"I need a sponsor!" campaign dropped

Discussion in 'Thomas Laybourn Forum' started by Laybourn, Mar 12, 2010.

  1. Laybourn

    Laybourn Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2003
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Copenhagen
    Hi everybody, as you might have read on Badzine or on Facebook, i wasn´t alowed to play with my new campaign "I need a sponsor" on my T-shirt. I think the rules on this is totally ridicolous, and just because the referee thought it was unappropiate i missed the chance to notify interested sponsors that i´m "for Sale". What if i had a sponsor with a funny name, was that also not allowed, i just mean that the rules on this i way to loose.

    What do you think about this, am i wrong?

    Check my video interview here on Badzine:
    http://www.badzine.info/index.php/f...2010-video-thomas-laybourn-gets-creative.html

    Thomas
     
  2. huangkwokhau

    huangkwokhau Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2007
    Messages:
    18,486
    Likes Received:
    87
    Occupation:
    sales & design
    Location:
    everywhere
    Anne Rice used campaign" Right to play"...to me..it is same thing...
     
  3. druss

    druss Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2009
    Messages:
    1,685
    Likes Received:
    37
    Location:
    Edmonton, AB
    I both agree and disagree.

    I agree with you in that you should be allowed to wear whatever you want as long as it does not distract the opponent and is appropriate clothing (regardless of the print, logo or designs).

    I disagree in that I don't think that on the court is the right venue for advertising your availability. I think that wearing a completely plain white shirt could have told everyone that you don't have a sponsor just as well.

    I still remember all those years that andre agassi couldn't play at wimbledon because he refused to wear white.
     
  4. Laybourn

    Laybourn Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2003
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Copenhagen
    Your right that maybe it is not the right place to advertise, or maybe it is JUST the right place, because i´m trying to make a point wich i cant do anywhere else.

    I´m trying to reach out to sponsors via the TV media and "say" that it is actually possible to "buy" my T-shirt. In Tennis it is NOT possible for the players to wear advertising, so many maybe thinks it is not possible in badminton as well, becuase almost nobody wears anything on the shirt.

    Thomas
     
  5. demolidor

    demolidor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2003
    Messages:
    5,507
    Likes Received:
    127
    Location:
    @Hollanti
    Unless as the rules say "if the content of the advertising would infringe local laws or be considered offensive" I really don't see a reason to not allow it. On the other hand I was just thinking, who will be the next to follow. Before you know it half the players will have the same

    A little further up though:

    23.4 Restrictions on the advertising

    23.4.1 The advertisements in Regulations 23.2 and 23.3 may be the clothing manufacturer’s emblem or that of any sponsor.

    23.4.2 Each advertisement shall only be of one organisation or product.


    Had you started an organization you could've gotten away with it, as like the "Right to Play".

    Made me think of all those football players that lift their shirt over their head to show their personal message underneath. That's what you pay €10 million+ a year for :D (as a shirtsponsor)
     
    #5 demolidor, Mar 12, 2010
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2010
  6. kwun

    kwun Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2002
    Messages:
    41,043
    Likes Received:
    2,066
    Occupation:
    BC Janitor
    Location:
    Santa Clara, CA, USA
    Thomas,

    maybe a more subtle message like "Your Ad Here" might work better.

    good luck with finding a sponsor.
     
  7. druss

    druss Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2009
    Messages:
    1,685
    Likes Received:
    37
    Location:
    Edmonton, AB
    Actually, it is possible to wear advertising on their shirts in Tennis but I believe there is a restriction on the size of it. Many players have small patches of companies sewn on to their shirts on the shoulder sleeves.

    Maybe it was the size of the print? Something smaller with wording such as Kwun used?
     
  8. ctjcad

    ctjcad Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2004
    Messages:
    19,083
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    u.s.a.
    ..i would think that's the main reason.
    Whatever is put/sewn on the shirt must be of an organization or product or sponsor based. Other wise, other players would do the same or put all types of non-product slogans or personal messages.

    Putting it in a more subtle or in different wordings or in smaller size might work, but will it be noticeable enough??..

    One thing is for sure, though, this has caught some attention (indirectly) in this forum.
     
    #8 ctjcad, Mar 12, 2010
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2010
  9. demolidor

    demolidor Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2003
    Messages:
    5,507
    Likes Received:
    127
    Location:
    @Hollanti
    'In other news a new organisation called "Forget the whales, Save Thomas" ...' :D
     
  10. b.leung

    b.leung Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2006
    Messages:
    286
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    Thomas, first of all, I wanna say you're an amazing player!
    And yes, I think what you did was brilliant in a marketing stand point.
    However, it does seem a bit distracting for opposing teams, so I do agree with a different form of execution.
    Maybe entering the court with a training sweater with the same logo on the back, and taking that off during the match.
    Or possibly do free campaigning over youtube... give short instructional videos on badminton (possibly mixed doubles tactics... not too many of those around)
    Use the viewership as leverage to negotiate sponsorship
    because if you can reach a stable group with decent exposure, any sponsor that knows good marketing will start to open up more

    alternatively, you can look into opening workshops, and similar events
    first have sponsors give products as "samples" or draw prizes in those workshop
    to "get their name out there"
    it is at no extra expense for the manufacturers but it works great to get their products out to the consumers, and it will definitely hit target markets
    talk to manufacturers of sports-related products, such as health drinks, power bars, or equipment ie yonex, forza, head, etc...

    once those settle and get a good drawing each event, you can use that as leverage again for training-related sponsorship, court time, equipment expense, travel expense
    and eventually move up to bigger sponsorship deals

    of course, all this is done in theory, and hope this helps
    i actually have no idea of your actual situation whether you've thought of this or not, but really hope you can continue to train full-time instead of having to work on the side to maintain a living

    best of luck
    your fan =)
    brian
     
  11. Thom_bad

    Thom_bad Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2009
    Messages:
    2,490
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Saskatoon, Canada
    A European champion should have a sponsor !! :)
    did you wear your "I need a sponsor" shirt this week in Manchester ?
     
  12. Randomlegend

    Randomlegend Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    239
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    School
    Location:
    UK
    Could you be the first player to be sponsored by Dink :D

    Panda Power!
     
  13. phaarix

    phaarix Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2006
    Messages:
    2,301
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Aotearoa
    Shouldn't that be up to the sponsor though? Not that I know anything about it really...

    I do think it's pretty silly. If an organisation is allowed to advertise, why can't a player? The message isn't offensive, what's the problem...? I don't like this ruling at all...

    Besides, I can't see silly messages being too much of a problem. Why would a player give up having a sponsor just to write a silly message on their shirt?
     
  14. b.leung

    b.leung Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2006
    Messages:
    286
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    any updates thomas??
     
  15. Drgn01

    Drgn01 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2010
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    I'm just as curious now too.. Have you been able to find a sponsor yet?

    I honestly don't find anything wrong with it.. I don't see how it could distract the opponent, and it definitely isn't offensive to anyone.

    Best of luck Thomas, hopefully this gets resolved and you end up with a sponsor. :)
     
    #15 Drgn01, Apr 18, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2010
  16. DinkAlot

    DinkAlot dcbadminton
    Brand Representative

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2005
    Messages:
    12,682
    Likes Received:
    290
    Occupation:
    Social Distancing Specialist
    Location:
    Southern California
    Could be a possibility. Panda wonders how many rackets TL requires? :D
     
  17. ants

    ants Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2002
    Messages:
    13,202
    Likes Received:
    51
    Occupation:
    Entrepreneur , Modern Nomad
    Location:
    Malaysian Citizen of the World
    Thomas need cash sponsorship...
     
  18. Randomlegend

    Randomlegend Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    239
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    School
    Location:
    UK
    I was joking really...
     
  19. ctjcad

    ctjcad Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2004
    Messages:
    19,083
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    u.s.a.
    - The thing is, Thomas doesn't/didn't have a sponsor. He was looking for one.
    - It's not so much whether the message is offensive or not, the ruling only wants sponsorship/organization to be shown on the players' tees.
    - Not so much abt putting silly messages, but if players are allowed to put any personal messages, imagine the possibility of putting a political, religious, controversial type slogan/messages. That's what BWF wants to avoid (see the BWF rulings, i posted, on the previous page).
     
    #19 ctjcad, Apr 19, 2010
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2010
  20. Laybourn

    Laybourn Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2003
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Copenhagen
    Hi again

    It is still not possible to find a sponsor, i wear the t-shirt with the "i need a sponsor" in Euro Champs and was shown to millions of viewers, but STILL no sponsor or even a call for somebody who is interested in knowing the price of my "place" on the shirt.

    I´m working on a new project wich i will get back to when i´m ready to launch it.

    Thomas
     

Share This Page