FLW Tour pro Robert Pearson this week signed a significant sponsorship – significant because the deal is so large in scope, and because it's independent (meaning, not arranged through FLW Outdoors). He noted that FLW Outdoors did assist him in the process, though, which was a critical and tremendous help.
Pearson's title-sponsor package comes from insurance giant Geico, which provides boat insurance to the public alongside its well-known auto insurance programs. Under the deal, Pearson will run a Geico-wrapped boat and truck during both FLW Outdoors and Bassmaster competition this year. There'll also be some cross-marketing programs with NASCAR.
Pearson lives near GEICO's Chevy Chase, Md. headquarters and is friends with company CEO Tony Nicely. "Having a sponsor like Geico is virtually unheard of out here," Pearson said. "This is leaps and bounds over anything we've done before and I couldn't be happier. I pursued these guys for a while. I just knew this was a perfect fit for our sport and for me and my career.
"I've been fishing professionally for 9 years and I've improved every season," Pearson added. "Now that I won't have to worry about how I'm going to pay for the next event, I expect my fishing will get better and better. I want to catch a bunch of fish and move up the rankings, but the No. 1 thing I want to do even more than that is to represent Geico to the best of my abilities and introduce them to this world out here. There are a lot of people who need to insure their boats, trailers, and trucks and Geico's the best insurance, period, so hopefully people will support our sponsors just like they support the anglers."
