QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE

Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers

How do PR folks earn their keep?

Mostly by knowing how to go after marketing opportunities, but sometimes by knowing what to avoid. Back in July at New Hampshire, NBC aired a pre-race segment showing Daniel Suarez handing out Dunkin’ Donuts to race fans on race-day morning. Oops. You see, Suarez’s team has partial sponsorship from Subway, and since Subway is also in the breakfast game, Subway can’t have Suarez marketing a competitor’s food (we’re assuming doughnuts are considered food).

Doesn’t this sound nuts?

To those who don’t work on the marketing side of Corporate America, yes, it sounds nuts. Subway had just one race left on its Suarez deal, so it could be worse. If Subway returns with a different team next year, NASCAR might see its first-ever doughnut clause in a sponsorship contract.