At the beginning of the semester in August, marketing students at Saint John's College Junior College were given a project to complete at the end of the semester. On paper the task was simple: they were to create a product or service and develop a plan to market it. How did they do? Well the assignment became due today and Keith Swift was at the SJC Gym to see if they all earned A's.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The students created and remarkably marketed photo studios, a taco stand, cafés, two massage parlors, and even a nightclub, and for the record - marketing student Ada Humes says it is an alcohol free nightclub.
Ada Humes, Student
"It's a school event so everything has to be liquor free."
Keith Swift,
But a club isn't a club without alcohol.
Ada Humes,
"There doesn't have to be alcohol for you to party."
Shirlene Westby's group played it on the safe side and created the 'Picture Perfect' photo studio. Shirlene Westby says each group member chipped in about $30 out of their pockets and they also held a bake sale to raise start up capital.
Shirlene Westby, Student
"The name of our company is Picture Perfect Productions. What we do is we personalize customers' pictures on calendars, greeting cards, or flyers. They just bring their picture and we can either scan them or today at the expo we will be taking their pictures for them."
Keith Swift,
Is this a business that could really make money?
Shirlene Westby,
"Yes it would be profitable because we have made a substantial amount of profit and if either one of the group members decide to continue this business, I think it will be profitable."
And like picture perfect - most of the businesses were selling and marketing products - whether it be tacos or pillows. But Adrian Sanchez's group did it differently. Their sales pitch was for a service - a massage.
Adrian Sanchez,
"Our company, the name is the Oasis Massage Studio. Basically, as the name suggests, we offer massages. We have available today two professional masseuse. We want to take it to another level and do something unique and something different so we decided to do a service which is something rare in Belize, most businesses in Belize tend to want to do products so we decided we would do a service."
Keith Swift,
How much did you invest in the project?
Adrian Sanchez,
"So I would say we have invested about $1,500 into it."
Keith Swift,
That's a lot of money for a project, you think it'll buy you an A?
Adrian Sanchez,
"Hopefully."
But it'll take more than hope to earn an "A" on the project. Marketing Lecturer Solangel Leiva Alvarado says all this, all these products and all the money spent, and being made, is for her students to put theory into practice.
Solangel Leiva Alvarado, Lecturer
"To give them a feel of entrepreneurship if they decide not to work for anybody and do this on their own. It is a big help. A lot of commitment, a lot of responsibility, they need that and as a group a lot of team work and that is what this gives them - that feel of what they want to do."
And by the looks of today's sales pitch - they can do a lot.
The students are all second year business majors which means they now take their marketing accument either into the workforce or unto further studies towards a Bachelor's Degree.
