Asking for sponsorship...

BroadfordQueen

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I am taking the plunge (well, about to!) and am writing a letter to my sister-in-laws dad to ask for sponsorship. I know that I need to include the benifits for his company in the letter, and why i want the sponsorship, but i dont know exactly what to include.

I was thinking of telling him that his company would get a mention over the loudspeaker when i enter the ring (ie. "and this is Sophie riding Lady Tara, sponsered by..."). I would also mention the fact that i would get his company name templated onto my trailer and embroidered into a jacket.

In return i would ask for his company to cover my entry fees.

Do you think i should mention the fact that i am heading off to the amateur championships in a few weeks, which will have lots of spectators?

And also do you think I should mention that he shouldn't feel pressured to say yes just because he is my brothers father-in-law (but worded better than that!)?

I'm abit hopeless when it comes to stuff like this, it will be proof read by my dad before being sent for grammar/spelling corrections.

Please can i have any tips? Do i need to include anything else?
 
I replied to this once and it said deleted, now it is back, oh well.

You can't be certain that a show will say anything about sponsorship so be careful with that one.
If it is just for entry fees I wouldn't bother ,I know only too well they cost a lot but they may feel you owe them something and I would rather be independent.
If you are asking for more[ or in the future you want more] are they a firm that make or deal in things that we may buy as that may help. eg. if I see someones horses looking super and they are sponsored by a feed I am more likely to use it.
Hope this goes through this time
 
I want to write to my uncle
tongue.gif
 
I deal with sponsorships for a living, I help agricultural shows, music shows etc. I also SJ.

BSJA have lots of advise on sponsorship arrangements and how to approach a company and what to ask for.

You need to come at it from a companies point of view. Find out their marketing plans. a few phone calls will get you this info. Then find out the TOP marketing persons name (make sure any letter is addressed correctly).

Build the aggreement around them, not "this is what i need and this is what you get", its more of "look what i can do for you"....
eg, most companies DO NOT do it for the advertising, this is common misconception. They do it for the PR, linage in papars is worth 10x the weight of an advert.

This may not entirely be the case for you if you are only asking for a small amount, but remember that companies that do 1500 p/year deals will generaly expect 6-8 PR articles mentioning them.
This is why even our top riders struggle to get real deals just contra deals (feed companies etc)

good luck
 
it has been said on here that if you have advertising on the side of your trailer or horsebox, then it counts as using it "for hire or reward"... not sure if this is true, but worth checking out, i think.
if his company is local to you, or somehow involved in horsey stuff, then i think you can stress the possible advantages etc.
it doesn't cost much to get jackets, rugs etc done (i got 2 really nice jackets with embroidery on front and back, and 2 nice fleece rugs with logos on, for about £200, when i had a sponsor.) just that gets the company's name shown around a lot, which my sponsor really appreciated.
very best of luck.
 
Why would you not be allowed to do amateur classes if you have sponsorship? Just because she might get sponsored, doesnt make her not an amateur (if you get my drift) as a professional is someone who competes to make a living is it not?!
 
Nobody seems to have mentioned you. You need to mention past aerformance and furure goals. The company needs to know what sort of coverage they are going to get. If you are advertising on your trailer where will it be travelling? If they are sponsoring you then you are an ambassedor for their company.
Benefits for their company are important too. If they are not a horsey company then think of who their potential customers are. Would these people own horses or be at shows. Will you be driving the trailer through areas where customers will be?
Do you have a website where you could advertise their support or let them know they can put you on theirs. People often like to see the human side of companies and local sponsorship is a good way of showing community support.
Sorry this ended up really long!! Hope you made it through
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why would you not be allowed to do amateur classes if you have sponsorship? Just because she might get sponsored, doesnt make her not an amateur (if you get my drift) as a professional is someone who competes to make a living is it not?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Because most of the society rules say that if you are sponsored you are no longer amateur. And to be honest, as soon as a company offers you money, you are taking payment for your hobby, in which case you should no longer be classed as an amateur. Who is to say whether it is enough money to fund your horse or just a jacket and a rug.
 
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