Finding a sponsor

As some of you know my daughter has recently been selected for the England A squad
we have to go to a competition every month.
Training 5 times a week.... travelling to London Birmingham and Barnsley each month( one month in one place next month another and so on) Don't even get me started on kit price!! We're trying to find a sponsor but no ones showing any interest or they already sponsor local footie teams.....
Any ideas on how to get a sponsor???
Or better ways to go about it than threatening them with a knife :)
And no I'm not willing to sell myself or pictures or webcam etc .....

4karate

How much we talking? She could become the first Saddoboxing backed sports star.

Haha ATM we r talking anything that could help !! That would be cool ;0)
she's having her own web page made (should be finished soon) so I could see what I could get by way of advertising on there ??? But just don't know how to go about it

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Originally Posted by katfight

Haha ATM we r talking anything that could help !! That would be cool ;0)
she's having her own web page made (should be finished soon) so I could see what I could get by way of advertising on there ??? But just don't know how to go about it

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The website is a good idea and that will help.. Advertising on it is a good idea as well... Mainly for whoever ends up sponsoring her.

For starters I honestly think sponsoring your kid will appeal to someone, so it's certainly not silly idea...

Finding just a simple generous person on the other hand is tough.. I would just think of things that you can offer them for a return on their investment... Are the kids allowed to compete with a badge or something on their uniform? If not, on a robe or something they wear over it? (sorry that's boxing).. But something advertising the business...
I guess it would most likely be a small business that would sponsor,,, so one thing that any business likes is the image of helping the community.. So you could offer a certificate (framed or unframed) that thanks them for their sponsorship of *** for competing in the ****.. Maybe with a photo as well....
Business always like to hang those type of things on their wall.. Makes them feel good about themselves and look good when clients come in... Plus sponsoring someone in Karate is really interesting..

That's all I can really think of at the moment... Just thinking of little things that you can give them back for their money which make them feel good about themselves and make them look good on a supporting their community level...

Setting up the website and maybe having a video or something will be good, just when you let businesses know about her and that she needs a sponsor, they will have a cool website to visit and really see what's happening with her...

I think it will just be luck, talking to enough places or mailing them until it hits a note with someone and they are really happy to do it..

Good luck!

Thanx that is helpful she's in the local paper at least once a month as she tends to medal at every comp so anyone sponsoring would be mentioned on there and she could were the t-shirt or jumper whatever of the sponsor all day at any event before and after fighting
I have plenty on videos of her to put on
I'm off this weekend I really need to work on this !!! Thanx for your help xx

I wish her all the success possible, show us some links once the videos are up. As I am not in the UK, I could hardly help but I know a few people working for european banks and stuff like this, I can always ask them if they know if their banks/companies sponsor something and then try to get the info back to you.

I'd appreciate that I'll post some videos in a bit

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Originally Posted by katfight

I'd appreciate that I'll post some videos in a bit

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Luxembourg is a great place for money, I just odn't know how they work for sponsorship outside the country. I'll give it a try, nothing to lose.

Any more ideas !! ??? Someone must have one outta all the members in here there must be more than one person with ideas!! ??? Please ;)

Mine was a serious one? Set up a donations page, we all give her some cash, simples. The collective saddoboxing might has got to be enough for sumink, even if its just some kit.

When I helped start an adult soccer league I went to sports equipment businesses and offered ads on our website. I also offered a "sponsor" list on our trophy. I told a sports bar that we would hold all our meetings at their establishment in return for a donation. When I ran a team in the league I got a vendor to donate part of the jersey costs and in return their name was on our jerseys. I'd suggest talking to whomever you purchase your child's karate gear from. Explain the amount of exposure (entry in tournaments) and ask if they'd make a donation return for their name on her gear. Hope this helps.

I'll do both ..... Her kit is purchased from our sensei's dad.... Her gii is ko and he's the only uk supplier as the are hand stitched italian made and 80 for that alone some gi's u can get for a tenner but when u stand up with a better Gii it makes an impression :) thanx again you two xx

just go to businesses and ask them. make sure you speak to the owners, and not the workers, managers etc. lots of businesses sponsor sport. it's a tax write off for most of them.

We've sent out letters all over the place

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Originally Posted by katfight

We've sent out letters all over the place

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MAke a list of all of the benefits and how many people they will reach ,exposure etc. Then make a follow up call to each one.

School news letter? maybe reach parents with businesses.

A Japanese restaurant would be cool.

Are you allowed to raffle something off over a year to get funding?

Like if you know anyone famous get them to sign something relevant,books, gloves ,pics,stumps,balls whatever and buy a few raffle ticket books and away you go.

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Originally Posted by katfight

We've sent out letters all over the place

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your success rate of sending letters vs real life difference will be huge. it's so easy to dismiss a letter, toss it into the garbage. quickly write it off as a scam or "dont got time for this right now" w/e . almost as easy as dismissing a phone call as the same. in person, you are tangible and have their attention, and will be taken a hell of a lot more seriously.

I've been sponsored since I was 14, At first by asking for it, to the point i got people coming to me for it now. But it started by knocking on some doors and shaking some hands. No one ever paid attention when i simply called.

So she's best going to people's business places and asking xx

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Originally Posted by katfight

So she's best going to people's business places and asking xx

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well, you can do it, or with her would be best. you can call and try to make appointments to see the owner, but it is easier if it begins with physical contact of some sort. it's all about it being tangible. letters an ph calls are easily dismissed and forgotten, faces and human contact, not so much.

What type of business would u recommend ?? Sports ?? Food ???