Marketplace Roundup

USA Volleyball Signs Sponsorship Agreement With DSM

USA Volleyball announced a sponsorship agreement with DSM, a Dutch company that makes the ingredient parsol, a UV blocker used in sunscreen. The deal gives DSM rights to events featuring the U.S. national men's and women's indoor and beach volleyball teams that will participate in the Beijing Olympics. The company's benefits include: volleyball logo usage in internal and external marketing materials, official sponsor designation, courtside signage and VIP hospitality opportunities at all Men's World League home matches and DSM logos and sponsor summary on the NGB's web site (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).

DRINK IT UP: In Chicago, Lewis Lazare reports Euro RSCG, Chicago, has developed a "suggestively naughty, but still rather nice billboard campaign" for Chicago-based premium vodka brand Effen. Euro and Effen beginning Monday will display the campaign billboard overlooking Wrigley Field, which will include the "three five-letter words that describe a hard-core [Cubs] fan." The campaign is "intended to align Effen with a liquor-friendly baseball crowd, while also underscoring the vodka brand's major Chicago connection" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/2).

NOTES: Golf Pride grips maker Eaton Corp. is closing its manufacturing plant located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, after 39 years. Production will be based out of Taiwan and Thailand, but sales, marketing and front-office staff will remain in North Carolina (GOLF WORLD, 5/2 issue)....The WNBA Mystics and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield  have agreed to a sponsorship deal in which CareFirst will donate $100 for every three-point shot made by the club this season (Mystics)....Aussie Soles Group has signed a four-year licensing agreement with the CFL (CFL).