British BBQ Society Forums

Hi Guys
Can you tell me how you go about getting sponsorship and what the sponsor gets out of it.
Do you ask for a set amount to cover your seasons expenses in return for promoting their product?

Thank you

There are various things to consider when going for sponsorship. Firstly pick your events, and look at the exposure your sponsor will get. Look at the medium which you will promote their products, either just banners, websites, facebook etc etc the more exposure you have the better value. It will also be wise to see if any other teams are sponsored by the products you are approaching, very few will back multiple teams. Have the figures to hand such as attendance at these events, an event with 40,000 is going to appeal more than that which will have 15,000. Look at the areas and the demographics, How much disposable income do people have in that area. Be realistic with your requests, build up a pedigree before promising the earth. These are a few starting points, i am sure others will chip in.

Unless you have wins under your belt or prize winning places as a minimum you will have to settle for what you can get, good examples of reasonable requests would be entry fee or food costs or accommodation etc... Then as you begin to gain exposure you can then negotiate better return for the advertising you are providing, start small get a good relationship going and then work on the deal.

It is worth checking with others on here who they have deals with, I helped another team on here get a deal with Hotsmoked for example as at that time they weren't sponsoring a team and pointed them in their direction, PM me if you want and I'll tell you who I'm just finalising my sponsorship with, others on here are allowed to be more open

The approach I took in my first season was to go for product rather than cash. My sponsors give me some of their wares, I used them and promoted them in return.

I have always been very selective with sponsors, I'll only work with companies whose products I genuinely use. I've had an offer in the past I turned down, not because I didn't like the sponsor's product, rather I preferred to use something different. I'm sure there are those around that will stick their name to any old product, but some people need the sponsorship, some of us are fortunate not to.

Things are changing a bit now even though I don't go massively in for self-promotion. I've found the whole sponsorship game different this season.

Thanks for the comments so far, I look forward to receiving more. Doc, I would go to my employer if I wasn't self employed lol
Thanks again for sharing info, that's what makes bbq folk so great

ASH (BadBoysofBBQ)