WOW, I knew it was needed, but I never expected to see this much demand. Reality Check – Straight Talk about Sponsorship Marketing is really being bought up. I had the pleasure of writing this with Janet Gadeski. It is Canada’s first and only book dedicated to sponsorship and how to make sponsorship work for properties and rights holders.
The pre-publisher price in the summer logged lots of orders! Then this fall, when the product was off the presses and available for sale, it continued to grow in popularity. Thank you to all who ordered and read it, and provided me and your peers with feedback. It is really appreciated.
Last week, we made the book available at the SMCC Western Sponsorship Congress™ with a special Congress offer and also at the Alberta Parks and Recreation Conference in Jasper. We sold out of available copies at both events. So, why the “craze” for it?
I can only think it is the content and the ongoing need for professional development and case studies. As I noted last week at the Congress, there is still a huge desire to learn more of the basics. Reality Check dedicates four chapters to proposal development with formats, examples, and case studies. The book has been designed not as a narrative about the industry, but rather a text book with direction, tools, case studies, and “ready to put into practice” concepts and metrics. The newbies are using it as a text book, but even the veterans are using it to refresh and re-energize. Post-secondary schools are looking at it for curriculum. I believe the interest lies in the fact that senior or junior, new or established, the book offers sound advice and tools for success. It brings us back to a “reality check” on what we should be doing versus what we may be doing presently.
Here is some of the feedback we have received:
“At last someone has written a ‘how to’ manual for development professionals. As one who has sat on both sides of the desk, I have always believed not-for-profit organisations missed the mark when approaching the corporate sector for support. This is definitely a must-read for anyone looking for corporate support.”Tom McCabe, President – Recently Retired, Theatre Calgary
“Brent has produced a book that is a ‘first of its kind’ for Canada. In his own inimitable way, Brent has written a clear, concise, no nonsense book on the sponsorship industry particularly as it pertains to Canada. This book should be an indispensable tool for all those involved in the management, selling, and activating of properties regardless of category and size. In the rapidly evolving world of sponsorship in Canada, sponsors and sponsorship agencies alike will gain new perspectives from the insights delivered to properties within the pages of this book.” Jim Tobin, Director, Sponsorship & Philanthropy, Scotiabank, International Banking Marketing
“This book demystifies sponsorship with clear descriptions of what each party’s legitimate expectations should be, and how to go about realizing those expectations, from first thoughts about possibilities through to the realization of the project and determining the benefits derived. David T. Barnard, Ph.D., President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Manitoba
Tell me what you think! I welcome the feedback.