Solar Bat-maker of the toughest, lightest and clearest polarized sunglasses on the water-has signed on as an Associate Sponsor of the entire lineup of 2002 Wal-Mart fishing circuits.
The deal makes Solar Bat the official polarized sunglasses of the Wal-Mart
FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas
Tournament Trail and Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit. Through these tournament
series, which are run by Operation Bass and Operation Walleye, Wal-Mart and
its lineup of 37 industry-leading sponsors could award anglers nearly $22
million next season.
“We are proud to be associated with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour and its sister
tournament circuits,” said Solar Bat’s founder, Dr. Gary Nesty. “The
audience we are going to reach through this sponsorship is precisely our
target market. They are athletes whose performance depends on razor sharp
vision under a variety of conditions.”
Solar Bar will have access to a wide range of promotional opportunities as
an Associate Sponsor. These opportunities include banner placement at dock
area weigh-ins, on-site product sampling, entitlement to use “Wal-Mart FLW
Tour Proud Sponsor” labeling on packaging, and access to a sponsor support
system that facilitates cross promotions with other Operation Bass and
Operation Walleye sponsors.
“We are thrilled to have Solar Bat on board for 2002 and beyond,” said Irwin
L. Jacobs, chairman of Operation Bass. “They make a quality product that
anglers use on a daily basis to stay on top of their game. This is
definitely a win-win relationship.”
As part of its sponsorship, Solar Bat will participate in the Wal-Mart FLW
Tour Family Fun Zone that is held in the parking lot of each Wal-Mart
Supercenter during FLW tournaments.
The Fun Zone offers potential consumers the opportunity to participate in an
array of exciting, hands-on activities-many alongside professional
anglers-and to sample sponsor products. The Fun Zone also provides sponsors
with a unique platform to create powerful brand awareness and conduct
one-to-one marketing. Every Family Fun Zone is open free to the public and
draws thousands of fans over the course of a tournament.
With 55 million anglers spending nearly $40 billion annually on equipment
and accessories, fishing represents a tremendous business opportunity.
Sponsors of the 2002 Operation Bass tournament programs are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Garmin, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate Sponsors are Abu Garcia, Act II, Berkley, David sunflower seeds, Eagle Claw, Laker, Plano and Solar Bat.
