Sponsorship Sales: Out with the Consultative Approach, In with Bidding?

About 10 years ago, I took up ceramics. The first class I took at one of the country's premier institutions, Philadelphia's The Clay Studio, host to the upcoming NCECA conference, was a hand-building course. I learned all sorts of techniques for creating pots, and the one I loved the most was using slabs of clay. Eventually, I began making tiles. To make a slab, you flatten a chunk of clay t...

B-M Kicks Off Sponsor Comm Division with Some Engaging Social Media Dialogue

Breaking: social media is the now. Actually, it was the yesterday, the now and in all likelihood in some different form, the future. Check out this buzzwordy video from the kick-off event at Burston-Marsteller's brand new sponsorship communications division featuring WPP sister consultancy, IEG, and execs from Sony Ericsson and Team HTC Columbia. A common theme: engagement. In fact, so much so ...

Links 04/20/10

Deals Bing Sets Music Free with iPhone App #SponsorshipQualcomm to Sponsor Augmented Reality EventMidnight Gaming Championship Tour Dials Up AT&TMiller Lite pays $13K to #Louisville Transit Authority to sponsor free public transportation on Derby EveShell NASCAR sponsorship moving to Penske Next SeasonSamsung has opted to end its #NFL #sponsorship as marketing focus turns to entertai...

Kelly Clarkson Responds to Sponsorship Controversy, Show Will Go On

American Idol star Kelly Clarkson responded in her blog today to the blogosphere's uproar over her upcoming performance in Jakarta, which will be sponsored by cigarette company, L.A. Lights. Calling it a "lose-lose situation," Clarkson says she won't cancel the date despite in "no way [being] an advocate for youth smoking." Here's her full statement: So ….my morning began with finding...

WNBA's Storm Look Beyond Sponsorship Fee For Bing Benefits

The Seattle Storm of the Women’s National Basketball Association today announced that Microsoft search engine, Bing, will receive placement on Storm jerseys and become the "official decision engine of the Storm." Bing will be the third company to sign a WNBA jersey sponsorship. While terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed, Storm CEO Karen Bryant says the deal was about much more than ...

Links 04/21/10

Deals Cisco kicks off Earth Day activities with X Prize #sponsorshipGMC to sponsor 2010 #NFL Draft VF Corp joins Lowes Foods as local presenting sponsor of 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Calgary Flames continue 15 year old partnership with telecom, TELUSWNBA's Storm Look Beyond #Sponsorship Fee For Bing BenefitsBobcats signs LifeLock as sponsor Trends & Tidbits Kelly Cl...

Cigarette Sponsor Dropped From Kelly Clarkson Tour Stop

It appears Kelly Clarkson, who says she found out about her April 29th tobacco-sponsored concert yesterday, has found a solution to the "lose-lose" situation she struggled with yesterday in her blog. Reports are that the sponsorship from Djarum, the maker of LA Lights cigarettes, has been dropped and the brand will not be promoted, afterall. No word on if a replacement sponsor has been found....

Kraft Hockeyville Reclaims Sponsorship Award

Kraft Hockeyville reclaimed its title as Best of Show at the 6th annual Sponsorship Marketing Awards presented during the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada's annual conference in Toronto on Tuesday. Kraft also won in 2007 for an earlier version of its Hockeyville promotion. "We received a record number of SMA entries from across Canada, making this our most competitive year ever," said...

Siemens Celebrates Earth Day, the Experiential Way

Siemens is doing its part to get the word out about today's 40th anniversary of Earth Day (and their official sponsorship of it) with two high profile experiences in New York and DC. With support from two Interpublic agencies (experiential agency, Jack Morton, and sports marketing giant, Octagon), the German electronics conglomerate is showcasing Siemens' sustainable innovations and technol...

Links 04/22/10

Deals Cincinnati's Fountain Square scores sponsors for prime entertainment season IZOD teams up with Mark Wahlberg in AquaHydrate marketing allianceBridgestone to be presenting sponsor at Rolex Kentucky Three-Day equestrian event Popsicle signs soccer #sponsorship in Canada to support 1,200+ local youth #soccer teamsTurkish Airlines Named Official Airline of the Euroleague #Basketbal...