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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
 
| Cindy Hamilton - 2014-08-05 11:34 AM
We have a LOT of people ask us to sponsor them.....I don't mean this derogatory, but most of them want "free stuff" or money and don't want to do anything in return. I have offered a new Platinum trailer at a low cost to NFR hopefuls and I told them all they have to do is show the trailer and for each person they send who buys a trailer from me, I will make their trailer payment for them...haven't had a taker yet.....I won't mention her name, but a former NFR qualifier paid for her trailer this way!
I think a sponsor wants to know that the person representing their product is a winner in and out of the arena. Checking the facebook is a good one!!....I have rental houses and I do that with my applicants as part of a background check.....what you see tells you a lot about their character...
 "pick me! pick me!"
That is an awesome idea! I can't believe more people haven't taken that offer! What an opportunity! |
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 Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
  
Location: Way up North | You have gotten a lot of good insight so far. I see a lot of people want to get sponsored without really considering what that entails. I think thay think they will get some easy cash, slap a patch or something on a shirt they might wear once a month and call it good but why would a company want to do that? I also wonder if they realize how much added pressure will be on them to perform well and present a good image?
The company I work for offered to sponsor me this year but I wasn't comfortable doing that. I am not out there winning the 1D and pounding the pavement; I just have a few young horses I have raised and I do what I can but I am no professional. Instead I offered to wear shirts with their logos on so people would know they can ask me questions and have them sponsor the actual race. Way more exposure for them and less pressure on me. I will say I have gotten some snarky comments because people think they sponsored me personally so prepare yourself for that aspect as well.
What I can tell you is you need to be very well organized and be able to tell the company what they are getting. We have gotten lots and lots of requests for sponsorships since the first few races we sponsored and unless they give me a detailed explanation of what they are asking for as far as product/monetary amount and what we are getting in return I don't even bother presenting it to my boss. If they can not write or present their request in a professional manner they don't get a second look either. You become the face of the product and if you are percieved as uneducated, unorganized, or unethical in any way people will associate the product with that and that is bad for business.
My best suggestion would be to approach businesses that you already patronize and know you and present them with a packet detailing what you are asking for and what you will do for them in return. Having a few different "package options" helps too. Outline how many/which races/rodeos you will be going to in which locations and on average how many people are there to be exposed to. Pictures are great to show what you do as well.
Edited by AllAroundRider 2014-08-05 2:55 PM
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | ACowgirlsLastRun - 2014-08-04 4:54 PM I want to start riding in the URA this year.I was wondering how you get Sponsers. What are the steps I have to take??
I don't know of any URA girls who have sponsors honestly, and I've been a member for several years. Most of us just try to rodeo smart and win enough to cover at least some of our expenses and not go broke rodeoing.
It seems to me that you would need to be a current customer and a true believer in their products or services before asking about sponsorship. I have thought about asking the Co-op where I buy my custom mixed grain to sponsor me in the state NBHA sponsorship race but haven't gotten up the guts yet. We've bought our horse feed from them for years and it wouldn't be a very big sponsorship ($150) but I hate asking people for money. |
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 Blond Bombshell..
Posts: 6628
Location: Hill Country of TEXAS!! | This has blown my mind from the beginning of people asking for sponsorships/hand outs to go to races when they cant win it and go to the next one and win or place high. Bottom line is IF YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR A SPONSORSHIP< YOUR NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ONE> They will come to you, not the other way around. I was sponsored by a few companies when i was rodeoing and doing well. My horse got hurt and i called them and told them im sorry but im out for awhile. I would NEVER ask for sponsorship now since im on colts and not back to winning yet! If i cant afford it, i stay home and save up $!
eta- this subject has rubbed me the wrong way today due to a FB post about someone wanting to run 4 horses but shes broke and needs money to go at $250 per horse. I just dont understand asking for money to run at a race bc you want to and you dont have the $.
Edited by Dash4KJ 2014-08-05 3:58 PM
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  Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | Dash4KJ - 2014-08-05 3:16 PM This has blown my mind from the beginning of people asking for sponsorships/hand outs to go to races when they cant win it and go to the next one and win or place high. Bottom line is IF YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR A SPONSORSHIP< YOUR NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ONE> They will come to you, not the other way around. I was sponsored by a few companies when i was rodeoing and doing well. My horse got hurt and i called them and told them im sorry but im out for awhile. I would NEVER ask for sponsorship now since im on colts and not back to winning yet! If i cant afford it, i stay home and save up $!
eta- this subject has rubbed me the wrong way today due to a FB post about someone wanting to run 4 horses but shes broke and needs money to go at $250 per horse. I just dont understand asking for money to run at a race bc you want to and you dont have the $.
How true!!!.....Oh....the stories I could tell....LOL....people never cease to amaze me....   |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Dash4KJ - 2014-08-05 4:16 PM This has blown my mind from the beginning of people asking for sponsorships/hand outs to go to races when they cant win it and go to the next one and win or place high. Bottom line is IF YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR A SPONSORSHIP< YOUR NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ONE> They will come to you, not the other way around. I was sponsored by a few companies when i was rodeoing and doing well. My horse got hurt and i called them and told them im sorry but im out for awhile. I would NEVER ask for sponsorship now since im on colts and not back to winning yet! If i cant afford it, i stay home and save up $!
eta- this subject has rubbed me the wrong way today due to a FB post about someone wanting to run 4 horses but shes broke and needs money to go at $250 per horse. I just dont understand asking for money to run at a race bc you want to and you dont have the $.
 exactly..... |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Dash4KJ - 2014-08-05 3:16 PM This has blown my mind from the beginning of people asking for sponsorships/hand outs to go to races when they cant win it and go to the next one and win or place high. Bottom line is IF YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR A SPONSORSHIP< YOUR NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ONE> They will come to you, not the other way around. I was sponsored by a few companies when i was rodeoing and doing well. My horse got hurt and i called them and told them im sorry but im out for awhile. I would NEVER ask for sponsorship now since im on colts and not back to winning yet! If i cant afford it, i stay home and save up $!
eta- this subject has rubbed me the wrong way today due to a FB post about someone wanting to run 4 horses but shes broke and needs money to go at $250 per horse. I just dont understand asking for money to run at a race bc you want to and you dont have the $.
 And this is why you are a class act! |
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Veteran
Posts: 297
| I've been thinking of trying to get sponsors but I only do ibra and nbha shows. Not to get bashed but I don't do rodeos because of where they run them at around here (bad ground. Old race tracks). I am in the 1d/2nd but always thought sponsors were more for rodeos.. and agree with above post saying you need to give a little to get a llittle. I don't understand why ppeople would turn down a trailer because their to lazy to show it off. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Fort Bragg North Carolina | There's nothing wrong w asking for sponsorship some business don't know the horse world but would be happy to sponsor you if your local period. Sponsorships don't have to be horse related. Also rodeo people understand the meaning of having no money but ya still gotta get to that next rodeo haha I'd sell what I got to pay those entries :P |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| Dash4KJ - 2014-08-05 1:16 PM
This has blown my mind from the beginning of people asking for sponsorships/hand outs to go to races when they cant win it and go to the next one and win or place high. Bottom line is IF YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR A SPONSORSHIP< YOUR NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ONE> They will come to you, not the other way around. I was sponsored by a few companies when i was rodeoing and doing well. My horse got hurt and i called them and told them im sorry but im out for awhile. I would NEVER ask for sponsorship now since im on colts and not back to winning yet! If i cant afford it, i stay home and save up $!
eta- this subject has rubbed me the wrong way today due to a FB post about someone wanting to run 4 horses but shes broke and needs money to go at $250 per horse. I just dont understand asking for money to run at a race bc you want to and you dont have the $.
I absolutely agree. I work for one of the major sponsors and we get at LEAST 10 people a day asking for sponsorships. While I would LOVE to be sponsored by my company and have won a few buckles, qualified for the NBHA world championships my first year of barrel racing, blah blah blah...when it comes down to it, that's nothing notable. And while I am a person of high integrity, I have a mouth like a sailor when not at work and will tell someone to their face when they have stepped out of line with me. Probably a liability as far as my company is concerned. LOL
Bottom line is, if you are not at the top and squeaky clean as far as your personal reputation is concerned, you might not be worth it for the major sponsors. On top of that, many of them will not sponsor a minor due to legal reasons. So for anyone under 18 you might want to wait. |
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | As hard as significant sponsorships are to get, companies do them for a reason. When we started the Renew Gold project, the first WPRA rider to wear our logo was Sherry Cervi. When she won a round at the Finals two years ago, the interview after was the first National exposure of our logo. The next morning, hits on our web site went up 600%. There could have been no other reason for that other than Sherry's interview the night before. That is why companies do this. Now, I understand that few people have the impact that Sherry does, but, there are a lot of people who are influential in their area and discipline who can benefit a sponsor. Present the proper image, (a real one), and work hard to be professional in your effort and sponsorships become much easier to come by. If you just want some free product, or bragging rights, you will not get serious sponsorship. Remember, there are a lot of people out there working their butts of for the same support. |
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 Winner winner chicken dinner
Posts: 2047
Location: California | winwillows - 2014-08-07 11:39 AM As hard as significant sponsorships are to get, companies do them for a reason. When we started the Renew Gold project, the first WPRA rider to wear our logo was Sherry Cervi. When she won a round at the Finals two years ago, the interview after was the first National exposure of our logo. The next morning, hits on our web site went up 600%. There could have been no other reason for that other than Sherry's interview the night before. That is why companies do this. Now, I understand that few people have the impact that Sherry does, but, there are a lot of people who are influential in their area and discipline who can benefit a sponsor. Present the proper image, (a real one), and work hard to be professional in your effort and sponsorships become much easier to come by. If you just want some free product, or bragging rights, you will not get serious sponsorship. Remember, there are a lot of people out there working their butts of for the same support. I first tried Renew Gold after Sherry posted a picture on Facebook of Stingray, mid-winter, looking fab-u-lous!! I'm glad I tried it, my horse is doing great on it!
Edited by phillyincal 2014-08-06 10:13 PM
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | phillyincal - 2014-08-06 10:12 PM
winwillows - 2014-08-07 11:39 AM As hard as significant sponsorships are to get, companies do them for a reason. When we started the Renew Gold project, the first WPRA rider to wear our logo was Sherry Cervi. When she won a round at the Finals two years ago, the interview after was the first National exposure of our logo. The next morning, hits on our web site went up 600%. There could have been no other reason for that other than Sherry's interview the night before. That is why companies do this. Now, I understand that few people have the impact that Sherry does, but, there are a lot of people who are influential in their area and discipline who can benefit a sponsor. Present the proper image, (a real one), and work hard to be professional in your effort and sponsorships become much easier to come by. If you just want some free product, or bragging rights, you will not get serious sponsorship. Remember, there are a lot of people out there working their butts of for the same support. I first tried Renew Gold after Sherry posted a picture on Facebook of Stingray, mid-winter, looking fab-u-lous!! I'm glad I tried it, my horse is doing great on it!
DITTO this! I'm hooked, horses are hooked - and it was from seeing Stingray/Sherry's results. |
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