[MichaelXi]

Breaking News here.....
I lost my job today. I will be unemployed in two weeks....
Reason?
I work for a Marketing Company that is hired/nearly owned by RJR. There is a current tobacco lawsuit regarding the companies "Implying" that "Light" cigarettes were healthier than "Full Flavor" cigarettes. This is a Multi- BILLION -Dollar Lawsuit.
In light of that, so I hear, RJR is pulling ALL Marketing Programs, from Winston Cup down to me.
I work in a "Retail Brand-Conversion" program.
It's been completely dropped Nationally, as has the "Camel Bar Program", the Camel Girls and Casbah Parties, Concert Sponsorships, etc...
Winston Cup was ON the list I was told.
I haven't heard "Official" word on NASCAR's end or in the Press yet.
If it's Accurate, I imagine we'll hear something "Official" in the Next few days....

 

[Auto-X-ZTS]

Are they (RJR) not under contract for at least the rest of this season with NASCAR? I heard that they were looking to get out next year anyhow--and that was back in January/February...

 

[MichaelXi]

Originally posted by Auto-X-ZTS:
Are they (RJR) not under contract for at least the rest of this season with NASCAR? I heard that they were looking to get out next year anyhow--and that was back in January/February...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">They are actually in the first year of a 5 year contract.
It was announced that they "Wanted" to pull out a couple months ago.
The "REAL" word, according to my discussion w/ an RJR "Higher-Up" was that they Offered to pull out IF another company would buy out the contract.
KNOWING that it was VERY UNLIKELY that another company would step to the plate at the current sponsorship Price-Point, they knew that they would Likely fill the 5 years of their contract, threaten to pull out, and thus be able to renegotioate a cheaper deal.
The word I heard today was DEFINITE PULL-OUT, though no Precise timeframe was mentioned.

 

[MichaelXi]

If this is Fairly Immediate, (Like the Termination of MY Program...

), this will be BIG News in the next few weeks.
Not only will it affect NASCAR, but Tobacco Advertising will be almost completely eliminated except for magazine ads and billboards....

I don't smoke regular cigarettes, but that's pretty BIG News IMO...

 

[Virtual_Insanity]

WOW Michael sorry to hear that

I heard about the "light" lawsuit recently against RJR but had no idea that was going to affect their sponsorship in racing

Anyway I hope that you get a new job soon.Keep us posted.Thanks

 

[HNDAETR]

Also look for 76 to be pulling its fuel sponsorship at the end of this year.

 

[UltegraSTI]

76 is already gone.

-Ult

 

[ZX3guy182]

pretty old news,from what ive heard they want out and if nascar can find someone to replace them, they are gone (however long that takes), if not they will stay to the end of the contract. I guess you would know better though.

[ 04-05-2003, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: ZX3guy182 ]

 

[blueovaldave]

The news about Winston has been in the papers since the day after Daytona. Winston has a working agreement in place with NASCAR that they will stay in the series and help find a replacement sponsor. Problem is everyone in the advertising business has said that it will be at least 3 - 5 years before a potential sponsor can start to recognize any kind of brand recognition from a NASCAR sponsorship. Since Winston has been around so long everyone will still call it the Winston Cup. NASCAR is really going to stuggle with this I think. They need a big dollar sponsor to come in and there are very few companies right now that can afford or will take a chance to sponsor something for that kind of money.

 

[ZX3guy182]

i heard coke or mcdonalds were interested when the news broke at daytona, i havent heard anything since then though.

[ 04-05-2003, 08:48 AM: Message edited by: ZX3guy182 ]

 

[MichaelXi]

OK guys, re-read my 2nd post.
It restates what you guys have alluded to.
HOWEVER, it has always been the intent (Inside word here), to STAY with it, and use the situation to leverage a better deal when it's time for contract-renewal.
This has now apparently changed.

 

[teamford]

Micke, so sorry to hear about your job man, that sucks. Hopefully you will find something else very soon.

 

[MichaelXi]

Originally posted by teamford:
Micke, so sorry to hear about your job man, that sucks. Hopefully you will find something else very soon.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Thanks....
I'm Hoping.
Damn Lawsuits over BS.
Like anyone would think any form of Smoking would not cause Damage...

 

[BUR_ZX3]

Originally posted by MichaelXi:
Like anyone would think any form of Smoking would not cause Damage...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Like Tobacco companies should be allowed to cover up the lies and damaging information that they've had for DOZENS OF YEARS about the harmful effects of smoking, its correlation with cancer, low birth weight and emphysema (sp?). As a kid who can't breathe right cuz both parents smoked like chimneys till he was 10 and got Bronchitis at least 3x a year until college, probably cuz of cigarettes, oh ya did I mention my mom died of cancer?

All I know is, that I'm sorry you lost your job. But I don't hurt for NASCAR losing their title sponsor.... funny how I don't see any drivers lighting up as the run through the checker at the end of a race.

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by MichaelXi:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by teamford:
Micke, so sorry to hear about your job man, that sucks. Hopefully you will find something else very soon.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Thanks....
I'm Hoping.
Damn Lawsuits over BS.
Like anyone would think any form of Smoking would not cause Damage...

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">What sucks is I'm 50 years old and I've known since I was 7 or 8 that smoking was bad for you. My Mom smoked, my Dad smoke till I was 15 and my Grandfather smoked. The ALL told me it was bad. All you had to do was hear the damn coughing!! I have never smoke (tobaco) because of this.

The lawsuits are BS. Bunch of money grubbers...most likely the lawyers.

 

[MichaelXi]

EXACTLY!!!!
Anyone who Smokes KNOWS the Potential Consequences.
It's not like anything's been hidden...

For me it's just a job, but Damn, People....
I just can't believe the Lawsuit....

 

[Nacron]

can't RJR just replace the name winston with another brand they own?

 

[MichaelXi]

Originally posted by NacronSE:
can't RJR just replace the name winston with another brand they own?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">No, Because it's the "Parent" Company that's being sued, along w/ Phillip Morris and Maybe others....

 

[P-51]

Man, that sucks Michael... Ford is still ****ing over the agency people, over 3 years and no raise, but at least I got a job I guess.

I find that an individual suing the tobbacco companies is a little rediculous. If you can't figure out they are bad for you, you should be in a mental institution.

But I like what's been going on up in Canada. The governments are suing the tobacco companies for the cost of medicare for smokers... That makes more sense.