Have Your Cheez Doodle and Eat it Too

I recently was following a Wise Snack truck and on the back there was a "seal" claiming that they were the official "Cheez Doodle" of the Boston Red Sox. Who knew? This is not an uncommon sight in this location. I've seen the official yellow pages, office supplier, and tire company to name a few random ones. The Red Sox are very good at selling sponsorships for the team and there is obviously no end to what you can be the official sponsors of!

Non profits can learn a lot from this model. If you've got it--sell it! So often, the non profits that I work with on fundraising are afraid to ask for money or do sponsorship programs outside of the traditional. But I have found in my experience that by finding creative items to sell as part of a fundraising event you are able to cross several price points ($5K and $10K sponsors are harder to find) and make it more fun for the purchaser. Yes the companies purchasing are wanting to support a worthwhile cause, but why can't they benefit in the equation. In essence, have your cheez doodle and eat it too!

Here are just a few fun sponsorships that have been selling very well on our events:

Signature Cocktails--allow the sponsor to select and name a signature cocktail and team it with branded napkins

Photo Opp--create a large scale banner to have at the entrance of your event (who doesn't want to have a red carpet experience) and sell logo space on the banner. Their brand will be in every event photo.

Snack Attack--at an upcoming golf tournament we sold branded, reuseable snack bags that will be given to each golfer to nosh on during the 18 holes. You can sell water bottle sponsorship in addition.

Limelight--for potential sponsors that would enjoy time in the limelight, you can sell the ability to present an award or other on stage acknowledgment.

If in doubt, ask your potential sponsors what they would like to sponsor or how they would like to bring their expertise to your next event.

A Celebrate Chopper

Last night my husband and I were watching an episode of American Choppers: Junior vs. Senior. I'm definately taking Paul Jr.'s side these days, but I think that might be due to the slant of the producers...but I digress. While we were watching yet another "branded" bike being unveiled, my husband says, "I think you need to do a Celebrate chopper." When I was nine I had a traumatic "moped incident" and have been leary of motorcycles ever since. Mind you most motorcycle enthusiasts wouldn't put the moped in the same category! In any case, I don't think this is a good product placement for me. But it did get me thinking. If I were to do product/service placement where would it be? As business owners we have many opportunities to sponsor events, buy advertisements, brand products, etc. Some to benefit a good cause and others for promotion--covering all price points.

Celebrate's ideal client is an active entrepreneur or business owner of a mid sized company, in the greater Boston area, usually between the ages of 40-60 and preferably good natured with a sense of humor. So the question is, where are they and what are they watching? I could probably rule out The Bachelor! Two do come to mind. On a grand scale I could become the "Official Marketing and Event Planning Company of the Boston Red Sox" or I could offer my event planning services to a This Old House unveiling.

Any other suggestions? What about your company?

Go Big or Go Home

In the world of reality television I am an avid follower of culinary and design competition shows with a side of Amazing Race. As I've been catching up on my recorded shows over the holiday break one phrase keeps coming up. Go Big or Go Home. On Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker that means creating a cake that exceeds the 36" height requirement and including pyrotechnics, but what does it mean to you and your business? As you kick off the new year and put your goals down on paper where can you "Go Big or Go Home"? I would love to hear what you come up with and I'll let you know where and how I apply this to Celebrate in 2011.

Happy New Year!