Now that you’ve targeted your Spring Sports and they are underway with their season and you’ve reached out to your Fall Sports to try and line up some Sprint options for the off season, now it’s time to look at the summer. No, sorry - not plan a vacation, but rather focus on the SUMMER non-school sports groups and other summer activities.
Baseball - There is a huge variety of youth baseball leagues all across the country = Cal Ripken, Little League, Dixie Youth, and the list goes on and on. Usually, these leagues include travel ball (serious players) and rec leagues that have a variety of skill levels and ages. Some teams will have a tournament trail which will require league fees, tournament entry costs, travel costs (depending on where the tournament is being hosted), and uniforms. While you are only talking about 12 to 15 players - there are quite a few expenses or financial requirements to be a part of the team - especially travel teams.
Softball - This sport is similar to baseball - travel and rec leagues including slow-pitch and fast-pitch. The swim teams are limited by facility locations with swimming pools, but they still have lots of meets, some travel expenses and other needs (uniforms). Other groups might include Church sports teams, summer camps, sports teams at the local YMCA or other non-profits that need to raise funds for summer activities - not just sports.
Volleyball - Rec volleyball has various levels of competition. B, BB and C are general recreational and intermediate levels. A level play is competitive and the highest level. A level volleyball would be similar to travel ball in other sports. Similar to softball and baseball, volleyball (at the higher levels) will have expenses for tournaments, entry fees, travel, uniforms and equipment.
Soccer - Another popular sport for youth is soccer. Many teams will play at the local YMCA or similar type of organization and there are varying levels of play that will include recreational, competitive, club level, school and collegiate levels and beyond (Olympics, national and international play). Similar to the other sports mentioned, soccer will have similar expenses - tournaments, fees, uniforms, equipment and travel.
Start working on these non-school sports NOW. School sales for Spring will quickly dwindle and summer fundraisers could help finish strong. Try to think outside the box and go after these non-traditional groups.
Closeout Forms / Email Needed
Just a reminder that when you save the information entered into the closeout form, it does not automatically update the Enterprise system, nor does it alert the Group Relations team to do the same. So, when the closeout is completely updated and finished, send a quick email to grouprelations@savearound.com to let the team know it’s updated. This will alert the Group Relations Team to update Enterprise to match the closeout information, ship any needed books, and officially close out the group upon receipt of payment.
2024 Merchants (old and new)
Take a few minutes and go through one of your sample copies of the market or markets you sell. If you don’t have a book handy, get online and look at the e-book. The 2024 books are underway and if there are businesses in the book that have closed we need to update the files. On the flipside, if there are new businesses that have opened NOW is the time to contact them. Remember this takes TIME to reach the correct decision maker or person in authority to go through the terms of the contract and coupon requirements.
We need to know about the CLOSURES first. Please send us any merchants/businesses that have closed and need to be removed from the book. We need these ASAP.
Please send an email to sales@savearound.com. Gather as much info as this will only help expedite the process. (Contact name, title, email address, cell phone number, address, best time to reach them, etc.) So take a few minutes and review the current book and see what updates are needed. Work done now will only help improve the book for this Fall.
Spring training for MLB (major league baseball) has begun this month with pitchers and catchers reporting as well. Here are some Fun Facts about this American pastime.
The game of baseball is known as America’s favorite pastime.
To date, there have been 114 world series.
The American league leads with 66 wins to 48 wins by the National league.
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in a World Series game.
The New York Yankees have the most world series wins (27) with 40 appearances.
The baseball is made up of cork and rubber covered in leather.
First baseball game was played in 1846.
The distance between bases is 90 feet.
The Cincinnati Red Stockings was the first professional baseball team.
The saying “as American as apple pie” describes things that represent the best of American culture. People use this expression when talking about things like blue jeans, baseball and rock-n-roll music.
IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEWSLETTER?
Do you have an idea or topic that you would like to see covered in the Community Conversation newsletter? If so, please send it to sales@savearound.com and we’ll get right on it. Remember if it is something that you would like to know more about or learn about then chances are someone else needs to know it, too.
