During the last season HC Košice brought several novelties in the marketing area. Partners and supporters of the Club appreciated establishment of networking platforms focused on business sector (Business Club) and community (Community Forum). While within community we managed to establish excellent relationships with elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities, police, municipal authorities, and county municipality, the area of product partnerships has seen a major expansion within business sector. Product partnerships play an important role in most successful clubs and the opportunity to present yourself as a company dressing up the club management or players, or as a supplier of a variety of locker room accessories, is perceived and recognized as an excellent privilege. At the same time, the supporters of the Club prefer exactly those products and services that are provided by the partners of the Club. How successful were the product partnerships in Košice?

Product partners have a possibility to support the Club with their products or services in return for advertising space within the communication channels of the Club, as well as a possibility to promote cooperation itself among their regular as well as potential customers and community. Portfolio of product partnerships grew nicely during last season in HC Košice and the new partners increased the level of services and functioning of the Club.

Locker room with extra services

Thanks to our partners, this year we added food supplements (GymBeam), drinking regime (AQUA PRO, Pepsi, coffee Barzzuz), fruits (Lunys), pizza and food after the match to the standard equipment of the locker room (outfit from the company 3b), or made use of the pedicurist services. Some of the players had hotel accommodation at their disposal, other players were given a car at their disposal. Thanks to the partner, the whole team has been dressed up in a stylish leisure outfit.

Modernization of organization and functioning of the Club

The Club progressively develops its digital marketing tools (web, mobile application, loyalty scheme) thanks to the Ness Company and data resources (EliteProspects, Slovak Ice Hockey Association). The Promiseo companies and the City of Košice (K13) helped to create a creative content, Hi-reklama ensured advertising production activity, DoubleTree by Hilton, Steam Factory, and Pivovar Hostinec provided premises for conferences and team building, exclusive fashion brand Marco Mirelli dresses up the Club management. Also, the catering during matches have been ensured in selected sky boxes, RICOH provided printing solution for the Club administration and the čass Company ensured cleaning of offices. Ster Century Cinema, Neonka, Bauer, Hi-reklama, Pivovar Hostinec, and the Cassovar Parking House supported the season ticket sale with their benefits.

Marketing of matches and media

The Club tried to support domestic hockey matches by an interesting support program. Prizes for the competitions have been donated by Báječné kvety, Tripex (air tickets), Pivovar

Hostinec, Datacomp and the photo shoot with mascot and players during the matches has been ensured by Cewe fotolab. Rádio Košice, Korzár, Manuvia Technologies & Media, Enter Design (Cultural and Social Guide to Cultural Events and Companies), OC Optima and the City of Košice provided media support for the Club.

Further extension of the portfolio of product partners

The Club would like to continue the current trend also in the future. The latest product partners supported HC Košice in the modernization of the Club administration functioning. The Ness Company, main IT partner of the Club, will provide laptops to the employees and the Unique People Company will ensure their further administration and equipment with important applications. Slovenská sporiteľňa and its partner Global Payments will ensure the payment gateway for the new e-shop of the Club and the solution for the sale of tickets. Webhouse will provide webhosting services for the new season of the Club, legal issues of the Club will be dealt with by Vojčík & Partners, the renowned Košice lawyer’s office.

What does the Club need? Partners providing the following services are welcome in further development of the Club:

• bus transportation

• catering

• accommodation

• catering

• security service

• office supplies,

• companies hiring billboards

• office equipment

• appliances

• accommodation

• catering

• photographers

• interior construction work

• office furniture

• English lectors

Are you interested in the Product Partnership Model and would you like to support the most successful Slovak Club in the hockey history in the difficult situation? Do not hesitate to contact us at the following e-mail address: asmelkova@hckosice.sk . Together, we can do it.