Sponsorship Request for Proposal - West Marine

SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR PROPOSALRFP Overview1. West Marine Sponsorship Program2. Target Sponsorships3. Sponsorship Processing Timeline4. Sponsorship Application5. Sponsorship Levels6. Sponsorship Creative Requests (Ads, Flyers, Logo, etc)7. Redeeming Sponsorships1. West Marine Sponsorship ProgramWith stores in more cities and towns across the country than any other marine business, we are privileged to partner through our sponsorship program withmany wonderful community organizations. West Marine Sponsorships processes hundreds of applications each year and are committed to supporting thecommunities that encourage boating participation and aim to protect the marine environment so that future generations will be able to fish and enjoy ourbeautiful waterways.Unfortunately with the high volume of applicants we are unable to commit to every opportunity that falls within our criteria. We processing requests on a firstcome fist serve basis.2. Target SponsorshipsWest Marine Sponsorships target events that directly put boaters on the water and also protect the marine environment.Examples of Events: Sailing Regattas Non-Endangered/Catch & Release Fishing Tournaments Youth Boating On the Water Marine ConservationWe have built filtering criteria that allows us to measure events in each market that help us determine our level or participation.We understand that we may have participated within your event at a specific level in previous years. As our program changes sometimes we have to alsochange our degree of participation. We hope these changes do not result in a significant inconvenience to your event and also does not alter your perceptionon our commitment to the boating community.3. Sponsorship Processing TimelineWest Marine has a 30 day lead time to process all applications. The date your application is submitted is when we start the clock. We recommend you submityour application 90 days before your event to give all parties appropriate time to process your application and if approved create an execution plan.We strongly recommend you submit your application minimally 90 days before your event so that once you have our response we all have time to properlymove forward with the decision. If approved time will be needed to properly execute the event on all levels (examples of things that take time: cutting checks,loading gift cards, ordering skipper bags, planning our presence at your event, etc).Sponsorship Request for Proposal 2012.1 1

SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL3. Sponsorship Processing Timeline (continued)Sponsorship Processing Timeline-30 Organization submits application to grantsandsponsorships@westmarine.com-25 West Marine enters application into the database-15 West Marine runs the application through the filtering process-10 West Marine team works together to analyze event within market-0 West Marine provides acceptance/decline4. Sponsorship ApplicationOur sponsorship application was created to ensure that your organization and event information are documented correctly and provides us with the specificinformation needed to determine participation. Please fill out all information as this will enable us to speed up the processing time and provide fasterdecisions. Unfortunately incomplete applications will not be processed and the event will automatically be declined.Once your application has been submitted we have a 30 day lead time to provide your organization with our decision on participation. We begin acceptingapplications in October for the following year and process them through May (or until we have allocated all of our resources). The purpose of the lead time isto enable us to process the volume of applicants and also to ensure a quality decision.Please make sure to email your application to grantsandsponsorships@westmarine.com. We appreciate your organization’s dedication to the boating andfishing community.Sponsorship Request for Proposal 2012.1 2

SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL5. Sponsorship LevelsDue to the high volume of interested organizations we have formulated criteria at which we process applications and determine our level of participation. Anyorganization interested in receiving a sponsorship from West Marine will be required to review the different levels and suggest the one that best fits thepotential partnership.DescriptionBronze Silver Gold PlatinumWest Marine Contribution $250 $500 $1,000 $3,000+Number of WM stores involved 1 2-4 5-10 11+Number of organized events 1 2-4 5-10 11+Bronze Silver Gold PlatinumOrganization hosts in-store event 1 Event 2-4 Events 5-10 Events 11+ EventsOrganization posts banners at event site 1 1 2 4Organization to list West Marine on allprint and online advertisingX X X XOrganization to produce space for WestMarine to be at event locationOrganization to provide mailing listincluding all event participantsOrganization will distribute an email withWest Marine offerAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterials10x10BoothAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterials10x20BoothAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterials20x20BoothX X XX X XLevel Bronze Silver Gold PlatinumWest Marine Contribution $250 $500 $1,000 $3,000+West Marine to provide banners 1 1 2 4West Marine Ad X X X XStore Level Associate Marketing for theeventX X X XWest Marine to provide associates to be atevent locationAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterials10x10BoothAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterials10x20BoothAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterials20x20Booth"West Marine Supports" Coupon X X XCreate special poster and handouts forevent to promote throughout townDistribution of a West Marine emailSponsorship LevelsEXECUTED FROM THE ORGANIZATIONAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterialsAssociateson foot withmarketingmaterialsLevelEXECUTED FROM WEST MARINEXXXNotesOrganization will host in-store events thatwill drive traffic into local West Marinestores. Number of expected seminars willdepend on how many stores are involvedin the sponsorship and how much financialsupport the event needs. Seminarexamples: Deep Sea Fishing, Safety AtSea, Cruising the Coast, book signing, etc.Banners to be hung at the event in a hightraffic location.*CORRECT logo (without "We MakeBoating More Fun" tagline)to be sent to kamalas@westmarine.comwithin 30 days of completion of the event.Email to be distributed within 25 miles ofeach event location informing customersand members of the partnership with WestMarine, upcoming events in their area andWest Marine in-store events.Contribution can be in the form of: cash,merchandise, gift cards and premiumitems (captains bags, playing cards,Frisbees, etc).Store manager will lend the organization abanner and confirm that it is returned.Store manager will create handouts andposters for the store to hang in the windowand pass out to all customers.Good for $15 off $100 purchase for 30days promoted at your event and our localstores.West Marine’s Creative Team requires 30days to process all creative requests.Distribution to West Marine customerswithin 25 miles of event informing them ofour partnership with the organization,upcoming events in their area and WestMarine in-store events.Sponsorship Request for Proposal 2012.1 3

SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL6. Sponsorship Creative RequestsWest Marine’s Creative Team requires 30 days to process all creative requests (from date creative request is submitted to date a pdf file will be delivered). Ifyou receive an acceptance email please submit creative needs immediately.Examples of Creative Materials: Ad Flyer Poster Coupon Request LogoPlease submit the following if your application is approved: Due Date Size Dimensions Color or Black & White Sailing or Fishing photo Specific type of boat (if available we will try to match it) Any other details that may need to be notedCreative Timeline (-0 is the date your organization needs the materials)-35 Organization submits creative needs to Kamala at kamalas@westmarine.com-30 West Marine submits request to the West Marine Creative Team-20 West Marine proofs first draft-15 West Marine proofs second draft-5 West Marine receives final version-5 West Marine submits to printers (if needed)-0 West Marine provides creative materials to organization*Please submit ALL creative requests to kamalas@westmarine.com7. Redeeming SponsorshipsIf your event is approved for sponsorship there are many different ways West Marine contributes. Some events will be allocated different combinations thatwill total the final sponsorship amount. Example: $250 total (BREAKDOWN: $150 in West Marine Merchandise and $100 in Gift Cards)CashIf your event is approved for a cash sponsorship, please respond to your acceptance email with a W9 and an invoice with the approved amount. Checks willbe processed the month of the event and will be mailed to the address listed on your sponsorship application.Gift CardsWe allocate gift cards in increments of $25 and $50. If your event is approved for a gift card sponsorship please respond to your acceptance email with howyou would like the gift cards broken up and we will get the order processed. Gift Cards will be created the month of your event and will be mailed to theaddress listed on your sponsorship application.Sponsorship Request for Proposal 2012.1 4

7. Redeeming Sponsorships (Continued)SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR PROPOSALWest Marine MerchandiseIf your event is approved for a West Marine Merchandise sponsorship, please respond to your acceptance email with the West Marine store that is mostconvenient for you to work with. An email will be sent to both your organization and the store manager, notifying the store manager of the approval. Theorganization will work with the store manager to gather the items that will best benefit the event with the designated sponsorship amount. The store managerwill fill out an Inventory Adjustment Form (IAF) with your event name and items listed on it and fax to Marketing to be coded out of their inventory.PremiumsPremium items include West Marine canvas bags (often used as captain/skipper bags), playing cards, fishing towels, hats, visors and many other items. Ifyour event is approved for a premium sponsorship please respond to your acceptance email with a list of items needed.If you are approved for cash, merchandise or other type of sponsorship and your organization needs premium items instead of what was allocated, specify thisright away so that we can adjust your sponsorship to reflect the correct partnership.Unfortunately premium items are not free and have to be calculated into the total dollar amount of the sponsorship. We can not add on to the originalsponsorship level to add extra premium items.West Marine SKU Description Qty $ Amount9439837 West Marine Fish-Towel 50/case $100.006970586 West Marine Toy Inflatable Boat 1/each $1.507790173 West Marine Fish Bottle Opener 100/box $50.007790181 West Marine Shark Bottle Opener 100/box $50.007939697 West Marine Powerboat Playing Cards 1/each $1.007939705 West Marine Sailboat Playing Cards 1/each $1.0010161727 West Marine Bag 50/bx $100.007248891 West Marine White Visors 24/box $50.007248818 West Marine Navy Visors 24/box $50.009554155 West Marine Blue Baseball Hat 24/case $75.00QuestionsPlease email kamalas@westmarine.com if you need additional information or have any questions.Sponsorship Request for Proposal 2012.1 5