Abstract:
A method for forming linking customers with product and or service providing entities comprising: establishing a coordinator; posting by at last one of an event host or a sponsor at least one of descriptors of an event to be staged by the event host or offerings by the sponsor; and fitting the event host with one or more sponsors.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present patent application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application entitled, “System For Beneficially Joining Sponsors, Event Host (Or Other Individuals Or Entities That Need Sponsors), and Participants (Or Sponsors)”, filed Nov. 10, 2009, having U.S. Ser. No. 61/259,725, in the name of the same inventor, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This patent application further claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/333,493, filed May 11, 2010, entitled “A System For Allowing Users or Potential Users of a Product or Service to Receive the Product or Service for Free or at a Reduced Rate After Purchasing Gift Cards, Vouchers, or Credit For Another Company&#39;s Product or Service” in the name of the same inventor, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to systems and methods for providing participants with different products and or services, and more particularly, to a system and method for joining sponsors, event host, product and or service companies and the like with different individuals. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Presently, most companies and or organizers of mass participant events and charities such as marathons, triathlons, concerts, wine tasting and the like use only a few different methods to attract customers and or participants. In general, depending on the particular industry, these different methods may also be the same ones used by the event host competitors. Further, these different methods may not be the best way to attract customers and or participants. Even when a product or service company or mass participant event comes up with new ways to attract customers and or participants, these new methods are generally just a modification of existing methods and as such, generally only reach the same group of participants, users, customers and the like. 
         [0004]    Therefore, a need exists to provide a system and method to overcome the above problems. The system and method would provide companies and or organizers of mass participant events or other host product or service entities a way to attract new and existing customers and or participants. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with one embodiment, a method for linking a customer with an event host is disclosed. The method comprising: finding an event to participate in by the customer; and purchasing at least one voucher of a sponsor associated with the event by the customer, wherein proceeds from the purchase of the at least one voucher goes to the event host to run the event. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another embodiment, a method for linking customers with product and or service providing entities is disclosed. The method comprises: establishing a coordinator; posting by at last one of an event host or a sponsor at least one of descriptors of an event to be staged by the event host or offerings by the sponsor; and fitting the event host with one or more sponsors. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for linking customers with product and or service providing entities is disclosed. The method comprises: establishing a coordinator; posting by a host an offering by at least one sponsor; viewing of the offering by a customer; and purchasing the offering by the customer, wherein the offering is one of a gift card, discount voucher, or the like, wherein proceeds from the purchase go to the host. 
         [0008]    The present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart showing one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present invention may allow host or other individuals or entities that need sponsorship to lower their financial risk and overhead, while at the same time increasing attendance or participation for the event/cause/endeavor (hereinafter event). The present invention will further allow event sponsors to more easily measure their return on investment and potentially calculate payback periods and breakeven points, while also insuring that many participants and or supporters purchase their products. Further, the event participants or supporters gain access to the event at no direct charge or greatly reduced charge if the participant and or supporter agrees to do business with the sponsor(s). 
         [0013]    In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention may allow host product or service providers the ability to acquire new users for less than what it might normally cost to advertise or promote their product or services in a different manner in order to get similar results. The present invention may further allow sponsor product or service providers the ability to acquire new users for less than what it might normally cost to advertise or promote their product or service in a different manner in order to get similar results. The present invention may further allow users of the host product or service the ability to acquire that product or service at no direct charge or a greatly reduced charge, if they agree to purchase the sponsor&#39;s gift cards, coupons, and or vouchers and or otherwise do business with the sponsor. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a simplified block diagram depicting one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The system and method uses a coordinator  23  to aid in event host and or other entities  22  (hereinafter event host  22 ) to find sponsors  21  for participant events and charities such as marathons, triathlons, concerts, wining tasting, and the like (hereinafter events). This may allow the event host  22  to lower their financial risk and overhead, while at the same time increasing the number of participants  20  in the event being hosted by the event host  22 . The coordinator  23  may work to orchestrate the trade of information  9 A and  9 B between the event host  22  and the sponsors, as well as to help in the exchange of valuable consideration, vouchers, gift cards, discount coupons, and the like  10 A- 10 B (hereinafter vouchers  10 A- 10 B) between the participants  20 , sponsors  20 , and event host  22 . 
         [0015]    In operation, an event host  22  may develop descriptors of their event, and what the host  22  would expect to receive from potential sponsors  21  if they fulfill the terms outlined in the offering and sends this information  9 A to the coordinator  23 . The coordinator  23  may publish this information on a website, through publications (i.e., weekly/and or monthly newsletters, etc.) and the like (hereinafter website  23 A). Potential sponsors  21  may be able to search the potential offerings based on their own desire, descriptors of the event/offering, and what they would expect to offer if they fulfill the terms outlined in the offering found on the website  23 A of the coordinator  23 . Potential sponsors  21  may also develop their own offering and send this information  9 B to the coordinator  23  who may post the sponsor offering on the website  23 A. Alternatively, the potential sponsor  21  may post the sponsor offering directly on the website  23 A themselves. 
         [0016]    If the event host  22  and a sponsor(s)  21  seem to have some mutual potential fit, then the event host  22  and a sponsor(s)  21  may discuss with one another directly  9 C, through the website  23 A, via the coordinator  23 , or by other means through lines  9 A and  9 B to finalize the offering which will be presented to the participants  20 . 
         [0017]    The event host  22  and or sponsors  21  may use the website  23 A of the coordinator  23  to showcase  10 A their offering for the participants  20 . If the participant  20  finds the offering attractive, the participant  20  may use money or other valuable consideration to purchase one or more vouchers  10 B from the sponsor  21  either directly  10 C from the sponsor  21 , through the coordinator  23  via the website  23 A via line  10 D, or through the event host  22  via line  10   e . However, the money/other consideration may be held in escrow by the sponsor  21  or by the coordinator  23  until the event host  22  performs the duties agreed between the event host  22  and the sponsor  21 , or until an alternative time mutually agreed upon by the event host  22  and the sponsor  21 , after which time it is released to the event host  22 . Thus, the participant  20  is funding the sponsorship, in effect, instead of the more traditional method whereby the sponsor pays the event host to fund sponsorship. 
         [0018]    Either upon purchase by the participant  20 , at the actual event, or at another mutually agreed upon time, the sponsor  21  releases the voucher  10 B to the participant  20 . Sometimes, the sponsor  21  may use the event host  21  or coordinator  23  to present the voucher  10 B to the participant  20 . Sometimes, the event coordinator  23  releases the voucher  10 B via their website  23 A/ 10 A. Thus, unlike traditional sponsorship, whereby the sponsor funds the event host to gain awareness of their offering by the participants, in this system, the participant  20  in effect supplies much or all of the sponsorship consideration to the event host  22 , and then can either make use of the offering from the sponsor  21  or not. If the participant  20  does not make use of the offering, it cost the sponsor  21  basically nothing. The sponsor  21  may lose out on a potential commission for the sale of the voucher  10 B by the coordinator  23 . If the participant does make use of the offering, the sponsor  21  has a true customer, not someone who may just have become aware of their offering via sponsorship banners, public relations etc., and the sponsor  21  achieves the sponsorship via, in effect, barter, thus saving cash. Of course, many of these aspects, i.e., banners, public relationship efforts, etc., may still be part of what the event host  22  offers the sponsor  21 . Thus, the sponsor  21  has two ways to gather support, via increased awareness and more directly garnering new customers via their voucher offering. The event host  22  has a forum to find sponsorships, and may have less risk when making their offering, since participants  20  in effect receive the right to participate in the event as a bonus for purchasing the gift card, discount coupon, etc. 
         [0019]    It should be noted that the above may be modified so that instead of the full event being funded by the vouchers  10 B purchased from the sponsor  21  by participants  20  via the coordinator  23 , only part of the consideration to the event host  22  is derived by the above process. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this system, the coordinator  23  may work to orchestrate the trade of information  9 A,  9 B  9 C, money or other valuable consideration, and gift card(s), discount coupons, and the like  12 A,  12 B,  12 C (hereinafter vouchers) between user/customers  20  (hereinafter customer  20 ), sponsors  21 , and host product or service entities  22  (hereinafter host  22 ). Alternatively, information  9 A- 9 C, and voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C may be traded directly between customers  20 , sponsors  21  and host  22 . That is, the coordinator  23  may be hosted by the host product or service entity  22 , the customer  20 , or the sponsor  21  instead of being its own freestanding entity. 
         [0021]    In operation, the host  22  works with the sponsor(s)  21  either directly or through the coordinator  23  (via  9 A and or  9 B) to develop an agreeable offering such that the sponsor(s)  21  feel(s) the program is beneficial to them. The offering may require the purchase of specific voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C by the customer  20 . Alternatively, the offering may feature more than one product or service offering from more than one sponsor  21 , and thus may allow the customer  20  to choose which voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C from the sponsor(s)  21  that are most desirable to the customer  20  provided the total purchase of the voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C is at or above the amount required by the offering of the host  22 . 
         [0022]    When the offering goes “live”, the customer  20  may view the offering posted by the sponsor  21  and the host  22  at the website  23 A of the coordinator  23 , and choose the desired sponsor voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C. When the customer  20  purchases the voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C from the sponsor  21 , the money or other valuable consideration flows either immediately or at an agreed to later time to the host product or service entity  22  instead of to the sponsor(s)  21 . The voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C are distributed to the customer  20 . The method of distribution is either by the host product or service entity via  12 C, the sponsor via  12 B or the coordinator system via  12 A. 
         [0023]    In this way, the customer  20  not only receives the voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C to be used with the sponsor  21 , but the customer  20  also receives an immediate product or service, or a credit which may be used later at the host product or service entity  22  site. 
         [0024]    The sponsors  21  are happy since they are gaining new customers  20  without having to offer cash as they might in traditional sponsorships. The sponsors  21  also have the advantage in that their major cost associated with the sponsoring is based on cost of goods sold if and when the customers  20  make use of their voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C. And if the customer  20  does not use the voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C, the sponsor does not incur this cost of goods sold. Also, if the customer  20  chooses to use the voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C, the purchase by the customer  20  will likely be more than the value of their voucher. Thus, the sponsor  21  may immediately gain a profit from the customer&#39;s initial purchase. 
         [0025]    The host  22  may gain more customers  20  for their offering since customers  20  are able to gain the host  22  product or service free, or at a greatly reduced cost, after the customer  20  has purchased the voucher(s)  12 A- 12 C from the sponsor(s)  21 . 
         [0026]    The coordinator  23  earns its profit via a flat fee, a percentage fee based on purchases by the customer  20 , or other agreement. The fee may be paid by the sponsor  21 , the host  22 , or the customer  20 . Alternatively, if the coordinator  23  is not its own freestanding entity, it may be licensed for use via a flat fee or percentage based on revenue, number of transactions over a certain period of time, or other agreement. The fee may be paid by the sponsor  21 , the host  22 , or the customer  20 . The coordinator system may physically reside at the host  22  site, the sponsor(s)  21  site, or the customer(s)  20  site. 
         [0027]    The coordinator  23  may act as a conduit for communication of information and negotiation of terms between the customer  20 , the sponsor  21 , and the host  22  via  9 C,  9 B, and  9 A, respectively. 
         [0028]    In one example, the host  22  is an online TV purveyor. If the online TV purveyor  22  and an online retailer sponsor  21  develop a program offering whereby customers  20  may acquire $40 in viewing credit after purchasing $40 gift card from an online retailer  21 . The online TV purveyor  22  and an online retailer  21  post this offering on the website  23 A of the coordinator  23 . 
         [0029]    As another example, the host  22  is an online TV purveyor. The online TV purveyor  22  works with several different types of sponsors  21  (e.g., retailers, restaurants, service providers, etc.) to develop a program offering whereby customers  20  may acquire $40 in viewing credits after purchasing $40 in voucher(s). The customer  20  may choose which voucher(s) are of interest to them such that the total is at least $40. If they purchase more than $40 in voucher(s), additional credit may be given to the customer  20  by the online TV purveyor  22  based on the total they  20  purchased (i.e., if the customer  20  purchases one $20 voucher and one $30 voucher, the customer  20  may get $50 in credit from the online TV purveyor  22 , and they get the $20 and $30 vouchers from the sponsor  21 ). Alternatively, the additional credit for the customer  20  may remain at the coordinator  23  to be used later by the customer  20  (i.e., if the customer  20  purchase one $20 voucher and one $30 voucher, the customer  20  may get $40 in credit from the online TV purveyor  22 , and they get $10 account credit that stays with their  20  account at the coordinator system  23  which may be used with the online TV purveyor  22  or with a different host  22  later, and the customer  20  gets the $20 and $30 vouchers from the sponsor  21 .) Or, the customer  20  may get $40 in credit at the online TV purveyor  22 , but still get the total voucher based on the customer purchase (i.e., if the customer  20  purchases one $20 voucher and one $30 voucher, the customer  20  may only get $40 in credit from the online TV purveyor  22  with no account credit, but the customer  20  still get the $20 voucher and the $30 voucher from the sponsor  21 . 
         [0030]    Alternatively, instead of the customer  20  getting the host product or service  22  for free or for a reduced purchased price after purchasing the voucher(s) from the sponsor  21  via the coordinator system  23 , the customer  20  may instead purchase the host product or service from the host product or service entity  22  via the coordination system  23  and then receive the voucher from the sponsor(s)  21  for free or for a reduced purchase price. 
         [0031]    Alternatively, the host product or service entity  22  may instead be a charity/non-profit. Thus, the system may be used for fund raising. 
         [0032]    This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process, may be implemented by one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.