14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft's new custom ride will parade in front of an estimated 75 million racing fans. The Redmond company, in a move designed to raise awareness for its Small Business and Small Business Specialist (SBSC) brands, announced that it would sponsor the No. 49 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team for the entire 2008 season. In this manner, Microsoft approximates that no less than 75 million NASCAR fans in the U.S. will come in contact with the brands it has associated with small businesses. You will be able to see the Toyota Microsoft will sponsor in the images adjacent to this article, courtesy of the Microsoft U.S. Small Business Team.
"This sponsorship, which showcases Microsoft Small Business as well as our Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partners, will hopefully not only raise more awareness of the professional solutions, services and assistance available to small businesses everywhere from Microsoft and its Partners, but it will also provide an opportunity for our Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partners to tap into a marketing venue not seen as financially available to many before," revealed Eric Ligman, Microsoft US Senior Manager Small Business Community Engagement.
But at the same time, Microsoft is not focused exclusively on its own brands. In fact, the company has extended an arm to its Small Business Specialist partners. In this regard, Microsoft revealed that the BAM Racing Team had made available a sponsorship package available to the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partners. The offer will permit companies in the Microsoft Small Business ecosystem to have their own logo placed on the Microsoft portion of the car, for an one-time fee of $3,995 for the remainder of the season.
"To kick off this sponsorship and the Microsoft Small Business Specialist sponsorship opportunity, the BAM Racing No. 49 car will feature a full-car Microsoft Small Business theme (primary sponsorship) for the March 30, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race next Sunday at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. The car will show Microsoft Small Business and the Microsoft Small Business Specialist 'blue badge' across the entire car," Ligman added.
