I really like the thinking behind Procter & Gamble’s new deal with the NFL, which sees an array of 13 brands in the P&G portfolio become ’Official Locker Room Products’ of America’s dominant sport. P&G’s own comments about the deal also reveal a very interesting insight into the consumer products giant’s new commitment to sports marketing.      

What do I like about the deal? Two things in particular.

First, creating a new, customised category around P&G’s products is seriously smart.  It’s been done before of course – GE’s Olympics deal, Sony’s FIFA deal – but nothing wrong with that. For a house of brands like P&G, the commercial benefits – marketing synergies and retail efficiencies in particular – are immense. Crucially too, P&G’s ‘Locker Room’ play works as a consumer message – not to be underestimated, as so often these type of ‘official’ tags have absolutely no consumer meaning.

Second, playing the NFL to Mom. An odd choice you might say, given that P&G’s products are mainly purchased by women, and that the NFL audience is 66% male. That 33% female audience for the NFL is still huge of course -  estimated at around 94 million by Nielsen. But the key is, Mom doesn’t just buy for herself: she buys for the family. And if a consuming family passion is the NFL – which it absolutely is in the US – then connecting P&G’s products to that family passion is absolutely on the money.

“And let’s not forget” added NFL Marketing SVP Mark Waller today “that more women watch the Super Bowl than watch the Academy Awards”. 

Not convinced? Then consider Gatorade: a brand which went from niche sports drink to mass-market everyday family drink, primarily bought by Mom, by leveraging above all its NFL credentials, in a partnership which endures to this day. And while you’re at it, on the same theme you might also want to consider Gillette - owned by P&G since 2005 of course – which is most famous for its sports marketing.

Which brings me to P&G’s new commitment to sports marketing. In the news around the NFL deal, P&G’s Jason Dial was quoted as follows:

“When we aquired Gillette [in 2005], we found out how much of a role sports marketing could play…Gillette created the winning principles of sports marketing to our broader portfolio.”

I wonder whether other consumer products companies - hitherto oddly under-represented in sports sponsorship – will follow suit?

One thing’s for sure: with big investors like the financial services and auto categories cutting back, and with supply far outstripping demand, there’s never been a better time.  After all, the audience is still there, and still just as passionate - ask Mom.

By Tim Crow on August 5th, 2009

Tags: Default, New Product Development, NFL

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