Eight Ways to Be Involved
Rugby World Cup 2011 offers an enormous range of opportunities for lots of different types of local business. Some are obvious, like supplying the physical needs of staging the games, or producing licensed products. It’s also clearly going to benefit the hospitality sector. But the chances for you to get involved go way beyond this.
The Tournament will bring opportunities for businesses large and small, and the potential benefit will last well after the final whistle. In fact, achieving a lasting legacy of economic benefit is one of the key aims of the region’s RWC 2011 Steering Group. Our immediate aim is to help you get the most from RWC 2011, by giving you the information you need and assisting you to build your business capability. So let’s look at the specific areas of opportunity and how your business can get involved .
Opportunity #1
Become an official RWC 2011 licence holder. Rugby World Cup Limited has granted master licence rights to Licensing in Motion (LIM), a joint venture between Velocity Brand Management, Sport and Entertainment Ltd and Sportfolio. LIM will sub-license companies to produce all types of merchandise for RWC 2011 for sale across all global territories, with the exception of South Africa and Europe. Local companies who have already secured rights are as follows:
ACP Media Ltd Publishing - Publishing
Antics Marketing Ltd - Plush & Polyresin e.g. Plush: bears, kiwis, keyrings, travel pillows, novelty balls up to sizes TBC and baby rattles; Polyresin: photoholders, photoframes and figurines (non-player specific unless approval has been sought and granted from individual players)
Apparel House - Children’s and infants' apparel and accessories
Apparel House (Footwear) - Men's women's and children's footwear
Brand Integrity - Brand Protection – Anti-counterfeit stickers for supply to RWC 2011 Official Licensees
Burley Sekem - Scarves and beanies (Australia)
Cameo Fine Arts - New Zealand Craft - High quality NZ craft made from bone, paua shell, green stone, wood and acrylic.
Caprice Ltd - Manchester - Bed Linen, Towels and Cushions
Croxley Stationery Ltd - Stationery including exercise books, journals, A5 diary, supporter paints, Bostik adhesives
CCC - Mens' and Womens' apparel, headwear, scarves and beanies
Flagz Group Ltd - Flags - Street Flags/Banners and all other sizes of screen print of digital print flags and banners
Fujifilm NZ Ltd - Printed Vinyl Products and Personlised Photographic Products
Gow Langsford Gallery Ltd - Fine Art - 6 Artworks by Dick Frizell and limited edition prints of artworks by Dick Frizell.
Lucky Harvest - Soft shell bags including school bags, sports bags, backpacks, weekend bags, wet bags, shopping bags, tote bags and credential holders
Norfield Limited - Giftware (Metal) - Photo Frames, Money Clips, Cufflinks, Luggage Tags, Clocks, Bottle Openers, Corkscrews, Paper Weights, Binoculars; Giftware (PVC) - Photo Frames, Luggage Tags, Coasters, Wristbands, Phone Charms; Polar Fleece Blankets/rugs; Watches (up to RRP of no more NZD$200)
Peros Ltd - Umbrellas and ponchos
Saint Publishing Ltd - Calendars, diaries, cards (postcards)
Samsonite Australia Pty - Luggage - Sports Bags, backpacks, satchels, wheelie bags and suitcases (into Briscoe's and Official RWC Retailers Only)
Savill Coordinates Ltd - Belts, pet accessories and leather products including men’s leather and webbing dress belts and buckles; Pet accessories including collars and leads; Leather products including wallets, travel wallets, luggage tags, A4 and A5 compendiums, leather coasters & key rings
Sportfolio/CCC - Adults Apparel, Headwear, Scarves and Beanies
Skye Group - Neckwear – Ties and ladies’ handkerchief scarves
Tolley - Sheepskin products - balls, boots, slippers, golf club covers, throw cushions, stadium cushions, gloves, socks, pashminas, blankets and rugs.
Trofe - Giftware supporter items, including pins, keyrings, bottle openers, magnets, stickers, medallions, cufflinks, body tattoos and lanyards
Yetimo - Promotional products and premiums excluding all the above
Refer to www.auckland2011.com/business for updates on the status of the licensing programme and see the ‘Past examples’ box for the types of licensed merchandise created for previous Rugby World Cup events. If you would like to express interest in becoming an official sub-Licensee for RWC 2011, you can obtain a copy of LIM’s Request for Proposal document by contacting them directly: LIM (NZ) Ltd, Rugby World Cup 2011 New Zealand Licensing, PO Box 1710, Auckland, email rfp2011@velocitybrandmanagement.com. RWC 2011 shops will be opening from September 2009, so act now to get your products on the shelves!
Opportunity #2
Supply goods and services for RWC 2011 Rugby World Cup is considered the third largest sporting event in the world today. After the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, no other global occasion commands the same interest in terms of television audiences, spectator numbers, travelling supporters, corporate support, retail sales and media interest.
Staging this incredible event is going to take a lot of doing, and there are many opportunities to work on RWC 2011 between now and the Tournament’s end. The Tournament however is bigger than the games taking place at the venues. For example, training venues (to be announced by early 2010), Volunteer Centres and Fan Zones (large outdoor areas with big screens and public hospitality) will need to be created or upgraded and may need:
• Security fencing
• Temporary toilets
• Staging
• Lighting (stage lighting and wayfinding)
• Signage
• Flags and banners
• Furniture hire
• Telecommunications equipment
• Office equipment and stationery supplies
• Turf and field upgrades
• Floodlighting
• Big screens
• Security services
• Club room upgrades including upgrades to changing facilities
• Traffic management equipment
• Gym equipment upgrades
• Medical services
• Cleaning/waste management
• Queuing/pedestrian management systems
Previous Rugby World Cup licensed merchandise included:
• Official Rugby balls
• Souvenir merchandise such as key rings, coffee mugs, posters and cards
• Collectible figures
• Whistles
• Clothing, including replica jerseys and other kit, sports apparel, casual clothing and supporters’ apparel
• Flags and banners
• DVDs, CDs, games, computer accessories
• Watches
A national tenders website specifically for RWC 2011 is live at https://www.tenderlink.com/businessopportunities2011 where much of this work will be announced. Registering for tenders will create a profile of your business that can aid selection, but you don’t need to have made contact before to submit a bid or proposal. For larger, more complex bids the opportunity may start with a request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) on the site. Organisations that are most qualified, based on their EOI, will then be contacted for fuller proposals. Simpler bids may proceed direct from an invitation on the website or from contacting suppliers among those registered. Plus, stay in touch with your local communities to see where smaller-scale festival events will be held.
Opportunity #3
Supply the teams, sponsors, international media, officials and guests. RWCL have appointed Rugby Travel & Hospitality (NZ) Ltd (RTH NZ) to create, manage and implement the Official Travel and Hospitality Programme for RWC 2011. This follows their successful delivery of the programme in France for RWC 2007. RTH NZ will be appointing a network of global Official Travel Agents to create and sell a range of travel programmes, designed to excite Rugby fans. As well as match tickets, the packages will offer a wide range of content at a variety of prices. Travel programmes will encourage fans to follow the Tournament around the country, with time and opportunity to experience New Zealand’s highlights.
A network of Official Corporate Hospitality Agents will be appointed to sell the Official Hospitality Packages worldwide. But RTH NZ has entire responsibility for managing and coordinating the fulfilment of the programme. The requirements for this will include everything from banquet chairs to the linen, security services to fencing and caterers to hostesses.
Other key needs will include infrastructure and venue fit-out as well as the highest quality entertainment. It’s a massive undertaking and RTH NZ is determined to set new standards when it comes to quality of hospitality provided at the Tournament.
For more information on the Official Travel and Official Hospitality programmes, visit www.rth2011.com
The hospitality programme in France for RWC 2007 involved:
• 29 caterers
• 250 different menus
• 135 different wines
• 55,000 bottles of wine
• 32,000 bottles of champagne
• 10,000 waiting staff
• 1.5 million pieces of designer china, cutlery and glassware
• 110,000 hospitality gifts
• 15,000 tables and 13,000 chairs hired
Opportunity #4
Become part of the RWC 2011 commercial family. As outlined above, opportunities still exist at all levels to become part of the RWC 2011 family of sponsors. The commercial rights to RWC 2011 are being managed on behalf of Rugby World Cup Limited by IMG, who have provided this service since the 1995 Tournament.
At a Tier 1 Worldwide Partner level, the necessary investment will mean that such opportunities will usually appeal to large scale global corporations.
At Tier 2, your company could become an Official Sponsor of the Tournament here in New Zealand. Potentially, it doesn’t matter what kind of product or service your business offers, so long as it is outside the worldwide exclusive categories held by Tier 1 Partners. The Tier 2 investment level is likely to fit best with large New Zealand companies operating internationally.
Tier 3 Tournament Suppliers relate to specific supply needs, and typically could include telecommunications/IT, motor vehicle supply, soft drinks, insurance, fuel, etc.
To specifically talk about sponsorship or official supply opportunities, contact IMG directly. Email jonathan. kritzinger@imgworld.com, phone 09 968 5775 or visit www.imgworld.com.
Opportunity #5
Tap into the visitor market. It’s estimated that over 60,000 overseas visitors will be coming to New Zealand for the Tournament, and many will extend their trip to enjoy a longer holiday.
This influx represents an enormous opportunity for hospitality, entertainment, tourism and retail businesses. To make the most of it, ensure that you tailor your offering to meet the needs and expectations of visitors. While the vast majority of visitors will speak English, visitors will be coming from all four corners of the world, and your business may benefit from appropriate language skills. That could come from employing the right staff, or you could consider some basic training for your current employees. The most useful languages will probably be Japanese and French.
Opportunity #6
Contribute to infrastructure development. There are massive plans in process to upgrade infrastructure across NZ for RWC 2011. A lot of construction, fit-out and technology installation work will be taking place across the country.
Make sure you stay up to date with tenders by registering at https://www.tenderlink.com/businessopportunities2011/ It could be that your company offering lies outside those conventionally considered in infrastructure plans.
Opportunity #7
Be a subcontractor and/or join forces with other firms. For enormous international events like this, most companies need help to meet what’s required of them. This applies to all of the areas of opportunity outlined previously.
Whether you want to be the lead contractor on a project, or someone else gets there first, stay in touch with the awarding of RWC 2011-related contracts in your business area. Ensure your credentials presentation is the best it can be before seeking a sub-contract. You may even consider approaching a likely contract winner in advance to offer your services. In any event, you’ll want to stand out from the competition if you want to be selected.
Take a good look at companies around you and see which you feel you could work with to gain a contract or subcontract. It may be that you join with more than one company, forming a ‘cluster’. Together, you may find that you have the scale and mix of skills to fulfil a tender’s requirements when you could not do so alone.
Opportunity #8
Upskill your service industry employees. Recently launched, KiaOraMai is an exciting programme designed for service-industry employees to enable them to deliver a uniquely New Zealand customer service experience.
What makes it exciting? Build service success (and your bottom line results) as you and your employees learn. KiaOraMai provides the opportunity to review and improve your customers’ experience.
Your employees will build the knowledge and skills to be able to create a uniquely New Zealand customer service experience for all your customers and keep them coming back!
About the KiaOraMai programme. The programme will take approximately four months to complete. It's a mixture of training in the workplace and two off-job workshops. As the employer you will need to certify that your employee has met the KiaOraMai standard KiaOraMai includes unit standards on the National Qualification Framework
For more information go to http://www.kiaoramai.co.nz/