Sitting Down With Zach Ahrens
Can you tell me a bit about your role with SCA? I am on the sales team and I work with clients to secure prize coverage and facilitate promotions that help clients engage their customers, incentivize customer behavior, and offer a chance to win exciting prizes. My day to day is spent reaching out to sponsors of teams, the sports teams themselves, and sharing big prize ideas that they can use in their business. How do you see promotions and customer engagement evolving in the digital realm? Loyalty programs on websites and apps offer a lot of exciting possibilities in the digital realm for companies to gamify the experience and offer prizing. I also see a lot of opportunities in prediction contests for large sporting events for teams and sponsors to engage with fans of the sport. Any cool hobbies? I’m a big golfer and have been for most of my life competing back in high school and still with friends and in tournaments every now and then. My favorite new-ish hobby over the last couple of years has been cooking and grilling out for my friends and family. Tell me something about contingency prize coverage that most people don’t know. When I first started at SCA I was so surprised by how many promotions use contingency prize coverage. We’re very behind the scenes and work to ensure the promotions run smoothly from official rules & bonding to a prize being awarded to a participant. A lot of the promotions I saw growing up like Monopoly at McDonalds, Pepsi under the cap promotions, and the Hole-in-ones to win a new car during PGA Tour Events were covered by SCA or a company like us. Where do you see the promotions industry in 5 years? This is a tough question… I see a move to the digital space for sure. Brands want to create loyalty and I think promotions exclusively for loyal customers is a good opportunity. We will see more companies offering the chance to win covered prizes other than cash. I could see companies offering experiences like high value vacations, cars, cryptocurrencies, etc. What is your favorite movie? Dumb & Dumber. Enough said. Do promotions have a place in Web 3.0? I think we already see promotions in Web 3.0 and in the Crypto Realm whether it’s chances to win or giveaways in different token/NFT communities. Where I believe we can help companies in Web 3.0 is engaging their community, offering life-altering prizes, and incentivizing customer activity the company deems important. Covered promotions do all that while protecting your marketing budget. Do you have a favorite promotion or story from SCA? My favorite promotions at SCA are our sports-based rebate and prize promotions because of how it can engage with a team’s fan base and benefit the business. I’m a sports fan at heart! Probably recency bias and my Caitlin Clark fandom but, SCA is working with a furniture store out of Iowa City to cover a conditional rebate if the Iowa Women’s or Iowa State Women’s basketball team wins the NCAA Women’s National Tournament. This promotion takes advantage of all the hype around a superstar in their local market and helps their business at the same time. Depending on how the upcoming Final Four goes it could be very rewarding for their customers and that’s always fun!
The Game-Changing NFL Kickoff Rule: A New Era of Promotional Opportunities.
The National Football League continues to evolve, not just on the field but also in creating innovative promotional avenues for fans and Sponsors. The latest stride in this direction is the revamped NFL kickoff rule, which not only enhances player safety but also unlocks exciting promotional opportunities. Let’s explore how fans can win life-changing prizes and the benefits of using prize coverage for these promotions. Fan Opportunities for Life-Changing Prizes Kickoff Return Challenges: With the new kickoff rule in place, kickoff returns become more strategic. Teams, sponsors, and broadcasters can collaborate to create kickoff return challenges for fans. By correctly predicting aspects like the starting field position after a return or the total yards gained, fans could win significant prizes, including cash rewards, VIP experiences, or even season tickets. Season-Long Sweepstakes: Launching a season-long sweepstakes tied to kickoff rule-related milestones can keep fans engaged throughout the NFL season. For example, fans could enter to win prizes every time a kickoff results in a touchback or when a team executes a successful onside kick under the new regulations. Prizes could range from luxury vacations to once-in-a-lifetime experiences like attending the NFL Draft. Benefits of Using Prize Coverage for Promotions Partnering with SCA can significantly enhance the promotional impact and mitigate financial risks for organizers. Here’s how: Enhanced Prize Offerings: Prize coverage with SCA enable organizers to offer high-value prizes without bearing the full financial burden upfront. This allows for more attractive and enticing prizes, increasing fan participation and engagement. Risk Mitigation: By transferring the financial risk to SCA, organizers can confidently execute ambitious promotional campaigns without the fear of budget overruns. Whether it’s offering a million-dollar prize for a kickoff return touchdown or a season ticket package, prize coverage ensures that the organizer’s budget remains intact. Flexibility and Customization: SCA offers flexibility in tailoring coverage options to suit the specific needs and objectives of the promotion. Whether it’s coverage for specific game outcomes, season-long contests, or virtual tournaments, organizers can customize their promotions while safeguarding against financial liabilities. Brand Visibility and Credibility: Promotions featuring life-changing prizes backed by prize coverage garner heightened attention and credibility from fans. Sponsors and partners associated with such promotions benefit from increased brand visibility, positive brand sentiment, and enhanced consumer engagement. Incorporating life-changing prize opportunities into promotional campaigns surrounding the new NFL kickoff rule not only amplifies fan excitement but also strengthens brand partnerships and drives long-term fan loyalty. By leveraging prize coverage, organizers can execute impactful promotions while safeguarding against financial uncertainties, ultimately creating memorable experiences for fans and stakeholders alike.
