Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

As you may know, Team 1515 is looking to be sponsored by a sheet-metal manufacturing / fabrication shop in Los Angeles. We are willing to pay for materials and are requesting donated labor. I have called about 30 companies so far, and they were all no's- some immediate (3 companies hung up on me quite rudely the second I mentioned the word sponsor), and some after 3-4 phone calls.
Does anyone know of a shop in Los Angeles which sponsors a FIRST team? Any help will be appreciated.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

I would suggest that general etiquette would be that you not attempt to solicit sponsorship from someone that already sponsors another team.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

Great job with talking with 30 companies. Most give up after a few unsuccessful attempts. You may want to try a slightly different tactic. Ask if the facility would be willing to give some students a tour of how sheetmetal fabrication works.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

You could try one of two tactics that have worked for my team. If you go to the company and knock on their door, they at least have to hear you out before declining to help; this usually doesn't work, but if you act interested in what they are doing, ask for a tour of their shop, then come back later and ask for help, it you might be able to get their support.

The way that my team gets most of our sponsors is through relationships. Find someone you know, who knows somebody. You may not know someone at any of the metal shops who wants to help you, but if you know someone who wants to help you that know someone at the metal shop, you should have a pretty easy time getting in. This technique is how my team got our metal shop.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

Also, take your robot along with you when you are visiting, and some FIRST handouts/material. Make sure you have a value proposition ready, why do they want to use their limited resources to help your team? Make sure you have an answer for that, which is why you have the robot with you.

Take your time and build a relationship with the company.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

My team sends out letters with a DVD about our team first. We then follow up with a phone call. This has worked for my team getting sponsorship commitments from out of state companies (at least our contacts were out of state). Also only try and the reach the high ranked executive/employees, preferably CEO, owner, or president type guy.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

Hi 1515
LA LA Land is a big place, Where / What part are you looking for shops in?
I was from the So bay area, gone 20 yrs but I still know some people

Other ideas; have you asked any of your school shops for referrals?
How about your local community college shop(s)
Most school / college shops or teachers have industry contacts
And Any company with an interest in education is half way to sponsorship

Have you tried smaller “job shops”?
They have a more flexible operation and are more likely to be able to fit you in to their
work schedule then a Big Box corp.,
some place with 20-50 Employees is about right

How about Car Clubs?
A lot of restorers have metalwork done, you may pickup some good referrals
Also these are the type of people that ENJOY doing projects.
They like to talk about they do and will take an interest in what you do too.
If you show interest.

Anyway there is a start
Have fun!
Geo.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

Air conditioning guys, particularly the larger ones, have their own sheet metal shops. There must be a few in SoCal.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

I love the idea of Car Clubs / Restoration places. There are quite a few of those in LA. About 60% of the companies I called were smaller operations who all seemed to be struggling big time in today's economy (which I had thought was going up for manufacturers). Thanks everyone for your replies.

Re: Sheet Metal Manufacturers in Los Angeles
 

Our most supportive industry sponsors are job shops with less than five employees.