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PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL www.skiverticalchallenge.com
PARTNERSHIP PROPOSALwww.skiverticalchallenge.com
The Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski and snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast during each winter season. Skiers and snowboarders are divided by gender and age to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in each category. In addition to the races, there is a festival element, featuring snowy activities for all ages and prizes given away throughout a fun day at the mountain.
The longest-running ski and snowboard promotional tour in North America delivers sponsors an audience composed of close-knit, adventurous families with desirable income demographics. Our friendly crew members form lasting bonds with our customers and serve as standout brand ambassadors for our sponsors.
What is the Vertical Challenge?
5am-7am: Event setup (self-sufficient, no mountain help required)
7am-11am: Racer registration, DJ music, t-shirt give away, product sampling4pm: Vertical Challenge crew breakdowns down event and leaves the mountain in same or better condition than upon arrival.
11am-2pm: Competitive racing (skiers and snowboarders), prizes given out, DJ music, interactive consumer activities, product sampling
2pm-4pm: Awards ceremony (both medals and trophies), with the gold, silver and bronze competitor categories automatically entered into the Grand Finale held at the end of the season.
We have executed
468events over the
course of 26 years
©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
"The VC is so much more than just a family day of skiing and snowboarding, my kids have learned important values about winning, and losing graciously. It has also inspired them to give, and just become good people. Your 'crew' model the values that are so important to our family."
The Vertical Challenge looks to make a difference in the lives of families by creating an environment in which
they can enjoy fun and fitness while experiencing positive and lasting interactions with sponsors who add
value to their experience, a friendly and mentoring staff, and each other.
Sharon H., (part icipant)
©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
What is the VC’s big picture purpose?
©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
What is the average daily attendance/total attendance for each stop?
Families: Many in audience started coming to the VC as kids and now bring their own children. We cater to families.
Sponsor-loyal: Our immersive program creates true engagement, with the result being an affinity for our partner brands among our participants.
What relevant demographic data should I know?
7,000Approximately
people are in attendance per tour stop and are exposed to the Vertical Challenge presence
300-500actual participants
Of which
= 200,000winter sport enthusiasts annually (and thousands more online and in retail locations).
We expose sponsor brands onsite to more than
Attractive Incomes
32%$125,000+
29%$75,000-124,000
27%$35,000-74,000
12%<$35,000
Strengths of Vertical Challenge Relevant to Your Business
• Our participants are passionate about snow
sports and clearly have a need for the products you
sell.
• The VC not only caters to families, we develop a
deep level of engagement with them. They will
respond to your company’s positioning.
• We operate in the northeastern United States, the
heart of your customer base.
• In addition to driving traffic to retail locations, we
can direct customers to the online store, both onsite
and via our own social channels.
• We can make any initiatives we create
for sponsors a turnkey process,
especially helpful for a
smaller shop.
©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
We like to customize programs for sponsors to meet your goals, and we make those programs turnkey for our partners. Some common elements past sponsors have found effective include:
Onsite• Big banners/signage• Bigger inflatables
• Public Address Announcements• Branded Tents• Sponsorships of specific events/prizes• Sponsor-specific events/promotions for
employees/executives
Offsite• Inclusion in all collateral materials, as available• Branding on MDVC event vehicles and trailers• Retail promotions• B-to-B initiatives• Social responsibility opportunities
In-store• In-store promotions through Pepsi brands feature
the Vertical Challenge
©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
What assets are available for sponsors?
Incentive ProgramsThe VC has created ski-themed promotions to incentivize individual locations. We have found that employees respond to the chance to have fun skiing or snowboarding with their families, and that would likely apply to your employees more than most.
Online• Content marketing programs• Inclusion in social media posts• Inclusion in email newsletters
4.©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
What assets are available for sponsors?
skivc1991
skivc1991@verticalchallenge
The Vertical Challenge
5.©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
We promote the Vertical Challenge across a wide distribution of media and geography, including:
Earned Media• We seek earned media through press releases and
outreach in areas the tour visits (example : http://www.wmtw.com/news/mountain-dew-vertical-challenge/37899358).
Email marketing• Email blasts are regularly sent through VC,
SnoCountry, and sponsor channels.
In-store• In-store promotions through Pepsi brands feature
the Vertical Challenge
Online• We promote online through the tour-owned
website and social channels. We recently ramped up our social posting and are expecting an all-time high in impressions this year. SnoCountry promotes the tour on its website as well.
Onsite• At the events, we promote the day’s happenings
and also upcoming tour stops through PA announcements, signage, and more.
Posters 10,000 are distributed by Pepsi bottlers displayed on vending machines and at Pepsi retail accounts throughout the northeast U.S.
How and where Is the tour promoted?
6.©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
Print• We buy paid print advertising in ski association
magazines, such as Mountain Sports and Living, Ski New Hampshire, and Ski Vermont.
Radio• SnoCountry’s Ski Report is a 60-second radio report
that frequently mentions the Vertical Challenge events. It is heard seven days a week on 50+ radio stations in the Northeast region (ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY) from November thru March.
Snow Sports Shows• A booth at the annual Boston ski show, promoting
to some 30,000 consumers, as well as booths at regional ski association trade shows.
Sponsors• VIP Cards are distributed to our partners for their
employee usage.
Through Our Venues• The mountains we visit promote the tour stops
onsite and through their online and social channels.
Vehicle Graphics • VC-branded Chevrolet vehicles are driven year-
round through the northeast U.S.
Wearables• 5,000 t-shirts get distributed at VC events over the
course of a season, to get reworn by competitors many times.
How and where Is the tour promoted?
7.©2016. Vertical Challenge. All Rights Reserved.
We have a sizable sampling on our website : http://skiverticalchallenge.com/index.php/2013-07-24-15-17-18
What Does The VC Look Like Onsite? Show me some photos!
https://www.facebook.com/VerticalChallenge/photos/a.558025137557617.149805.551599721533492/1413291565364299/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/VerticalChallenge/photos/a.558025137557617.149805.551599721533492/1443721805654608/?type=3&theater
And here are a few of our favorites from social media :
LET’S DISCUSS NEXT STEPSLOOKING FOR THE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES?
You may have noticed that we haven’t included the traditional sponsorship packages.
There’s nothing traditional about our events and because we’re serious about seeking partnerships, it means that we will work together to find the best fit for our partners.
Let’s see how we can help your brand.
KEEP CALM AND SKI ON!
HEATHER CLIFFORDSponsorship [email protected]
www.skiverticalchallenge.com
Thank You
HEATHER CLIFFORDSponsorship Director
www.skiverticalchallenge.com
