IEG’s Sponsorship Blog

For Sponsorship Sellers, Time = Money

Posted: 5/3/2010 2:00:18 PM by Dan Kowitz | with 1 comments

It is amazing how spoiled we have become. We get instant information through texting, social media and the Internet. We can have dinner ready in five minutes or less in the microwave and then we can watch our favorite TV show in record time as we zip through the recorded version. In some cases, we can accomplish a task that used to take two hours perhaps, such as shopping for clothes at the mall, in less than 30 minutes sitting at home online. And all of this without ever having to speak with a single soul.

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Filed under: selling

IEG 2010: Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Partnerships

Posted: 3/23/2010 5:33:15 PM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

The evolution of cause marketing, CSR and the entire spectrum of nonprofit partnerships has been an enormous topic of conversation at IEG 2010: Unbound. From the pre-conference session with panelists from Allstate and Children’s Miracle Network to sessions presented by Green Mountain Coffee and Susan G. Komen, there have been some very clear common themes.  Success in nonprofit partnerships for brands and properties alike can be defined based on the following elements:

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Filed under: cause marketing, IEG 2010, IEG conference, nonprofit, branded content

Corporate Sponsorship and Its Role in Saving Education

Posted: 2/9/2010 8:45:17 AM by Dan Kowitz | with 5 comments

A spelling bee in Livingston County, Ill. was recently cancelled because the local paper, The Pantagraph announced it was not able to sponsor the event this year.

That seems to beg a much larger question: Why are so many school districts across the country not able to fund programs, particularly in arts, music and in this case a spelling bee?

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Filed under: local, music, sports, arts

Sponsorship Can Save The Planet, WOW!

Posted: 1/11/2010 3:50:31 PM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

Creative Recycling Systems, a Florida-based business focused on recycling electronics, has signed a multi-level sponsorship agreement with the boy band sensation WOW. The deal seems to be a good fit, and according to Lisa Pizarro-Yob, COO of Creative Recycling Systems, “WOW is a positive role model and is the perfect liaison to the tween/teen market who own electronic devices that can be recycled.”

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Filed under: music, selling, entertainment

A Sponsorship Takeaway From Bono’s “Ten for the Next Ten”

Posted: 1/6/2010 11:16:32 AM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

U2 lead singer and humanitarian activist Bono’s recent op-ed piece in The New York Times entitled “Ten for the Next Ten” had several cool ideas that may be controversial to some and trendsetting to others.

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Filed under: research, international

Key Insights From The 2009 International Film Festival Summit

Posted: 12/8/2009 4:04:29 PM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

I am in Las Vegas this week for the 2009 International Film Festival Summit. Yes, the shows and the gambling (Don’t worry honey, I didn’t spend much!) can be distracting but the summit content has been fantastic. What I find comforting in a way is that many of the sessions are about issues, challenges and opportunities we all are dealing with.

There are many sessions specific to the film festival industry, but just as many sessions that provide good counsel for all industries. Here are five key insights from several sessions that may help you:

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Filed under: festivals, how to get sponsorship, selling, events

Eco-Conscience Title Sponsorship for U.K. Sailing Team

Posted: 11/24/2009 9:05:15 AM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

Have you ever heard of a property donating an $8.3 million title sponsorship slot? Well you have now! Team Origin, a U.K. America’s Cup team founded by business man Keith Mills, is donating the title sponsorship of their team to Carbon Trust, an independent business set up by the U.K. government to affect positive change regarding low-carbon economies.

Team Origin is an eco-conscience team at heart but they also believe this to be a good financial decision. “This is a different way of marketing sport and a model that has a lot of promise going forward” said Tom Delay, CEO of Carbon Trust. According to Mr. Delay “The team has said it believes in being sustainable in terms of our environmental impact, and we are going to attract a number of sponsors who all want to be associated with that as a core value.”

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Filed under: international, pro sports, selling, sports, cause marketing

Face-to-Face Is Now A Unique Form of Activation

Posted: 11/23/2009 10:32:47 AM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

I was telling the story this week about one of my first jobs, which was in the telecommunications industry. Before starting my career in sponsorship, I was in the public and government relations department. My first task of the day was to arrive at about 6:30 a.m. and read eight newspapers, cut out any article that mentioned our company from every section of the paper, tape each clipping to 8.5’ x 11’ paper, make 30 sets of copies and hand deliver them to the desks of the senior execs by 8:30 a.m. (The execs did not want to wait for the press clipping company, which would not usually deliver till afternoon.)

As you can see, there was nothing electronic or instant about this process. This story also dates me and clearly illustrates a time in business when electronic communication was nothing like today.

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Filed under: digital media, activation

Experienced-based Sponsorship is Award-winning for Clorox

Posted: 11/12/2009 10:24:46 AM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

For years we have been talking about how sponsorship has become much more than just hanging banners for visibility. It provides a platform to truly engage with consumers and potential customers. When sponsorships are designed around an enhanced user experience, the outcomes are typically much more fruitful for all involved. The deal is executed in an authentic way and the property, the sponsor and the consumer all win.

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Filed under: entertainment, music, activation

The Business of College Athletics Costs UCF A Future Deal with adidas

Posted: 11/6/2009 3:42:39 PM by Dan Kowitz | with 0 comments

This has been a hot topic for several years and it is only getting hotter. The University of Central Florida has had an ongoing relationship with adidas and had a verbal agreement on a $3 million exclusive contract. That of course meant that the UCF men’s basketball team would be wearing adidas shoes on the court. When Marcus Jordan, Michael Jordan’s son, wore Nike shoes in the season debut this week, the issue boiled over. Representatives from adidas have now said there will be no deal with UCF.

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Filed under: sports