By: Carla Lide | Player Engagement
Participants began their 3rd day visiting the George R. Brown Convention Center surveying the vendors at the 2015 Consumer Products Summit. Participants could sense the energy in the building as they shook hands, exchanged business cards, and gained invaluable first hand consumer product knowledge. Prior to lunch, Jim Kelly, 2002 Football Hall of Fame Inductee & owner of My Fan Clip, spoke to the participants and player engagement staff about his transition from player to licensee. Jim and his brother, Dan, shared their licensing journey. A few of Jim's teachable moments included: "Go in with your eyes wide open" Know what your expenses are" and "Try to learn as much as you can about your product.” Life experiences can often bring people together, this took place today as Jim Kelly connected with one of our participants, David Quessenberry. The recognition that they had both been through a cancer diagnosis and their exchange of stories hit close to home. The article in USA Today further explains their battles with cancer. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/03/david-quessenberry-jim-kelly-nfl
Upon return from the Convention Center, the next forum "Working with Retailers" was presented by Eric Reinsfelder of Jarden Sports Licensing & Jeff McAdams of Academy Sporting Goods + Outdoors. Their presentation gave an inside scope to the licensee-retailer relationship. They advised participants to "think in terms of partnership not transaction" Eric & Jeff encouraged participants to “start small, even if it's through a website.”
The theme of the day shifted from retail to marketing as Hank Boyd provided us with the principles of marketing and why it's so important to analyze your customers & identify your rivals. He used a motivational quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson "build a better mouse trap and the world will make a beaten path to your door” which motivated participants to “make a great product.” In keeping with the marketing subject, Agaja Reddy, NFL Consumer Products, focused on the research tools she used throughout the Consumer Products department. She explained the importance in analyzing the consumer, their demographics, and their reasons for purchase. Agaja showed us last year’s methodology and how the findings have helped in making this year’s products better & smarter.
Stuart Domanowski, of New Era, provided us with the company’s marketing application, participants were able to see how a larger licensee promotes their brand. New era’s most popular marketing tool utilizes athletes in commercials and photo shoots to elevate their hats. His most memorable piece of advice related directly to the participants & their Group Pitch Project "tell a message no one else can."
In preparation for the Group Pitch Project, judged during tomorrow's final day, Tom Prior of Skill Path, provided guidance on how to effectively present to a crowd. Tom began the presentation by asking the participants "What are you all worried about when it comes to giving presentations?" Participants responses included: "standing in front of a group who you don’t know” he then advised participants that "Public Speaking is a skill, sometimes it's not what you say it's how you say it." Tom shared a few of his experiences in best practices for presenting. It was evident that the participants were relieved to have such a thorough skill set before tomorrow’s presentations.
To conclude the third day, participants worked on their Group Pitch Projects during & after dinner. They practiced their presentations, worked on their deliveries, and created a power point slide show of their product’s business model. Tomorrow is the last day of Boot Camp, where our teams will be put to the test, only one winner will walk away as champions.