Leveraging Bright Ideas
Colspark’s First Project!
Recently we got our first client, VILLA, Inc. on board. VILLA is a speciality apparel and footwear retailer based in Philadelphia. They gave us not one, but 2 case challenges to reach out to students with.
The first challenge is to develop a marketing strategy to raise awareness of and participation in VILLA’s outreach efforts. It’s social campaign, Join the Movement (JTM) is a commendable initiative launched to revive economically-challenged urban communities.
The second challenge is to develop an effective market research system that generates constant updates on fashion trends. The premise is that apparel and footwear tastes are in constant change amongst the youth, and it’s important to be up-to-date with their preferences.
Finalists of both of these challenges get to present a detailed PowerPoint deck to VILLA, at which stage they are awarded a Certificate of Achievement.
Winners of these challenges are awarded prize money AND a fall semester internship.
Through this we hope to give students the real-world experience they need as well as an opportunity to boost their resume. Whether they win the challenge or not, the effort they put in to help VILLA solve a marketing / market research problem will set them apart from the rest. That’s exactly the reason universities hold case competitons and co-op programs. We take it a step further by putting real, live cases out for students to try solving.
VILLA is definitely an inspiring brand that is actively involved in the surrounding communities. Companies that engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) versus those that don’t benefit a lot more in the long-term.
All I can say is, if I were a student, I’d take part in challenges like these without batting an eyelid :)
The first challenge is to develop a marketing strategy to raise awareness of and participation in VILLA’s outreach efforts. It’s social campaign, Join the Movement (JTM) is a commendable initiative launched to revive economically-challenged urban communities.
The second challenge is to develop an effective market research system that generates constant updates on fashion trends. The premise is that apparel and footwear tastes are in constant change amongst the youth, and it’s important to be up-to-date with their preferences.
Finalists of both of these challenges get to present a detailed PowerPoint deck to VILLA, at which stage they are awarded a Certificate of Achievement.
Winners of these challenges are awarded prize money AND a fall semester internship.
Through this we hope to give students the real-world experience they need as well as an opportunity to boost their resume. Whether they win the challenge or not, the effort they put in to help VILLA solve a marketing / market research problem will set them apart from the rest. That’s exactly the reason universities hold case competitons and co-op programs. We take it a step further by putting real, live cases out for students to try solving.
VILLA is definitely an inspiring brand that is actively involved in the surrounding communities. Companies that engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) versus those that don’t benefit a lot more in the long-term.
All I can say is, if I were a student, I’d take part in challenges like these without batting an eyelid :)
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