DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER S Annual Entrepreneur s Growth Conference THE REGION S LARGEST ENTREPRENEURSHIP EVENT 2011 conference sponsorship opportunities www.duq.edu/sbdc 412.396.1633
Duquesne University Small Business Development Center Annual Build Exposure for Your Business 400 Attendees Expected Breakfast Keynote Speaker Jason Brown, CEO of Right by Nature and serial entrepreneur In a span of 33 years, Jason Brown has started six different companies, has hired over 1,000 employees, has raised or invested over $60M for his various start-ups, and has served over one million customers. Jason has become an expert at understanding customer needs and buying behaviors. His current operation, Right By Nature, located in the Strip District, looks to serve consumers who have a flavor for organic and green products. However, Jason and his management team realize that some of their customers want top-selling brands such as Heinz and Charmin, and offering both makes his stores unique. The store, located on Smallman and 23rd Street, has a large selection of grocery items, bakery goods, pre-made meals and a small cafe. When asked what makes his customers so loyal, Jason says, They trust us. We work hard to give them what they are asking for and it s working. For example, we know that our customers have busy lives they want to save time. We are able to offer them on-line ordering. This trust is what allowed us to open our next phase of the operation catering. Because we had loyal customers, we didn t have to do a lot of advertising. In fact, we had close to $30,000 in first month sales. Jason credits much of his success to his management team and what he calls their intensity at building a company. 7:30-8:15: Registration, Breakfast, Networking 8:15 9:15: Welcome & Breakfast Speaker, Jason Brown 9:15 10:00: Business Building Trade Show 10:00 11:10: Workshop I 11:20-12:30: Workshop II 12:40-2:00: Luncheon and Keynote 2:10-3:15: Workshop III Agenda There are two times for the tradeshow: 9:15-10 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. IMPORTANT: Please plan to be set up and ready by 8 a.m. 3:00-5:00: Business Building Tradeshow, Networking and Prize Drawings Added Breakfast Feature: Learn the Hottest Business Trends for selling to businesses and directly to consumers from consumer expert and Duquesne University Professor, Audrey Guskey Important Sponsor Deadlines: February 26 last day to register as a sponsor February 26 Send high-res or JPEG logo to hughesc@duq.edu (Platinum, gold and banner sponsors) April Sponsors will receive copies of emails and brochures please help us promote the event May 2 send names, addresses and email contacts for attendees to hughesc@duq.edu May 2 send promotional items for conference bags to 600 Forbes Avenue, Rockwell Hall 108, Pittsburgh, PA 15282 Attention: Christine www.duq.edu/sbdc 412.396.1633
Duquesne University Small Business Development Center Annual You are invited to partner with us in presenting this exciting event! The Many Benefits of Participation Support the Region s Businesses As a regional organization committed to helping businesses succeed, we believe in the importance of demonstrating that commitment, and we know you do, too. Sponsoring the Entrepreneur s Growth Conference (EGC) gives you the opportunity to promote your company at the region s largest conference dedicated solely to area entrepreneurs. Showcase Your Organization s Expertise to Hundreds of Participants Not only will you be able to personally reach out to approximately 400 potential clients and customers in one day, but your organization also can create thousands of impressions from brochure listings, advertisements, internet exposure and many other marketing tactics! Your organization will be associated with a worldclass event that has been featured on Comcast, CNN, Fox, Lifetime and other major outlets. Affordable Sponsorship Fees It s one of the easiest, most economical investments any organization can make to reach this important target audience the region s business owners. Who attends the EGC? The EGC attracts attendees across all industries and in all stages of growth. Our demographics indicate that about half of EGC participants attend sessions geared toward early-stage companies that are just beginning to flourish, and that need guidance to move to the next level. The other half of EGC attendees choose sessions specifically for the seasoned entrepreneur in a much later stage of growth. Specific sessions target companies with annual revenue of $1 million or more. Potential workshops for 2011 include: Creative Ways to Finance Growth: Inside the Mind of an Investor and More! Don t Be a Stick In the Mud: Revitalizing and Reinventing Your Business for Today s Business Climate Virtual Companies Outsourcing Services Got Profits? Let s Start With What You Have and Make It Better Getting the Phones to Ring: 10 New Strategies for Energizing Your Sales How to Be Your Own PR Machine Generating Publicity for Your Business Free Tech Tools Exposed (If you want to cut costs and work smarter) I Have an Idea, Now What? (7 ways to research a new product/service) Keep More of What You Make Tax Saving Tips Get Results: Business Planning for 2011-2014 Leveraging Social Media to Pump Up Your Sales And Profits What More Can Your Website Do? (creating a site your customers want to bookmark) Special Industry Focus: Tips for Running A Profitable Restaurant What I Have Learned Along the Way: Entrepreneurs Share Their Stories of Success and Failure Before You Sign: What Every Business Owner Should Know About Contracts **workshops are subject to change Some past sponsors of the EGC include: American Entrepreneur Radio Blumling & Gusky, LLP Bridgeway Capital Buchanan Ingersoll Comcast Spotlight Dennis Piper & Associates Data Minds Dollar Bank DUQ 90.5FM Enterprise Bank Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Innovation Works Lamar Outdoor Advertising Microsoft Peak Performance Pittsburgh Business Times Pittsburgh Regional Alliance Pittsburgh Technology Council PNC Bank Smart Business Network SMC Business Councils UPMC Health Plan Wilke & Associates University of Pittsburgh Office of Technology Management Urban Redevelopment Authority www.duq.edu/sbdc 412.396.1633
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS Ad Space in Program Book DUE: APRIL 15 Complimentary Tradeshow Booth Company listing on brochures DUE: FEB 26 Complimentary Full-day Conference registrants DUE: MAY 2 Platinum Gold Banner Blue Ribbon Contributing Inside/outside Program Cover to first two platinum sponsors. All others, full page ad in prominent location Color Ad 7 w x 9.5 h Full Page ad 7 w x 9.5 h Half Page ad 7 w x 4.687 h Quarter Page ad 3.437 w x 4.687 h Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Business card 3.437 w x 2.25 h Logo Logo Logo Company Name Company Name 10 registrants 8 registrants 6 registrants 4 registrants 2 registrants Listing on Conference Website DUE: ASAP Company logo and 100 word description Company logo and 100 word description Company logo Company name Company name Free Benefits for YOUR customers 50 40 30 20 best customers for this year s conference 10 Recognition at Podium by SBDC Director Listing on main stage during general sessions Company name displayed on signage throughout the event. Insertion of Promotional Piece into conference bags DUE: MAY 2 Full- Year Sponsorship attribution on EGC Website and link to sponsor s site Participate in one of the educational workshops Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes In addition, help plan a workshop Yes Yes Sponsor Representative seated at head table and introduced to keynote speaker Named Sponsor of general session breakfast, lunch or tradeshow Opportunity to distribute materials at one general session Yes 2 representatives Yes to first 3 platinum sponsors and this includes an acknowledgement in the program book Yes, choose one session breakfast or lunch Yes 1 representative Listing in at least one newspaper ad Yes $10,000 $7,500 $5,000 $2,500 $1500 Funding support and resources are provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community & Economic Development; through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration; and in part through support from Duquesne University. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Special arrangements for persons with disabilities can be made by calling 412-396-6233. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Annual Sponsorship Agreement Take advantage of this tremendous opportunity by completing the information below and on the next page and returning to: Duquesne University SBDC 600 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15282 Phone 412.396.6233 Fax 412.396.5884 q YES, we are committed to supporting our region s small businesses and want to participate by supporting the at the level selected below. SPONSORSHIP OPTIONS q PLATINUM Sponsor @ $10,000 Indicate general session choice: q GOLD Sponsor @ $7,500 q BANNER Sponsor @ $5,000 q BLUE RIBBON Sponsor @ $2,500 q CONTRIBUTING Sponsor @ $1,500 q Tote Bag Inserts - I am not able to sponsor at this time, but I would like to take advantage of the tote bag insert marketing opportunity for $200. METHOD OF PAYMENT q Check for full amount enclosed Make check payable to Duquesne University SBDC Check No. Amount: $ q Please invoice us immediately for our selected sponsorship. We understand payment is due within 30 days. q Charge full amount to: q Visa q Mastercard q Discover The EGC is one of the best venues to directly reach those who need our services most. The face-to-face networking with the entrepreneurs and the relationships we forged made the event a win/win. We would recommend sponsorship to any organization that is serious about impacting Pittsburgh s small business community. - Sponsor For Official Use Only Do not write in this space Date Rec d: Check#: Amount: Balance Due: Balance Paid: Please complete credit card information below. All sponsorship requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Credit Card # Exp. Name on Card Signature Sponsorship Agreement Policy Once we receive your completed Sponsorship Agreement, we begin promoting your organization as a sponsor of the EGC in a variety of ways. However, sponsors are required to meet deadlines for ad and logo submissions in order to participate in all opportunities. Please continue to next page to properly complete the EGC Sponsorship Agreement.
Annual Important information regarding your sponsorship: Thank you for choosing to sponsor the Annual. Detailed instructions and deadlines regarding your sponsorship, including how to register your participants, how to submit ads, etc. Company Name (exactly as you would like it to appear in acknowledgements): Contact Person Title E-mail Address City State Zip Phone Fax Web site: http://www. What types of products or services do you sell? q YES, we will take advantage of the complimentary tradebooth at the Business Building Tradeshow. q No, thanks. q YES we will offer a raffle prize for the trade show. (please list) q No, thanks. q YES, we will give a demonstration at the tradeshow. (Please describe) q No, thanks. We look forward to working with you to present another successful! Questions? Feel free to contact the Duquesne University SBDC at any time. Christine Hughes, training manager, will be happy to assist you at 412.396.6233. I have worked with many SBDC s throughout the United States. The SBDC program in Pittsburgh is the most supportive and enthusiastic group of people that I have ever dealt with. - Conference Exhibitor