Sponsorship ideas??

[LarryMcG]

Hi All

Has anybody got any serious ideas for raising sponsorship, to help get a team to the world champs in Czech again this year? Or future years?

Items that could be looked at would be

clothing
Shipping of crates / trikes
Air tickets
Hotels / accommodation

I find it hard to believe that we cannot put together, with all our resources, sponors to help a National Team!

Cheers

Lm

[kloot piloot]

The silence is deafening. Signs of an ailing economy I guess. Corporate sponsors might be difficult to get.

LarryMcG, what happened to the Sports Development Board or the Lotto ? Will we be deemed too "white" ?

I guess it might be worth a try even if you had to appoint a PDI as Team Manager or Team Fund Raiser.

[skybound®]

I think to add to it, is that there is clearly a lack of interest in competitive flying. Just sucking some rough figures from memory, there are somewhere over 1000 trikes registered in SA, and only 9 take part in the Nationals. That is less than a percent interested in comps.

[LarryMcG]

Hi

SkyBound , my feeling is that if we advertised the nationals, promoting competition flying, with a paid for (mostly) trip to where ever, Czech, or France, Uk etc, we would have 50 COMPETITIVE a/c at nationals as opposed to 9 that are basically there for the fun, half of which are there to learn!. Not that one wants to offer a free holiday, but it would possibly help to encourage our countries top pilots to enter.

One of the biggest things putting guys off comp flying, and nationals, is the cost. A lot of the guys who could make the team say they dont have the money for a trip like that, but if it was sponsored, things would be very different.

A few of the guys who went last time, - ourselves included - cannot afford that expense again. It was really an experience of a lifetime, and it would be really sad to see the collapse of all the work over the last few years if we dont send a team of any sort.

Remember, it doesnt have to be under National colours scheme, it seems we might still have a few guys compete, under an entry from SA.

A return could be given by doing a dvd, possibly TV show, like the paraglider guys did when they went to China. Anybody see that on TV? Also, branding of clothing, wings, undercarriage etc could offer milage, particularly if the A/C kept the branding on before and after a comp, while flying generally. Magazine articles etc would all mention sponsors etc.

Thoughts??

Lm

[maximilian]

You mansion there are 1000 Microlights out there?
How many of them have there own Business?
If the approach itch of there Supplier's for Sponsorships me-bey that
wood make the difference?!?!?!?!?!?

[maximilian]

I don't remember that i ever have seen anything on TV about Microlights,any
reason,me-by misasa shut have a look into this.

[Tumbleweed]

My thoughts.

Corporate sponsors no longer show a social responsibility towards sponsoring and a ‘lifestyle’ sport stands behind the kids team sports at the back of the queue.

They’re not concerned with lack of funding/ opportunity missed e.t.c. but want value for money i.e. exposure/ flying the corporate flag. All the blue chips are flooded with sponsor applications so I would tackle the less tapped market which is tourism and 2010 world cup exposure. (ja, ja)

The tourism board sits on an obscene budget derived from each hotel booking levy e.t.c. which they spend on ridiculous banners at faraway airports/ football stands and in-flight magazines. I think if you if you could guarantee an audience/ exposure via your fellow competitors’ flying clubs by way of i.e. CD disc giveaways on holiday breaks like the ‘Midlands meander, Hibuscus / Dolphin Coast / wine routes/ golf tours / big 5 showing awesome scenery (with a trike in the background)they cold be interested. You might be able to re- sell to each industry i.e. SAA, Protea hotels, Avis, e.t.c.

If that’s successful, each applicant can re-sell CD space to his regional area like Shark Dives, Trike flips, whale watching, elephant walks, casino resorts, canopy tours e.t.c. This could pay for the CD production.

Anyway, lots of sucking up to do, so wish you luck.