Sponsorship

[avsfan733]

Has anyone had any experience on finding sponsorship for karting endeavors... I don't want to go to karting people because it precludes me from using my parts and stuff like that. I was thinking local vendors for stuff like generator and trailer and tool stores. Am i on the right track or not?

[marcus]

basically try anything, but make sure you give them a good deal , sadly for karters its hard because we dont get any or very little TV coverage , so value for money is always a problem for sponsors , but local stores and the like are always good to try , you may not be successfull the first time but you will gain experience as you go along and try some more places.

I gained sponsorship from a local outdoor karting centre for the state championships which were held in my town a while ago , and the owner was only to glad to help by paying for stickers for the kart and sending some flyers along as well , it was only for one weekend but he said because there was over 250 karters in town he had his biggest weekend he had ever had , dunno if that was because of us or not , but he was very impressed with what we did for the weekend.

all i can say is keep trying and you just may get some good deals out of it.

Good luck

[Mr Jinxx]

Try as we might over the years, we gained nowt :-( The sad reality is that if you don't have anyone to lean on/pressurise, in a business sense, you're ******ed!!

[msps]

Try a different approach. Try to "sell" event marketing incentives to your sponsors (give them the oportunity to get their clients or employees to the races, or give them some free rides in your kart....). Be prepared to include in your budget some 5% or 10% of the total amount you need, to invest in your marketing opportunities and in the benefits you will be given to the sponsors.
Regards and good luck,
msps

[speedy king]

I've got a good deal for 2003, I'll send you a copy of it if you like?

[avsfan733]

Thank u much gentleman all of your ideas have been very helpful. While i wish i could use your suggestion msps i don't have 5% much less 1% and the facilities i race at are (i hesitate to use the word "ghetto" in reference to karting). Speedy king your deal sounds intriguing mind pm'ing me?

[the_extreme]

Not sure if this will help or not - try anything and don't be bashfull - If you have a local newspaper - get your name in there somehow, be prepared to write lots of letters - and don't be put off if you don't get an answer - also don't just try the usual sources - try any source - and be prepared to do tons of homework about your potential sponsors - and start out small - don't ask for the world to begin with - you have to offer a good deal (this has already been said but bears saying again) - from a potential sponsors point of view - o.k. lets say I have X dollars/pounds/groats in my marketing budget the question then has to be what advantage am I going to have spending it on you as opposed to spending it in the local trade mag or giving myself a pay raise ???

This is the harsh reality we all have to deal with - the key is not giving up.

Jeff