[mas-dkt-sive]

Marketing and promotion are part and parcel of what companies do to sell their products. I have always thought that we, in business, approach this wrong from the start. In my company, as an example, our salesmen turn in "expense" reports detailing what they spent on their customers for entertainment, etc. These are NOT expense accounts, they are "investment" accounts to help solidify relationships with our customers. The entertainment has a valid business purpose and pays concrete dividends in customer goodwill.

Companies that sponsor sporting events, charity events, etc. should do so proudly and announce that this is an integral part of their sales and marketing and that it pays dividends to the stockholders and employees in the form of increased sales and revenues. The bottom line is that without promoting your company and its products, you lose the opportunity to focus your potential customers on your brand. If you don't do it, someone else will!