[D.J.]

I am in the same boat as a lot of you guys. I get a lot of free requests. I generally don't do it. I have two sponsored anglers on a local level. I give them quite a bit of free stuff, but they also promote my stuff very well during tournaments and with tournament shirts, hats, and decals. They also give me imput, on what they like/dislike about the baits. They also give me great ideas on color combinations and new bait ideas. I have also given away 20-30 packs to some local bass clubs to distribute at meetings and for drawings. My reasoning is that the more people who initially get their hands on my product, will be more apt to buy it when they see it at the tackle store. Whatever you do, do not over extend yourself on the amount of product you are physically and financially able to provide.

[Predator Bass Baits]

I sponsor a local tournament here,
You can get full sponsorship of $100 per 7 tourneys and get your banner up at the tournament and be mentioned and get your website on theirs and when fliers are sent out your on them as well, Mine will take gift certificates for your product or $
Or a
Medium sponsor, with no banner and no fliers for $50 each
Or
Minor sponsorship, and be mentioned at the tournament and you give what ever you can give.
About 65 boats in this tournament

[jmik26]

Thanks for your opinions guys, as always gaining the experiences from guys that have been doing this for a long time is easier and less costly then making the mistake yourself. Our company has recently been contacted by a junior bass angler for sponsorship and he really didn't ask for much. Maybe I should reconsider? We did sponsor a local T-Ball team and that was pretty cool to see the little kids running around with the names on there shirts.

[Mattlures]

You guys are way too nice. I dont even respond to those emails (I average about 2 a week)unless I recognize they are from one of the top pros on tour and then they get a discount but not free. Stores get a price sheet with photos unless they aleady have an account with me and they buy alot then I have no problem sending them samples.

[mickeyg]

Junior Sponsonships
I haven't sponsored any individuals kids but I might sponsor one or two this year because I know them and there parents pretty well. Past couple years I have sponsored the MN Junior Champions anglers at the Junior Bassmaster World Championship. Pretty cool to see a kid with my logo on his shirt and he is standing next to Rick Clunn. I also give a box or two of lures at the beginning of the year to give out the about the half dozen junior bass clubs.

Pro Staff
I have only added 1 in the last two years. Most of them are local guys that I have fished against. I don't even consider email any more unless they give me specifics of how they have used my lures. No experience fishing my lures...and how do you plan to promote and sell them?

Free Handouts Requests
Very few if any these days. Have heard the "my club" <fill in the blank> and they never turn into sales and rarely get a thank you. Most of the free stuff I gave away are part of my Fishers of Men tournament trail sponsorship.

[Shawn M]

Del,

It would be a very slim minority that would pull a "military card" to try and get something for free.

I've been serving in the US Air Force for 19 1/2 years and I assure you my fellow service members, in all branches, do not serve for free stuff. We do it out of such things as "duty", "commitment", "service before self", I could go on.

I wake up every morning pround of the men and women that serve and have served before me. I serve, by serving I mean I serve my superiors, my subordinates, and my great Nation. That is what I have been doing since I was a 17 year old kid.

Maybe you had a bad experience, there are bad apples in every walk of society, but "cards"?!?

I apologize for getting on a soapbox, but this is just insulting.

By the way, I don't list military or USAF as on occupation on my profile because it is not a job, it's who I am.

Done.

Shawn

Originally Posted by Delw

Like Nove said sponsorship is a big joke. Everything wants something for nothing, they will tell you anything you want to hear just to get free stuff.

No offence to anyone in the military, but when they start playing the military card its just another way to get crap for free.

most guys that are sincere will never play the military card, race card , I am a kid card, I am a firefighter card, I am a cop card etc. they throw that in only to give them an edge into geting something for free.

Same thing goes for pros, if they really want your product they will buy it use it and if it works for them they will but it again.

sorry if it sounds so negitive, but everyone thinks cause you are a manufacturer that you can give everything away for free. Especially friends they are the worse ones.

[rxfish]

I wouldn't have to pour anymore if I had the money I spent on handing out free samples but because I can't make connections with people in some parts of the country I send them. But now I say that if they get me into some of the shops in their area, then I can send them more, and its working. I am sponsoring 1 young kid in Missouri who is fishing the Junior Bassmaster circuit and did in fact send me a resume. Who knows, he may be another Gary Klein. I keep tract of the freebees I send and list it under advertising and if they don't produce an order its not a total loss. And another tid bit for you. 2 worms in a worm bag in a business size envelope mailed anywhere in the U.S. is 52 cents and considered not machinable mail. And I had 3000 requests in the last 2 weeks. You do the math.

[alsworms]

Originally Posted by Shawn M

Del,

It would be a very slim minority that would pull a "military card" to try and get something for free.

I've been serving in the US Air Force for 19 1/2 years and I assure you my fellow service members, in all branches, do not serve for free stuff. We do it out of such things as "duty", "commitment", "service before self", I could go on.

I wake up every morning pround of the men and women that serve and have served before me. I serve, by serving I mean I serve my superiors, my subordinates, and my great Nation. That is what I have been doing since I was a 17 year old kid.

Maybe you had a bad experience, there are bad apples in every walk of society, but "cards"?!?

I apologize for getting on a soapbox, but this is just insulting.

By the way, I don't list military or USAF as on occupation on my profile because it is not a job, it's who I am.

Done.

Shawn

Let me just saying something here Shawn. First off, I'm damn proud of every one of you in the military serving our country. Thank you very much!!

Having said that, perhaps "card" was a bad choice of words, but I have received countless emails over the years from people claiming to be in the military to get free baits. This questions my belief in whether or not they really ARE in the military, because I believe a dedicated soldier would not resort to such tactics for a few plastic baits. Not defending or trying to speak for Del, but I believe this is what he meant on his post.

Peace Out!