How to best ask companies for free samples for my college Ultimate team
October 17, 2011 9:48 PM Subscribe
I'm a captain of a college Ultimate Frisbee team looking to reach out to companies for sponsorship options / free samples. Does anyone have any personal experience or advice for reaching out to companies like this?
I'm looking to reduce overall costs to my players by reaching out to various companies basically asking them for free stuff(food, sunscreen, clothing). Is there a better way to phrase this to them? Any suggestions or even ideas whom to contact or where to look would be helpful.
I'm looking to reduce overall costs to my players by reaching out to various companies basically asking them for free stuff(food, sunscreen, clothing). Is there a better way to phrase this to them? Any suggestions or even ideas whom to contact or where to look would be helpful.
My experience in a different sport is that unless you've got a personal connection or a reason that companies will really want to be connected with you, you're more likely to get 'pro deal' orders than free stuff.
But, give it a shot. Cause it's how you build personal connections.
The basic narrative is that in exchange for support from the company, you provide the company with good exposure. You become brand ambassadors. You use their product, you talk it up, you put their logo on your webpage and blog with every friend and family member of every teammate reads, you put it on your uniform, and you put it on the banner that you put up on the sidelines during your games. And it's seen by XXXX people throughout the year, and you're good at what you do so it's a positive association to the brand, etc.
Capisce?
posted by entropone at 5:53 AM on October 18, 2011
But, give it a shot. Cause it's how you build personal connections.
The basic narrative is that in exchange for support from the company, you provide the company with good exposure. You become brand ambassadors. You use their product, you talk it up, you put their logo on your webpage and blog with every friend and family member of every teammate reads, you put it on your uniform, and you put it on the banner that you put up on the sidelines during your games. And it's seen by XXXX people throughout the year, and you're good at what you do so it's a positive association to the brand, etc.
Capisce?
posted by entropone at 5:53 AM on October 18, 2011
Depends on who you're going to. Local retail outlets? Are they parts of national chains or mom and pops? National sportwear comapnies or flying disk makers?
For the larger guys, the basic path is to write up a sponsorship request letter on the college or team's letterhead. Deliver to branch manager, with a cc: to the company's community relations person at their headquarters. Give specific timelines for the duration, when you'd need to know by, what, specifically you are looking for (money, uniforms, equipment) and what you're offering (exposure, length of season, division, traveling range, general crowd size, general exposure potential from other sources (news coverage, campus coverage, etc).
For mom and pops, going in with a letter asking for the same stuff, but don't have to be as detailed, since you're looking for local support to provide local push to the store.
posted by rich at 5:59 AM on October 18, 2011
For the larger guys, the basic path is to write up a sponsorship request letter on the college or team's letterhead. Deliver to branch manager, with a cc: to the company's community relations person at their headquarters. Give specific timelines for the duration, when you'd need to know by, what, specifically you are looking for (money, uniforms, equipment) and what you're offering (exposure, length of season, division, traveling range, general crowd size, general exposure potential from other sources (news coverage, campus coverage, etc).
For mom and pops, going in with a letter asking for the same stuff, but don't have to be as detailed, since you're looking for local support to provide local push to the store.
posted by rich at 5:59 AM on October 18, 2011
I have had good luck getting free stuff by just asking. Really: "We're a club team with limited resources, and we would like your support. Our needs include uniforms, snacks, and funds for transportation costs and event fees."
That said, does your school place any limits on explicit or implied endorsements? You may not be empowered to promise to, e.g., wear a logo during matches or put up a banner or whatever. Whoever runs your club sports program in the Athletic Department would know...and they may go a little mental if you break their rules, even unknowingly.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:18 AM on October 18, 2011
That said, does your school place any limits on explicit or implied endorsements? You may not be empowered to promise to, e.g., wear a logo during matches or put up a banner or whatever. Whoever runs your club sports program in the Athletic Department would know...and they may go a little mental if you break their rules, even unknowingly.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:18 AM on October 18, 2011
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Start by looking at things from the other side - if you're the business, giving out free samples to anyone who asks is not in your business plan. Giving away product in exchange for something of value (advertising, recognition) is - in fact, the marketing department might be all over if you can provide a creative spin to things.
posted by chrisinseoul at 4:40 AM on October 18, 2011