more out of good will than actually getting a return on investment. The nationally recognized name generates a much greater response which is to be expected, they have a much bigger reach and are more respected.
If someone is looking to be sponsored the best thing they can do is show a business just what it is they can do for them. Are you going to slap a patch on your shirt for one run and then forget about us? Or are you going to wear our patch, put us on your website, share us on Facebook, put decals on your rig, etc? How many followers do you have on social media? How many races do you attend and where? Do you put on clinics and hand out our literature in grab bags? Don't expect to get much if you are going to give much. Do you currently use our product so you know it's a good, high quality product or are you just looking for an easy paycheck? I am not a fan of sponsoring people who do not use and know our product, it makes no sense to me to advocate something you don't use yourself so I do not want to pay someone to do the same.
I am not sure why so many people want/think they need to be sponsored? It is a big responsibility that needs to be taken seriously. If you go out and find a company to give you money for your hobby and then you do a p--- poor job of it which leaves a bad taste they are never going to want to sponsor you or a barrel race again and those sponsorships are where we get those awesome added money pots and awards. The company I work for has offered to sponsor me numerous times but I do not feel comfortable taking the money. I am not a well known and widely respected trainer and I don't feel right taking money for my side hobby not to mention you lose your amature status taking sponsorships and I would like to show some breed shows in the future. |
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 Stinky Cat Owner
Posts: 4097
Location: Oregon | I receive sponsor and/or donation requests daily via email and Facebook messages and for me, whether this is wrong or right, I am more apt to consider a donation of something to your cause IF you are a regular and/or consistent customer of mine. I always appreciate a person that is friendly, hard working and will genuinely help promote my business via Facebook, word of mouth, arena announcements, etc. I couldn’t care less how fancy your truck/trailer/tack is but if you are a polite, hard working person that cares about and takes care of your horse, you are someone I’d want to be associated with. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I want to sponsor someone that is talented, determined, and severely limited by lack of money. I also want to approach them, not be approached. |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | Fairweather - 2015-03-19 3:12 PM Let me preface this by saying that I am a firm believer in not asking for a hand out and I work my tail off to make extra to show, etc. I think you should earn your way.
Last year, as a writer, I sponsored a youth barrel racer who I know personally that's not a big name but her family works extremely hard and they make their own horses which I respect greatly.
I also sponsored a small horse horse show in SC.
For me personally, I like the grass roots approach of sponsoring the nobodies of the world. Kind of like the same approach Big & Rich took with Musik Mafia in helping talent that wasn't known. A person doesn't have to be well known or even the best - they just have to be someone I believe in and a hard worker doing all they can. I like helping someone like that
From a business stand point it makes sense to me too because you don't have to be famous to get the word out about something - you just have to talk a lot and know enough people. Plus, the average person is relatable on a different level to the majority of people out there.
I'm not the only one that thinks this way as I've recently read about plus size athletes in Australia that have gotten big sponsorships because they are someone that the public can relate to first hand.
But I know some folks won't even consider a sponsorship unless a person is well known and made some big titles.
So my question is, from a business standpoint or competitor standpoint,.what qualifies a person for sponsorship? Titles won? Celebrity status? Or something else?
Sponsoring someone that is working hard and you feel deserves it, is different than someone wanting a handout because their hobby is too expensive for their pocket book. Its different when you offer vs. them asking. I think its great you did that and beside the $ factor it probably was a huge moral boost to the girl, that you thought she was worthy. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | classicpotatochip - 2015-03-19 4:54 PM I want to sponsor someone that is talented, determined, and severely limited by lack of money. I also want to approach them, not be approached.
Hey, let me introduce myself. LOL.
Just kidding. As a contestant, I would be honored to be approached, but I'd have a really hard time being sponsored by a business or company that I didn't purchase from. If my local Co-op, Flair strips, Back on Track, Forco, THE, Healthy Coat or SmartPak approached me, I'd be on that in a heartbeat because I use all of those products and believe in them, so it's easy for me to promote things like that that I use.
Just my little Facebook page selling some polo wraps on a very limited basis gets regular requests for sponsorship and I tell everyone the same thing: I sponsor myself and that's all. Most of these people have never puchased a set of wraps from me. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | Nothing irks me more than when someone seeks sponsorship from a company that they have no relationship with! I have never understood why it is that people think that a company with which they have no relationship would be willing to give them a hand out. I receive many product and service sponsorships. Those have come to me because I both used and promoted those products and services long before any of them were given to me for free. As a professional, I also offer a select number of sponsorships. Those also go to people whom I have an already established relationship with. They don't have to be the most successful people, but those who will be enthusiastic supporters of my business, a good representative and those who make sure to put my name out there at any given opportunity. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 120
Location: The Great Midwest | You should see my business page inbox and Instagram...... My goodness!!! And what absolutely drives me NUTS is when they spell every other word wrong. I have chosen to sponsor two girls and I contacted them. As a small business owner I cannot afford to just give away my products to everyone. Now Ive donated to a couple of auctions so far this year but as of right now have 14 requests for more! I feel guilty I can't help everyone BUT I want to stay in business. |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
I need a clothes sponsor! Somebody send me some really cute stuff to wear when I compete... PLEASE! I am no good at putting stuff together! I will list you on my website and give you big kudos when someone says "I love your outfit!" :)
I am seriously not kidding... I have 3 long sleeve button up shirts, :/. HELP!
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | I guess I have always considered sponsorships as something earned thru hard work that led to accomplishments and widespread name recognition that would garner publicity/business for the sponsor. An expensive habit, hobby, fledgling business may be the building block to eventually reach that status, but I feel like it should be a self-financed endeavor.
I personally would not have the nerve to ask someone to fund my equine habit any more than I would ask them to fund a drugs if it was my habit of choice.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| WrapSnap - 2015-03-19 6:36 PM
Nothing irks me more than when someone seeks sponsorship from a company that they have no relationship with! I have never understood why it is that people think that a company with which they have no relationship would be willing to give them a hand out. I receive many product and service sponsorships. Those have come to me because I both used and promoted those products and services long before any of them were given to me for free. As a professional, I also offer a select number of sponsorships. Those also go to people whom I have an already established relationship with. They don't have to be the most successful people, but those who will be enthusiastic supporters of my business, a good representative and those who make sure to put my name out there at any given opportunity.
THIS!!! I deal with sponsorship requests at my work daily. And NOTHING irks me more than people asking us for sponsorships and they send us pictures of them using OUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR'S PRODUCT. HELLO!!!!!! People...what are you thinking?????
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