I am late posting on this topic
I have sat back and read the posts because I wanted ppls perspective
on the question of Sponsors
a year ago, the question was.. Should we have Kawasaki Dealer sponsors?
and the answer at that time, from 'most' members was yes.
The club at that time was growing (still is) and without a committee, a board
no el presidente, it was one big social club
which is I am pretty sure what most of us still want it to be.
We thought our size would (should) give us some benefits
so a few members (myself included) went out and 'arranged' a sponsor
with the support of most of the other members.
The sponsorship was also seen as giving us a legitimacy ...
we were not just a mob of idiot bike riders
the Tees were to help us be one of the better bike groups
the Kwaka support just added to all this
The deals were simple ..at no initial cost to dealer, we did the advertising
(web site tshirts)and for that...
we would, IF we frequented their business get some sort of discount
(on service or tyres or clothing etc etc)
so
MORE business for the dealer if we went
and if we did not go there, no cost to him ('cept less business)
so...
12 months later, what happened?
the single dealer per capital city has not worked as well as expected
and why?
*distance for one.. why travel from Campbelltown to Parramatta or Melton to Brighton for 5% or 10%.
*Members preference..if you like dealing with the bike mechanic around the
corner coz he gives no BS, why move?
*The dealers..don't understand who we are. They have no KSRC individual ( or committee member) to deal with,
no one KSRC person to ring them and say why did you ignore our member who came to
buy the tyre(or helmet etc)
(and I am NOT volunteering )
The dealers are used to Kwaka OZ handling all the rider support stuff
(just join KRC! yeah right!

)
*The dealers have not been as enthusiastic as we had hoped
yep they took our stickers and then...?
anyone seen a KSRC sticker on a dealer window?????
And
*The dealers staff do not help..its like walking into Myers or Target
and asking for a discount ...blah, you get nowhere.
so the future???
this raises some interesting questions
like
do we start to be more formal..with a committee?
do we seriously chase business support?
do we get cards/tags/whatever to ID ourselves?
do we make those Admins/mods/ride leaders spokespersons for the club?
Do we do an MRA or Ulysses and get an official Sponsor/supporters list?
and then get 'official'?
imo
No, No, maybe, No, possibly and No.
and
what happens if the dealer is bought out/changes hands?
will the new guy honour the deal?? no guarantee there
in the meantime
I am interested to hear views about what I commented on
my 2c
apologies for the length...
Smitty