A Slam-Dunk for ANC Sports and the NBA
The scene
In preparation for the 1997 McDonald’s Basketball Championships in Paris, France — a key part of the NBA’s plan to expand its presence in Europe — Britten spends four weeks printing and shipping hundreds of sponsor arena banners to be used in stadium displays provided by customer ANC Sports, a leading manufacturer of rotational event signage equipment.
The snare
Less than three days before the event, representatives of a major sponsor decide they don’t like the background color they had requested for their multiple event banners. Printing stadium banners quickly is no big deal, especially for Britten. The real challenge would be getting them to Paris in time: traditional freight shipped internationally moves through customs at a snail’s pace. With tip-off less than 72 hours away, an out-of-the-box solution was the only hope.
Britten in action
As the custom stadium banners are being reprinted that morning, a call goes out at Britten: “Anyone with a valid international passport please call the front office.”
Twelve hours later, a Britten employee carrying the arena banners as personal luggage sails through customs in Paris and catches a taxi to the arena to deliver the goods.
And before Michael Jordan puts his first points on the board, Britten scores big for the NBA and ANC Sports.
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