Program Partners - Frequently Asked Questions
What is ThunderBay 1636? What is the Program Partners Initiative? How will you use the internet to sell Polos for us and generate funds for our program? How else can we get the word out? I would like to try this but I can’t give you any emails. There are privacy issues. How would one of our followers actually make the purchase and how will the Polos be delivered? Can our program or our school store purchase Polos directly if we want to? Do I have to do anything other than send out the email described above? Do we have to pay for anything? How much will the Polos cost? How much will my program get of the $72.50? What is the material of the ThunderBay Polos? What do you project that our Program can make as a Program Partner? What qualifies a Program as a Founding Program Partner? What other opportunities exist for Program Partners after the Spring Polo sale? What is a "Commemorative Polo"? What will a "Jersey Number Polo" look like? Explain the 10% for "other products" concept mentioned above. Do I have to sign up for the Back-to-School and Holiday Season Promotions now, or can I try the Spring Polo Sale first? What if we wish to quit the Program Partner Initiative? How will ThunderBay be promoting its brand this Spring? Do you offer any apparel for women? How can we participate in the ThunderBay Program, if we are supported by another sporting goods manufacturer (e.g. Nike, Under Armour, etc.)?
What is ThunderBay 1636?
ThunderBay
is the first lacrosse Apparel Company trading on Native American themes. Our garments
are of the highest possible quality and currently sold in exclusive men’s stores
from Boston to Orlando. Please feel free to visit our website: www.thunderbay1636.com
ThunderBay is also a place in time. ThunderBay is named after the location where French missionaries re-christened an ancient Native American game with the French word "Lacrosse". This occurred in 1636.
What is the Program Partners Initiative?
This
coming Spring ThunderBay will partner with High School and College Lacrosse teams
to sell ThunderBay Polos in school colors. Our Polos will identify the School Team
on the right sleeve, and, as always, will include our Mohawk Warrior on the left
chest.How will you use the internet to sell Polos for us and generate funds for our program?
ThunderBay
will provide you with a complete E-Advertisement to email everyone on your program’s
email list. If you prefer, you can have the head of your program’s foundation, parent’s
club, players or booster club e-mail the advertisement.
The E-Advertisement will ask them to consider purchases of the your Program’s Polos as a way of supporting the Program . In fact, the email will explain that ThunderBay is donating the ENTIRE RETAIL MARK-UP to the Program. There will be a couple of follow up emails that will go out that will be in the nature of "gentle" reminders.
How else can we get the word out?
Encourage
your players to spread the word and to build your email list. PTO, student council,
friends, girlfriends, Facebook, twitter and other Social Media… There are many ways
to do this and your players will know how to get it done. But, there is no requirement
other than the email.I would like to try this but I can’t give you any emails. There are privacy issues.
We
never ask for or get any emails from you. Your email list is your email list.How would one of our followers actually make the purchase and how will the Polos be delivered?
The
email from you will include an attachment. The attachment will be an advertisement
from us, complete with ThunderBay logos and photographs of the your Program’s Polos.
Upon request, we can show you a "mock-up" of the attachment that will go out with
your email.
Your email will include a link to the specific page on the ThunderBay website where the your Program's Polos can be purchased.
Polos purchased online will be shipped directly to the customer by ThunderBay. You will carry no inventory and have no delivery obligations or costs whatsoever!
Can our program or our school store purchase Polos directly if we want to?
Yes.
You are welcome, but are never obligated, to purchase Polos and have them custom
embroidered. You may find you're your Program's Polos useful to recognize contributions
on or off the field, golf tournaments, etc., but there is
no obligation.If your school store is willing to display the your Program’s Polos that will also help with sales but is not required. School stores are also welcome to sell the your Polos provided that the lacrosse team receives the lion’s share of the proceeds from school store sales.
**Please note that school stores may not sell our Polo for less than our suggested retail price.
Do I have to do anything other than send out the email described above?
NO!
Absolutely nothing!!!!Do we have to pay for anything?
NO!
You will never be asked to write a check.How much will the Polos cost?
Polos
customized for your Program will cost of the $72.50, which is our Manufacturer’s
Suggested Retail Price for 2012. This price compares favorably to other comparable
or lower quality polo shirts (e.g. Ralph Lauren, Peter Millar, Vineyard Vines and
Tommy Bahama). We will not charge anything more than our polo is sold for in stores
even though our costs for your Polo will be quite a bit higher than our cost for
our generic polos because of the custom embroidery.How much will my program get of the $72.50?
$30
goes to your team for each Polo purchased with your school’s team logo. FYI, ThunderBay’s
share of the $72.50 is $13.30, and that is before we pay for our sales staff, etc.
What is the material of the ThunderBay Polos?
95%
Prima Cotton 5% elastine. Pima cotton is the highest quality cotton in the world.
You will appreciate it as soon as you feel our polo.What do you project that our Program can make as a Program Partner?
Annually,
we anticipate our Founding Program Partners making $8,000, with about $2,000 of
that sum being generated from Spring Polo sales.
But, there are many variables. Does someone within the Program, maybe a parent or the players, rally the troops to produce a lot of sales? How many email addresses do you have or can you add to your list by February 1, 2012? If your email list includes all the kids in the program at all levels (JV, Varsity, etc.), all the parents, some staff, and, most importantly, alums, then you are going to do great and we encourage you to build your email list for this and other uses. Is lacrosse popular at your school, popular enough that kids who are not playing will want to wear your Polo? Does the school store want to carry the Polo or, at least, have it on display? Will your players spread the word, particularly through Social Media?
See the illustration of "Commemorative Polos" and "Jersey Number Polos" below. These variations on our custom Polos for your Program will be very popular with your followers.
Founding Program Partners rogram will average $2,000 from the Spring Polo sale, because, not only are we going to pay $30 for each custom Polo sold but we are also going to encourage your followers to sign up on our website as supporters of your Program. When they do that we will also contribute 10% of the sales price for other ThunderBay products to your Program. So, the Program gets most of the money generated by the Polos, and participates in everything else bought from ThunderBay by your supporters. The $8,000 projection assumes that a Founding Program Partner stays with us after the initial Polo sale.
What qualifies a Program as a Founding Program Partner?
A
Founding Program Partner is a Program that is one of the first 100 Programs in the
US to sign up. A Founding Program Partner is guaranteed the "ENTIRE RETAIL MARK-UP"
from sales of custom apparel to their followers through the end of 2013. As Program
Partners grows and evolves the percentage of the retail mark-up offered to new Program
Partners will decrease.What other opportunities exist for Program Partners after the Spring Polo sale?
Additional
custom apparel for your Program will be offered later in 2012 and thereafter.
For example, in July we will promote our Back-to-School sale featuring Oxford button-downs custom embroidered for your Program and ThunderBay ties in your school colors.
In October, we will add a great looking 1/4 zip Pima Pullover to our collection of custom apparel for Program Partners that will be a natural for the Holiday Season.
The Polo program this Spring will give your supporters comfort that we make great quality apparel for your Program. If they like our products, then they will consider other lacrosse apparel made for your Program.
Just like the Polo sale, the entire retail margin will be contributed to your Program for all future Program Partner custom apparel. Additionally, your Program will continue to receive 10% of revenues from all other ThunderBay products purchased by your followers.
What is a "Commemorative Polo"?
By
commemorative Polo's we mean right sleeve embroidery like this:
Of course, in addition to their National Championship, Roanoke College might want to commemorate its many ODAC championships.
You get the idea and your alums will particularly appreciate our Commemorative Polos.
What will a "Jersey Number Polo" look like?
It
doesn’t get more "custom" than the ThunderBay Jersey Number Polo, which will be
worn proudly by players, and also by their parents in the stands. The embroidery
on the right sleeve of a typical Jersey Number Polo might look like this:
Explain the 10% for "other products" concept mentioned above.
Our
website is designed to recognize purchases by your followers other than the custom
apparel for your school. Your program will also receive 10% of these revenues. Your
salesperson can explain how this works. [Note: There may be some exclusions for
"sale items".]
Do I have to sign up for the Back-to-School and Holiday Season Promotions now, or can I try the Spring Polo Sale first?
No.
You are not required to sign up for anything other than the Spring Polo Program.
**You are always a free agent with ThunderBay.
What if we wish to quit the Program Partner Initiative?
ThunderBay
is confident this is a WIN-WIN Program. If at any time you wish to not be part of
the ThunderBay 1636 Program Partners Initiative, just let us know.Your participation in the Program Partner Initiative represents an opportunity for ThunderBay to build brand recognition, particularly for our Mohawk Warrior logo, and what better way to do that than to be associated with your Program. This is a win-win.
How will ThunderBay be promoting its brand this Spring?
We
will be exhibiting at industry events, including the U.S. Lacrosse Convention in
Philadelphia this January, building our roster of retailers, and advertising in
"Inside Lacrosse" and "Lacrosse Magazine".ThunderBay 1636 is also a proud sponsor of the first Lacrosse movie, "Crooked Arrows" which is currently (i.e. August, 2011) filming in Boston and will be released this spring. Our Polo and other ThunderBay apparel items are featured in "Crooked Arrows". "Crooked Arrows" and ThunderBay 1636 celebrate Native American Lacrosse Origins. The "BUZZ" in our sport this spring will be Native Origins.
Do you offer any apparel for women?
Our
women’s line will be introduced in 2013. For now, however, our retailers are routinely
selling our men’s small polo to women and girls.
How can we participate in the ThunderBay Program, if we are supported by another sporting goods manufacturer (e.g. Nike, Under Armour, etc.)?
We
appreciate and commend them for their support of your Lacrosse team. If your arrangement
is typical you and your staff will be wearing their products on the sidelines while
your players where them on the field. There is no conflict with ThunderBay. They
can dress you on the field; we want to dress you off the field.If you have not received a sample of the ThunderBay Polo, please ask your salesman to get you a complimentary polo in your size and choice of color. Quality is quality. The polo sells itself.