Do you support ...

Does sponsorship help the industry? Maybe, but it is not necessarily beneficial to all; it may not be beneficial to you as a designer or builder. Take for instance John Menard mentioned by Messabout. I was in Menards on my usual daily run to buy supplies. Some of the managers know me on a first name bases, curiously I asked one what their opinion was of Mr. Menard. This person was upset because he belonged to a grass roots racing club that had become quite popular not only with racers, but with fans. One or more of Mr. Menards family members(sons I believe) became interested in the events, and Menard saw it as an excellent marketing venue for his do it yourself building supply chain, so he came in with big sponsorship money. This brought in new racers faster, newer, more expensive cars. It destroyed the club and pushed out its long loyal participants. The whole flavor of the event changed into a marketing venue. So what Chris has said hits the nail on the head, “designated target group with name, logo and message impressions”. Certainly some yachting events would not exist without this type of support. Before you take free money, you might want to consider, do you want your club, or your event to be filled with people who’s hearts are into boats, and into racing, or those who’s hearts are into money, fame, and an ostentatious display of their own ego. Money is never free, managed poorly, it is detrimental to clubs...brokers…builders…designers.

 

So, just how do you know what is actually "out there" when you are about to make your next purchase, if you are not affected by advertising? Is this pure serendipity, or what?

I'm not trying to hound you on this, so forgive me if it sounds that way in any shape or form. I'm more interested in your place in this whole ad crazy regime we endure on a daily basis and how you manage to screen yourself from its influence.

Unless you live non-electronically, way up among the hill people, I don't see how you can avoid, especially subliminally, an exposure, if you will, to advertising's omni-presence.

Surprisingly, even the hill people of SE Asia are now getting their own fair dose of the stuff through battery powered devices and satellite distribution. Literally, it's everywhere.

 

No problem--hound away.

I appear to be oblivious to it. when the ads come on the telly I will intentionally do something.

I can not be like Homer Simpson and keep staring at coloured lights.


There are ads that I have enjoyed and made me laugh but I couldnt tell you what they were advertising.

I have been de-sensatised,-- de brained.

How do I know whats out there?-- I shop-- weigh up prices etc, Surf.

Adverts rarely give that information.

Oh Oh Am I the centre of attention today. I dont think I am special.

I sometimes think that advertised merchendise may be inferior needing a market boost to clear unwanted stock.


Ive never seen a Rolls Royce advert!!

 

certainly not, I don't think I'm daft although that may be some folks opinion of me.

I was just curious how aware sailors are of companies that are connected in some way with sailing. If for instance you were looking at a Saab and a Volvo, both met your needs and both had fair pricing, would Volvo's connection with sailing influence the final decision to buy?

Another level would be that one might consider a brand that they would not have looked at if it were not for a connection with sailing. I have a high maintenance daughter ... she's very brand aware ... do I buy her a Gucci bag for Christmas or Prada? Heaven help me if Tiffany & Co start supporting sailing!

In my sailing area Mercedes is the headline sponsor for a Charity Challenge race. The crews get donations for the charity to earn points and there is a bonus for most points by crews in every division. Other sponsors donate prizes and the racers can use the points as cash when the items are auctioned. I think the grand prize was a 1 year lease on a Merc. The event gets boats from three clubs involved and IIRC the event raised over $60,000 for a local hospital.

Not trying to get people to buy anything ... just curious as to how aware they are of sponsorship and if they are influenced (good or bad).

Jack,

Companies are going to advertise, they are going to spend the ad budget somewhere ... it has little effect on the purchase price. I'd rather see the money in sailing than in flagpole sitting or lawn bowling ... so I buy from sailing sponsors when they have a product that I going to buy anyway.

 

Hi Randy,

I wasn't having a dig, I just wasn't sure what the exact question was. I guess Volvo wouldn's sponsor sailing if they didn'y think their cars were suitable for sailors. To this end I am more likley to buy a Volvo than a Saab, which might be more aimed at, for example, dog owners. As it is, I drive a Honda and have no intention of changing just yet!

 

Companies that sponsor sailing or any other sport are not sponsoring the sport, they are sponsoring the particular venue which will allow them the advertisement space.


Singha beer Thailand has just told the Thai government that if it cant advertise beer at the Singha challenge golf courses then it will not longer sponsor Golf. They gave them 2 weeks. i dont know what happened

Mmmm really into that golf,-- Harsh and to the point.

Sadam Hussains hanging was secretly recorded by a mobile telephone,--on a Nokia ,---I couldnt help but notice,-- now theres advertising.

As to suggest that they have a budget and will spend money on advertising any way is probably so, only because all the others do it.

If advertising was banned tomorrow I think that you would see a considerable price reduction on the heavily advertised consumer rubbish.

How much is 1 minute of TV? 1 million? 10 times a day or more? Over a month say?
Who do you think pays for that?

 

There is a time worn expression that we yanks used to repeat; "Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door". That was encouraging to inventors and entrepeneurs. Alas, it does not work that way. If I build a better mouse trap, it will mean nothing until the world actually knows that I have done so. Enter advertising!

This subject, advertising and the business who does so, involves some circuitous logic. One must sell his product, to do so he must inform of the availability and desireability of the product. He sells a lot of product, he creates jobs, including the jobs of people who might buy the product. If the business is to survive he must continue to sell the product, so he must continue to persuade more and more people to buy. Marketing costs are an integral part of producing and selling any product or service. If the producer of the product ceases to sell, then the jobs go away. Without jobs we can not buy the product or any other product. Henry Ford is said to have had a handle on this. He wanted to build cars cheaply enough so that his employees could buy them. Henry advertised plenty because his employees did not constitute a large enough market to assure prosperity.

Marketing involves costs one way or another. I can hire manufacturers reps or I can advertise heavily. If I don't do one or the other, or both of those things, my business will die. That is the grim reality. Bottom Line: If we don't advertise we can not continue to be a productive and prosperous society.

We have wandered far off the original aim of the first posting. We have gotten into a philosophic debate haven't we ? I'll vote again.....Yes, I will buy from someone who advertises in sailing venues if the value seems good and if I can afford it.

 

Why do coke continue to advertise coke. Is there possibly any one in the world who does not know of it.

What must this cost,-- you are buying flavoured water.

Is it necessary to pound away at an advertisement every 15 minutes on the TV?


To me this is an invasion and makes me despise the product being advertised.

 

No to be contrary but it seems to be my nature.

If you are watching a program on TV I hope it is a program you chose to watch. The advertiser's money is what funds the program you want to watch. Why would you despise the people that are entertaining you for free?

If the advertisement is at a movie or on a pay per view channel, you might have a point.

 

Maybe you could write to them and ask how much Coke you have to buy so they will run a variety of ads?

I understand completely. Also high on my dislike list are ads for adult diapers, denture creme, and ****** during my dinner hour.

Once you get to a certain age, you welcome the every 14 minutes breaks ... you are looking for a washroom anyway ...

edit ... the ****** was not what I posted ... it was the Brand Name of a prescription drug that is marketed to men with ... um ... er ... bedroom performance problems ... why it got changed to ****** is a mystery, I did not edit the post?!?!? What gives?

 

Thats right you cant say ****** on this forum. If you do it comes out as ****** ---see.

Only people with a speech impediment can say Viagwa