6 Ways to Use Custom Paddles as a Strategic Marketing Tool
Introducing The 1st Serve, a monthly content series powered by OS1st, the Exclusive Sock of Pickleball in the Sun. Just like OS1st has proven that a focus on performance can lead to a dominant brand, we want to help you connect your brand to the fastest-growing sport in the country.
On the 1st of every month, I'll be sharing strategic insights. Each "serve" will deliver fresh, actionable ideas and expert analysis to help executives, brands, and marketers navigate the dynamic world of pickleball. It's your monthly playbook for building a winning brand in the sport.
The 1st Serve: Strategic Insights from Laura Gainor
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Here are six ways to leverage custom pickleball paddles in your marketing strategy:
Promotional Ticket Sales for Teams & Leagues: This is a powerful strategy for sports organizations looking to engage with a new audience. Pickleball in the Sun has had the honor of working with teams like the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, and Jacksonville Jaguars to strategize a "Pickleball Day" ticket package. By offering a custom paddle with a game ticket, these teams made a clear statement and created a strong promotional asset. Some, like the Jacksonville Jaguars, even went further by creating a unique pickleball experience, transforming a simple sales promotion into a highly memorable event that drives incredible foot traffic and fan engagement.
Elevate Experiential Events: Custom paddles are a game-changer for brand activations. Pickleball in the Sun has had the honor of working with brands like Smirnoff and Gainbridge, where custom paddles elevated experiential events at notable venues like Super Bowl, SXSW, and F1 Miami. The paddles made a big impact in connecting the brand with the pickleball experience, creating incredible content for pre-event promotion, live at the event, and for memorable content following.
Ambassador & Influencer Kits: Outfit your brand's ambassadors and influencers with custom-designed paddles. This not only ensures a cohesive brand image in their content but also serves as a high-value gift that deepens your relationship and encourages organic brand advocacy.
Fundraising Opportunities: This is an incredible way to support charitable partners and engage your community. The flexibility of custom paddles allows for unique "design your own" opportunities with your contacts, turning a fundraiser into an interactive and personal experience that raises money for a great cause.
Targeted Gifts & Thank-Yous: Build loyalty and forge deeper relationships with key clients, partners, or community leaders. A personalized paddle is a thoughtful and unique gift that shows you understand their passion for pickleball and value their support.
Contest & Giveaway Incentives: Use custom paddles as a high-value prize in social media contests, referral programs, or event giveaways. This generates significant engagement and drives traffic, as players are always eager to win new, high-quality gear.
For our clients, we’ve chosen Ivy Cut as our preferred custom paddle provider. Their high-quality construction and unique design capabilities make them a standout, while their 7-day turnaround and no minimum order policy provides the speed and flexibility our clients need to execute creative campaigns and launch these valuable marketing initiatives without the typical logistical headaches.
For our clients, we’ve chosen Ivy Cut as our preferred custom paddle provider. Their high-quality construction and unique design capabilities make them a standout, while their 7-day turnaround and no minimum order policy provides the speed and flexibility our clients need to execute creative campaigns and launch these valuable marketing initiatives without the typical logistical headaches.
Visit PickleballintheSun.com for more details on the design process and custom paddle pricing.
Watch the video above to learn about the easy custom paddle design process. If you want to order your own custom paddles, contact me at laura@pickleballinthesun.com.
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