Marketplace Roundup
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| Yi's Addition Helps Nets Attract Sponsors |
In Boston, Marc Spears reports Nets F Yi Jianlian has brought "more attention and money to the Nets worldwide" since the team acquired him from the Bucks last summer. Nike China, apparel company Peak and Web site Sina.com, which hosts a Yi blog, are "sponsors of the Nets now," and "more sponsorships are on the horizon." Yi conducts postgame interviews with Chinese media "in front of a Nets-Nike sign in Mandarin and then takes questions from American reporters in English." Yi said of the N.Y. market compared to Milwaukee, "The marketing is bigger, but you have to play good, too." William Morris Agency agent Roy Lu, who handles Yi's marketing, said Yi's "potential is limitless" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/15).
GROWING A BRAND: In a special to BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS, Scott Rawdon profiles MMA Authentics VP/Sales, Marketing & Licensing Mike DiSabato, whose company's MMA Elite brand will be carried in Wal-Mart beginning this year. DiSabato is "optimistic about the impact Wal-Mart will have on MMA Authentics," and while he declined to reveal specific figures or the percentage of sales that will result from the Wal-Mart partnership, DiSabato said that company revenue "could reach $30[M] this year." DiSabato indicated that he "wants to cut deals with companies such as Fathead" and plans on opening an MMA gym in Columbus (BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS, 1/9 issue).
KEEP ON TRUCKIN': In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports the Twins will air locally the first ad from their '09 marketing campaign during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIII on February 1. The spot, titled "Trucks," was filmed in September at the Target Field site and features Twins players "pulling up to a security guard at the ballpark site in trucks delivering assorted baseball goods, such as lumber for hitting." Meanwhile, another spot featuring C Joe Mauer and his mother "will be filmed next week" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/15).
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