Carlson Labs Signs Partnership Deals With Two Local Professional Athletes
For athletes to perform at high levels and excel in their careers, they need to keep health top of mind —this is obvious. However, the day-in and day-out of how to prioritize health is less clear. A Google search for “athlete health tips” yields more than 40 million results in less than one second. So, the question becomes — how can athletes, specifically up-and-comers, figure out what to do to optimize their health?
Fortunately, there are instances in which high-performing, veteran athletes and high-quality brands come together to create mutually-beneficial partnerships: The athletes receive tangible benefits from the partnership in terms of products they truly believe in and use, while showcasing these effective products to their fans and followers. The brands, meanwhile, enjoy the benefits that come with athlete partnerships — awareness, legitimacy, sales, and more — ultimately assisting the brand break through the clutter of the marketing space and acquire new customers.
This is the case of Hochberg Sports Marketing’s (HSM) latest facilitated long-term partnership between two professional soccer players — Arin Wright and Vanessa DiBernardo, teammates who compete on the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club in Chicago — and local supplement company Carlson Labs.
While professional athletes partnering with supplement companies is not groundbreaking on its own, this specific partnership is unique for the following reasons:
- Carlson Labs is headquartered in the greater Chicago area — where Wright and DiBernardo have played for nearly two decades combined.
- Carlson is family and female-owned, selecting two professional female athletes who are ideal role models for the brand.
- Carlson and Wright engaged in a test partnership prior to this long-term engagement. This allowed both sides to ensure they wanted to move forward on a larger deal.
“We hand-selected Arin Wright and Vanessa DiBernardo because it was important for us to partner with strong, successful women, who care about health and well-being and who represent the same region/hometown that we do,” said Michael Paravola, who helps lead digital marketing at Carlson. “We are honored to play a part in their wellness routine and to have them represent the Carlson brand.”
Within the partnerships, Wright and DiBernardo will create and post social media content to showcase their usage of Carlson Labs products and share how it is assisting in their performance on and off the field. There will also be appearances and other assets taking place throughout the duration of the partnerships. Specific terms will not be disclosed.
“Carlson has been a game-changer for me,” Wright said. “From melatonin to ensure good night sleeps to elderberry that helps with my immune system and provides strong antioxidant support, Carlson really has it all to keep me fueled throughout the season. Being able to work alongside a women-owned company that values uplifting female athletes is really the cherry on top of it all.”
To develop impactful partnerships, authenticity is crucial. Given the above — from the focus on elevating female athletes to aligning with local celebrities — it is clear that this opportunity will stand out from the slew of sports sponsorships to positively impact everyone it touches, from the athletes’ fans, to Carlson, and the athletes themselves.
