Where To Get Sponsors

[sidewayssam]

hey all, ive recently started drifting in wa,

just wondering if any of u get sponsored to drift and if so how did u get ur sponsors?

i guess sponsors will come to u if the see u doing well at a drift event, but is it possible to approach companys n that for sponsorships?

if u get sponsored howd u go about it?

[UNR33L]

you can always go to performance parts sites (Tein) for example and they have a sponsorship section on there page and you have to send in a proposal car pics/specs n stuff and experience i guess

thats what my mate did neway

Edited March 3, 2008 by 4Door_33GTS

[Trust33]

i think you have to havea pretty full on drift car before companys like tein will start to sponsor u.

comp results and i guess just being out there and showing that u can actually drift are the biggest ways of becoming noticed.

M2C..

[PHaT MR30]

Sponsorship is so bollocksing hard to get these days, and sometimes people that are sponsored aren't getting as much as it looks (car might be all painted up and graphics etc, but they are still flippin most of the bills).

[2rismo]

Sponsorship is so bollocksing hard to get these days, and sometimes people that are sponsored aren't getting as much as it looks (car might be all painted up and graphics etc, but they are still flippin most of the bills).

This is true but a lot of it is to do with how you present and what you intend to offer the potential sponsor. You should treat it as though you are an agent for their products and/or services and do your best to increase their business through you. There's so much more to getting and retaining sponsorship than putting a sticker on a car.

[PHaT MR30]

This is true but a lot of it is to do with how you present and what you intend to offer the potential sponsor. You should treat it as though you are an agent for their products and/or services and do your best to increase their business through you. There's so much more to getting and retaining sponsorship than putting a sticker on a car.

Yes I know, i really hate the people that just say oh sponsor me and ill slap a sticker on my terribly presented car and end of story, give me money.

< We were sponsored by donut king last year, which is pretty hard to get as it, it also meant painting the car as thier brand imaging requires correct colours etc Normally we were required have donuts supplied to us to give out to spectators etc

Its all about investment on return, why should a company give you money in return for basically nothing?

You need to be promoting what ever it is in the most professional manner, if its a products you should be attempting to showcase them on your vehicle, display them where possible (pits etc) and have a knowledgible person there by their side (either your self or someone from the sponsor) to promote the product.

Really you should be making a HUGE push, make people realise this IS the best product and you should be buying/using it too etc

Any press statements, interviews or if lucky enough podiums you should be thanking them, saying you couldn't do it with out them etc

I don't really want to get started on proposals, but twhats already mentioned is on a wafer thin part of it.

[Whiplash]

hey all, ive recently started drifting in wa,

just wondering if any of u get sponsored to drift and if so how did u get ur sponsors?

i guess sponsors will come to u if the see u doing well at a drift event, but is it possible to approach companys n that for sponsorships?

if u get sponsored howd u go about it?

Make sure you have a professional looking document to send out to prospective companies (not just an email asking for money)

We produce 10 page pdf files to be sent to companies giving the maximum amount of information needed for them to decide whether to sponsor or not. This includes

- info about the team / driver

- info about the car

- event dates

- tv / media coverage of events

- info about the series (crowd figures ect)

at the end of the day if they need start asking lots of questions our "corporate sponsorship package" hasn't been done correctly.

It is very important that you don't ask for set amounts of money either, no where do we mention the cost. It is up to the company negotiate the amount they are willing to spend, as setting a price up front scares some people off and can look rude to some companies. Not to mention the companies will always want more for the money they are willing to pay (drive days ect for instance) I was actually speaking about this with a few people at sandown last weekend about this topic, after they had some sponsors pull out at the last minute.

I'm also in a bit of a unique situation as i get paid to sponsor cars, through my arrangement with the teams i work with

hope this is helpful in some way

[djr81]

To be honest the chances of you finding a sponsor to write you a cheque to go drifting are small or worse.

However, that does not exclude getting help for your car. I would recommend the following:

Sit down & determine what the costs are for you to go drifting things such as tyres, servicing, mechanical upgrades, trailer hire, fuel/oil. That sort of thing.

That will give you an indication of the types of companies you can approach for contra deals or reduced cost parts/services etc.

So to use a previous example you may not get someone giving you cash, but you are a better chance of getting either parts for nothing or at a substantially reduced price. So the approach may be I'll run your gear (+ signage for a year) if you can knock off $X off the price of this kit.

If you do land someone don't just take their money & run. Include them in the events if they want to go. Help them invest some emotion in your success or activities. Send them a glossy photo of your car to stick up in their workshop. (Then send one of your stooge mates around to make comment on it ) Also tap into people you know. Much better than cold calling businesses.

At the end of the day if you can save $100 on say 10 litres of oil it is the same as getting a cheque for $100. Difference is it costs your sponsor less & therefore the value he is getting is greater.

It is hard work. For most people it is easier to turn up to your day job & do a few more hours overtime.

[Whiplash]

djr that would be the best way to start off

[sherman89]

In my oppinion sponsers are all about who you know, not so much what you know (or in this case how good you are).

I dont know of many 'drifters' that just cruise around getting free stuff. A couple of my mates are sponswered and i know all of them are still forking out plenty of money to go drifting every 2nd week.

I think before you go 'looking' for sponsers, i would want to be at a pretty high standard, asin being out drifting atleast once a month, doing well in these events, making top 16s every time that sort of thing.

Also what i have found is goto the same places to buy tyres/parts, thats what i do and now i have a good relationship with a couple of shops, got little stickers on my car for them and they jsut kind of help out, dont give me things, but do deals on prices that sort of thing.