Sponsors, how to get them and what to do once you have them..!
By Ron “Gunner” Kaluger Jr
First let me start by saying, Happy New Year and hope you have a great upcoming season..!
I can not tell you how many people and how many times I have been asked, “How did you get started or how do you get sponsors?” Honestly, I could not count the number of times either of or both of those questions have been asked to me by e-mail or in person at seminars or even on the water. Anymore it seems every time I go somewhere I get these questions. Enough to make me decide to write an article that I hope will help you get a start and more important an understanding of everything that really is involved.
It is NOT as easy as just “display the company name and get free product,” if it was, people would not be asking how we got started here at Reel Fishing with Gunner. There is a lot of work to do before and even more after you acquire a few. The first thing to remember is in most cases, the companies do not need you, you need them. They have their pick of thousands of people who write them each week asking for this or that. If they have “big” name pros on hand promoting then you are even farther down the line. With that said please do not let that stop you from trying, you never know who will be reading your request letters and looking at your photos.
You have to be able to give them something most others can’t give them, some sort of edge to swing them your way. Websites used to be the ticket, and they still are but not near as important as they were say 10 years ago. Too many companies have now been burnt by people getting product for promotion and reviews on their website only to have the product sent and then the website disappear from the internet.
So you will have to have a TV show, radio show, or a website and photos showing you doing seminars, or at tourney weigh-ins etc. You have to build a resume more or less with PHOTOS, which is very important. Every time you go out in the field or on the water take a camera. Get photos of fish caught with the gear you used to catch it. Add these to the resume along with tourney finishes, rankings etc anything that will show them you can help them sell their product. The more you can show and prove to them the better your chances will be. Remember, do not lie or over exaggerate, ever!
Sometimes it is easier to start small, don’t go for the big name companies right away. They already have their “Pros” and to be honest, you are unknown to them. Don’t expect big things from little companies, most times they just do not have the funding to outfit you with thousands of dollars of equipment or cash. That brings up another point, go for product sponsorships first. Ask them to supply you with some gear (start with gear you picked out from their website) enough for 6 months of fishing or hunting to prove to them you can do this or that and at the end of the 6 months you will contact them to see about renewing if they like what you have done for them.
Start out looking at some local businesses and or maybe an upstart tackle manufacture in your area. All the while sending just a FEW letters out to some bigger companies just to get your name in the hat. Remember, you will have to send out hundreds of letters to get only a handful of possible ones. You have to SELL yourself to them proving to them you can help their business grow. That is the only reason they consider sponsoring anyone. They are a business out to make money and if you can help them do that, you will have a shot.
Keep records and copies of every letter sent, date it was sent, date of any reply and the name, phone number and job title of the person that replied to you. This will come in handy two ways, easy for you to keep track of what you have done and it shows the companies you are organized and on top of things. When you can put in a letter that you talked to so-in-so on this date about these items and they said for you to contact them back by this date, you just showed that company you know what you are doing. They want to know that you know what to do, you have to be knowledgeable of not only the products you requested but most of their products sometimes that impresses the PR dept.
Make sure you do some sort of sponsorship report that you will send to them within a week after an event. Have info of when and where, title of event, your part in said event, photos, info as to number of quest speakers and their names and titles, crowd size etc… Remember the more info you can show the better you will stand out. They want to know you can help their company. You will have to do reports, take photos of you using their products, at seminars have handouts with their logo and thank them for being a sponsor to you. Have someone film every seminar you do or tourney you fish in. Then at some point you can make and edit a compilation video or audio / photo CD to send them so they can use it in advertising if they see fit.
The more you can get out there the better your chances are in getting the attention of bigger companies. Once you have a nice “portfolio” you can start sending that along with request letters to bigger companies asking them to review your packet and consider picking you up for a sponsorship. We have been very blessed with sponsors at Reel Fishing with Gunner with an ever growing list! At the time of this article we have a total of 23 and more on the way!
Currently at press time of this paper we have:
Okuma Reels – Cobra electronics – Albackore Tackle systems – KeelShield – XTools – SureFire – Culprit baits – Coleman Camping Gear – Classic Destiny Custom Rods – Mustad – Secret Weapon baits – Mad Man baits – Hodgdon Powders – Night Owl Optics – Sufix Lines – Richter Anchors – Princeton Tec – Leatherman Tools – C Crane Company – Humminbird – HT/Hi-Tech Fishing – Mentzer Lures – Tyger Leader
Also have been even more blessed to be added on the “Pro Staff” of Albackore – Okuma – Sufix and just in Dec ’06 Secret Weapon baits…
So please understand, it may not be easy to get sponsors, and there is much work to do after you get sponsors, it can be beneficial to both you and the companies. If done right, it is a rewarding experience for you and it will help you in your career in the outdoors!
There is much more I could write about this but space is limited, so please write me at gunner@reelfishingwithgunner.com if you have any questions and even helpful tips that worked for you!
Thank you and hope to see you out there!
Ron "Gunner" Kaluger Jr
PROUD member of:
Secret Weapon Baits Pro Staff
SUFIX Pro Staff
OKUMA Reels Pro Fishing Team
Albackore Tackle Systems Pro Staff at:
http://www.albackore.com/proteam.htm