Why are sponsors so important?
Let’s face it…pageantry can be expensive in different ways.
From wardrobe, hair and make-up, coaching, etc. it all can add up. While the costs are an INVESTMENT in YOU,
most of us have a budget to stick with, that’s where sponsors come in to
play! I would not have been able to be
successful at the state and International Pageant without the wonderful
sponsors I had to help me prepare. In
this blog, I will give you some tips and tricks to gaining sponsorship for you
as an individual and using state and national level sponsors.
How to gain sponsors for YOU:
1.
If there are businesses you currently have a
relationship with, work with them first!
I personally reached out to all the boutiques and dress shops that I had
gone to outside of my titleholder role, just as Laura.
2.
Tell them
about your title and the International Pageant system. The more businesses know about your title,
your platform, and what the International Pageant is all about, the more likely
they are to sponsor you!
3.
Be up-front; tell them what you are looking for
as far as a sponsor. Is it a discount, merchandise, services, etc? The more they understand your needs, the
better idea they have about what they can offer you for goods and services.
4.
Give back to them! As someone who has many sponsors, I
understand that in order to receive their services, I need to promote and
support them as much as I can. Work with
your potential sponsors to promote them via your social media, be a part of
their marketing brand, tell friends and family about their services, etc.
The North Dakota International Pageant and International
Pageant also have their own sponsors for local and state titleholders. USE THEM!
I was so happy that I was able to reach out to the majority of our state
sponsors before I left for Mrs. International.
I also used EVERY sponsor at the International Pageant level for my
preparation and at pageant week. These
people and businesses are sponsors for a reason. They understand the pageant, what you need as
a titleholder in regards to being successful, and provide the support for you
along the way.
My advice to you as a local titleholder: start now! With only four months left until the North
Dakota International Pageant, now is the time to start making those connections
and making your preparation that much less stressful. You will not only gain goods and services
with sponsorship but you will also create a larger support system for you as a
titleholder.
Please contact me with any questions, ideas, or concerns you
may have about sponsors. I am happy to
help!
Keeping Families Close,
Laura Schmidt
Mrs. North Dakota International 2018