Sponsorship is NOT Transactional

People buy from people they like and trust. Sure, you might buy a product from someone you don’t like, but there would be reasons for it, such as it was a necessity, there was no alternative at the time, or it was the least expensive. But that is what I call a transactional purchase. Sponsorship is not a series of transactional purchases-at least not successful sponsorships. Sure, there may be ...

Miami Heat Score Official Sports Grill In Time For Finals

If the Miami Heat win the NBA Finals, local sports grill chain, Duffy's, is hoping fans will take the celebration to one of 24 locations, today announcing a strategic partnership with the Miami Heat that will make it the "Official Sports Grill of the Miami Heat." The multi-year partnership provides the casual-dining chain with co-branded marketing initiatives at all 24 Duffy's Sports Grill loc...

Bank Signs $7.9 Million Marathon Renewal

Standard Chartered Bank has renewed title sponsorship of the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore for $7.9 million over a three-year partnership that will run through 2013. 2011 will be the second running of the the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore, which attracted 60,000 participants in its first year. “After a very successful inaugural SCMS in 2010, we are delighted to announce our co...

HSBC, Cathay Resume Co-Sponsorship Of Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union has announced that Cathay Pacific and HSBC will be the new co-title sponsors of the Hong Kong Sevens from 2012 to 2015, resuming a joint sponsorship that previously ran from 1980 through 1997. Under the four-year sponsorship agreement the event title will be the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. “HSBC and Cathay Pacific are synonymous with Hong Kong and...

Top 5 Reasons Your Proposal Isn't Converting To Sales

We’ve been asked many times to give advice to brands concerned about their inability to source for sponsors. No matter which sector the opportunity represents, it’s often the sponsorship proposal which is not translating how sponsorship benefits can add value and ROI. There can be a number of reasons why the sponsorship proposal doesn’t work, but we’d like to highlight the most important: 1...

Cleveland Indians Land Official Fuel

BP has unveiled a partnership with the Cleveland Indians, which will make it the official fuel provider of the MLB team. The deal includes a market-wide retail promotion at BP sites throughout the remainder of the 2011 Major League Baseball season, brand integration at Progressive Field and VIP experiences around pre-game batting practice. "BP is building on its commitment to local drivers an...

Pantech Sponsors Dew Tour In Support Of New Product Launch

Pantech Wireless, the North American subsidiary of one of Korea’s three largest mobile phone manufacturers, has signed a deal to become the official handset partner of both the Dew Tour and Winter Dew Tour, and will title sponsoring the opening event of the 2011 season. The sponsorship will compliment the launch of several new Pantech products found at AT&T stores and retailers nationwide....

FIFA's Blatter: Football is not in a crisis

As sponsor pressure mounts, Fifa president Sepp Blatter insisted in a news conference (below) that there's no crisis, but rather some difficulties that will be solved. The press conference came as pressure grows over ethics concerns within the organization, amid a new allegation that the bidding process that rewarded Qatar with the 2022 World Cup was corrupt. The allegation is the latest in a y...

London 2012 Adds Tier 3 Sponsor

LOCOG has secured Thames Water as a tier three sponsor of London 2012, becoming Official Water Utility Services Provider of the Games. Thames Water will provide all water utility and waste water services at London 2012 venues, ensuring clean, reliable tap water and sanitation to the Games. "We are thrilled to welcome Thames Water to the London 2012 sponsorship family, their expertise and atte...

If You’re An Opener ~ The Close Comes Easy

This post is inspired by my pal, Anthony Iannarino (@iannarino), and a tweet that he sent me this week. Anthony wrote, “Who is ringing the bell today? I am!” Which in sales lingo means that he did a deal. I wrote back, “Nice, you’re a closer.” Here’s the next line that inspired this blog post: “I am an opener! The closing takes care of itself!” In one short statement, Anthony captured the found...