Sponsorship ideas...

[Micki]

I would like to gather some information. I have someone interested in sponsoring our club, but I don't know what our expacations would be.

What would we want out of a sponorship?

Any thoughts ideas?

[marinelife]

hmm, not sure, maybe to giveaways or help with help with webhosting so we can move the other forum somewhere nice. not sure what else I will think on it for a while

[bigfalcon36]

I think we should figure out what the expectations of our club is... I mean do we want to just be here to BS about our tanks, help to troubleshoot people's question/concerns, share frags, share photos...basically what we are doing now. Because if we do that then I would say we dont need a sponsor.

On the other hand, we acutally have this person donate money to our club that could be to help fund a frag swap (money would be for door prizes, shirts, food...whatever). That frag swap would be for who ever wants to drive and trade/buy.

If this sponsor would give us any money, then I think the first thing we should do with it is donate some money to a reef conservation group...or something like that because without reefs we would have nothing for this club to be based around.

But, when dealing with money we need a trusting person to act as a treasurer and a bank account to keep it in.

We should keep the ball rolling on this, because this could be a great thing.

Travis

[marinelife]

We are a group of saltwater enthusiasts in the Western Ohio area founded to share ideas, friendship and frags with each other.

[bigfalcon36]

ok, with that being said why do we need a sponsor? When I think of sponsors, I think of an organization that is associated with us to give us money, cover costs, and because they get something in return for have their name affiliated with ours.

If they would sponsor a large frag swap and cover door prizes that would be really cool. Also, assistance with the website would be good.

Our mission statement, "We are a group of saltwater enthusiasts in the Western Ohio area founded to share ideas, friendship and frags with each other.", puts out the impression that we are a self promoted group, which we are up to this point, but if we can get our name out there for support and awareness...that would be cool too.

[marinelife]

True maybe a sponser to help promote the group, Also we are here to help others, so promoting us in the area would be good

[Micki]

Hmm, some good thoughts.

Maybe sponsor wasn't the best word, I was thinking tmore like big brother helping out etc.

I would doubt that we get any money. And honestly, getting money means treasuree, bank accounts, etc. Maybe down the road, or if that is something the group decides on then we could go that route. We do have a money man in the group. :)

Certainly exposure. I thought maybe some fraggin ideas/class etc? maybe, maybe not.

I have a contact in MN. I'll ask him what their sponsor/big borther does.

[bigfalcon36]

yeah, get all the details and then share them with us...either in the forum or via PM. After we get the details we can go from there.

[Micki]

Ok, if it's ok with everyone else I'll work on persuing this. I would like ideas to pass on as to what we would like to get (other than money Big :) ) I'll see if I can get a meeting set up with this person and then pass some info on. Hopefully before our meeting on the 25!

Please keep some ideas coming!
Thanks guys!

[bigfalcon36]

I think it would be really cool to just get our name out there. Posting our banners that eric, matt, and evanish come up with. Just let everyone know what we're about and we're our forums and website are at. Maybe this will spurt more growth of our forum/threads/members.

[Micki]

That is certainly one of my goals! :)

[redpyro]

this is what i was thinking
1. a way to get our name out (postings and the like)
2. a discount or wholesale point, you know like LR without the shipping or only a small markup above what they pay. I understand they are a business and need to make a profit, but more a wholesale price.
3. donation of items for possible frag displays, maybe a door prize of a gift certificate or mercahdise or soemthing like that for meetings to encourage attendence.
4. for information. check out their setup
5. i dont know if they plan on getting used equipment for trade or whatever but possibly giving the club members 1st dibs at it for a discount
6. a place for us to host a frag day...good for them also to bring in customers.
7. maybe if we post and give them exposure we could charge them x amount of dollars to include them on our website or our flyers, maybe not even money maybe we could use that as an exchange point for some of the other things we want....

if this is like a brothership we are looking from things from them, but we also have to be willing to help them also...this cant be all take take take, we need some give also

just my thoughts

[Slicktrax]

i agree with micki, red would make a good money man. i think sponsors are anyone willing to foot the bill for special activities or host meetings. a sponsor could be our club (through splitting costs among willing members), a member hosting a meeting, or a business doing some or none of the above. in reality it boils down to what the "sponsor" wants in return. I want to "sponsor" a meeting at my house someday, that way i dont have to worry about driving home after too much to drink. in the end everyone gets what they want out of any sponsorship arrangement. with that said, thanks to red for volunteering to be the money man !!

[redpyro]

what? did i miss something?

[Micki]

I agree, I don't want them to think it's all about "us". It's a give and take situation. I like Reds ideas! Any more to add to the list?

[redpyro]

i know marinesolutions ahs the monthly photo contest for $20...which i never recieved in the mail by the way....

maybe they would be willing to do something similar or a tank of the month and the winner gets a little prize. or maybe a little display or photo at the store or something

[Micki]

That would be awesome too! Keep em coming!!!

[redpyro]

i checked the offical WORC rules and the guy with the biggest tank is the money man...that would be you slick

[Micki]

LOL, right down your alley Slick!

[Slicktrax]

if we get to the point that money becomes an issue, i would be glad to make sure everything is done correctly. i need to read these bi-laws again, i know there was a specific reference for red's responsibilities.

[Micki]

LOL... Look out red... :worried2:

[redpyro]

yes it said by no means give red ANY responsibility

[bigfalcon36]

I just think that the LFS around here suck and that they need to get business...a lot of business. I would guess that the members of this forum and the members of the daytonreef.com probabaly make up 25% of their business. That's a lot of money. I dont think that they would be willing to give us wholesale prices on fish and coral. Drygoods would be the thing to get discounts on.

I talked to one of the guys at Gerber's and he said the owner would rather sell fish because that's where they make all their money, they dont mark the drygoods up as much. But who knows, people are different.

[redpyro]

bull pucky Gerbers marks up their dry good at least 50-100% from what i can get it online so you know whats at least 100-200% from what they pay for it.

I agree fish and live sales is where the money is because they pay very little for their wholesale orders.

However even as a member of this club living in Greenville I am not driving an hour and 30 minutes unless its a really good deal. Espcially with super high gas prices.

I am to the point where my tanks are pretty well matured and have little room to expand so i can be picky about what i buy. Right now i wouldnt buy dry goods from a LFS unless they are willing to give me a better deal thani can get online. Heck online good deal and right to my door.

[Micki]

Some LFS have matched the on line price for me. Sometimes they won't because the on line price is less than what they have to pay themselves. On line places can buy in bulk easier than LFS. That's how on line can give such low prices. It never hurts to ask a LFS to match an on line price. The most they can say is No.

[bigfalcon36]

I think that if we could get discounts on livestock...or get better trade in prices for our stuff, that would be really cool. We could just throw the LFS logo up on the website for "free" advertisement for them. A little give and take :D

[Micki]

Now you're getting the right idea Travis!!! :)

[Micki]

Travis you have pm

[bigfalcon36]

I was just thinking you knew some small business owner looking for a write off....that's why I was thinking money. Anyone know Tiger Woods or Lebron James...I'm sure they have some money we can use

[redpyro]

ya they are both my cousins.....

[Micki]

LOL LOL LOL... Don't make me laugh! I did pilates last night and my stomach is sore... :lmao:

[marinelife]

Not sure what LFS you can get to help because Jacks most likely will not help. I asked them for a discount for supplies for me but they would not do it, I heard the Gerbers gives discount on Salt to Cincy Reef, I know Aquariums ETC would give discounts on everything but I am not sure how is business is doing since I left. The new store in Springboro or Marinesolutions is the only ones I know that may.

[daytonreefRob]

FYI

I am able to offer group deals at Marine Solutions, I do it for the CincyReef guys somewhat regularly.

[Micki]

Thanks We will keep that in mind.

[Slicktrax]

good deals are awesome, let me know when the next group event is. i am registered with cincy, but dont monitor it very often.

[bigfalcon36]

trader

[Slicktrax]

always looking for a good deal, aren't you? i'd buy from a canuck if the price was right ;)

[redpyro]

really a canuck? in that case i know where you can get a good deal on a slightly used skimmer that a canuck is selling

[Slicktrax]

lmao

[redpyro]

just as big trav

he likes canucks and there wonderful deals also

[Slicktrax]

yeah, thats where it came from.

[redpyro]

i'm just seeing how much salt i can pour in there

[bigfalcon36]

you guys are jerk offs...you wouldnt pee on me if i was on fire

[redpyro]

yes i would and maybe a little poo on top to stop the smoldering but then would razz you some more about dealing with canadians

[bigfalcon36]

F-in canucks the should stay off of eBay and get back to playing hockey... the NHL misses them

[redpyro]

thats it, you solved it they dont have jobs this year so they are selling broken crap on ebay to pay for their steriods

[marinelife]

You guys are making it so no one will want to join the group
I was thinking that maybe a sponser could help with some shirt with our name and there name on it

[redpyro]

why not?

[marinelife]

why not?

[redpyro]

Originally posted by marinelife
You guys are making it so no one will want to join the group



why not

[marinelife]

all this crazy talk

[redpyro]

like?

[marinelife]

the last part of this thread and your other one

[redpyro]

sorry i will stop having fun

[marinelife]

ok then, good job!

[redpyro]

sorry dad

[redpyro]

i will go over to dayton reef and wait for someone to post so i can have fun there

[marinelife]

Well just don't let it happen again

[atreis]

Stop fighting you two, or I'll put you both in timeout.

[Micki]

Geeez I got away for the evening and the kids go crazy!!!

I do like the sponsor T-shirt idea though. Maybe down the road... :D