Vertex350's print campaign for Tokico Shocks
 

Hey whats up everyone,

Just thought I'd share and let fellow members know that my car will be featured in Tokico Shock's latest Print Ad campaign. Be on the lookout for it in various import magazines.

A big thank you to all my sponsors, without them none of this would be possible: Tokico Shocks/ Hitachi USA, Pioneer USA, Five Axis Design, Rare JDM, Motul, Berk Technology, Turn 3 Creative, InStyle graphics, StopTech, Evo-R, Yokohama Tire, TC Customs, Performance Nissan, M1 Autobody, and Vertex USA.

Thanks for looking,

-Mel

https://my350z.com/forum/members/ver...-tokico-ad.bmp

**Sorry the words are a bit blurry... it should be crystal clear when it hits the mags.**:icon38:

damn congrats

man mel you just keep picking up sponsors dont you i need to catch up with u at one of the meets soon

nice.. congrats man...

Congrats cuz!!! Man, I wanna be an ad!

Just curious... but what are some of the benefits of being featured and/or being sponsored in your specific situation?

Good sh1t rommel glad you still reppin strong my brother.

I get asked this a lot and I'll do my best to answer your question. My disclaimer is that this is my opinion on sponsorship and being a featured car. There is no right or wrong answer for this since everyone's situation is different.

Lets back up first... to me there are two kinds of sponsorships: Full and Partial. Full sponsorship usually means you get your parts for free while the partial is a good % discount off the item. Now, my car was at 80% complete before I started to approach sponsors for their help. Everything at that point was out of my pocket expenses. The direction I took was to build professional relationships with companies that make or distribute parts I trust and believe in. At the same time building my car up to help promote their product. I'm not one of those guys that get a free part and never speak to the vendor after they use/ install the product. In fact, many of them become my good friends in the process. Initially, I put together a professional sponsorship portfolio that includes a quick background on me, the direction of the car, how their specific product benefits me, how they would benefit sponsoring the car, a show schedule for the year, five sponsor references they can call, etc. Everyone's deck is different. I mean, even now I email all my sponsors after every show I attend and send pics just to verify I was there. But every sponsor requires different things... some require a contract for a certain amount of time, while others prefer the verbal contract indefinitely.

Now a featured car can mean many things. For example, your car can be "featured" in a Magazine article or you can say my car was "featured" in the main hall at SEMA 2008. But in this case "featured" (to me) is a great opportunity to thank my sponsors as a whole by gaining exposure for the car, which in turn may or may not interest people in their product. Now, the benefit of having my car in a print ad is that it will run for probably a few months vs having it show up just one time. Meaning the exposure may not be as detailed as in a magazine article but it has the potential to be seen in more monthly issues and reach a wider audience. I'm just very thankful a big company like Tokico/ Hitachi USA wanted to use my car to represent their product. As with all of my current sponsors, I'm thankful. I hope that helps!

**CLIFFS**
Benefits of being sponsored- Freebies and relationships

Benefits of being featured- Exposure for the car and your sponsors



Thanks for the kind words everyone.... I appreciate it.

Congrats man, I admire your car, and thanks for explaining about being featured and sponsored.

congrats man

thanks for that explanation. it's good to have sincere people like you in the car scene. congrats on the feature!

Well said Cuz!

Awesome... This car is still one of my favorites on the site.

One question (that I'm sure you've answered 5087523076 times): Who the F did the graphics?? They are facking amazing.

Not a problem at all. InStyle Graphics did the Vinyl wrap and design. Its inspired by a Japanese wood block print called "The Great Wave" by Hokusai.

InStyle Graphics is located inside VIP Status or give Harris the owner a ring 949-278-2355.

sick car... clearly cool owner... rad graphics... win.

That's why I like it so much... I've literally had a framed print of that painting in my house for the past like decade. Then when I saw it on a car I fapped.

Some guy with an S13 had it on his hood, but it was nowhere near as well executed as this.

Congrats Rommel! Always nice to see one of the good guys getting some coverage. You're one of the few individuals in this community that encourages me to stay a part of this. Thanks for the positive contributions and well deserved man!

Very nice man congrats!!!

Very nice, congrats!

Congrats thats awsome and the car looks great.