Massey University marketing students rose to the occasion last fortnight to present a marketing plan to a not-for-profit organisation in Palmerston North.
Forming themselves into teams of three persons each, the students compiled business plans for the YMCA Central and presented them to the management of the organisation for evaluation.
Their $10,000 plan included recreation, youth development and education programme, in line with the activities of YMCA.
The winners were Luke Trim, Kelly Weaver and Jessica Rhodes whose detailed 70-page report focused on promoting the organisation’s current recreational services, including before and after-school care, holiday programmes, pre-school gymnastics and a climbing wall.
They also suggested new initiatives to generate funds for programmes.
Their plan included marketing strategies to help YMCA grow its market share, improve brand awareness and achieve financial stability.
They presented the Plan, based on interviews and study of more than 70 people, to Palmerston North YMCA Operations Manager Vaughan Dennison.
He said the report included “early pickings” of ideas that could be used immediately and as longer-term big visions for programme development.
“I was very impressed with the report. Not-for-profits are challenged with their own internal resources and we will get a lot of value out of the strategy and ideas suggested by the students,” Mr Dennison said.
Lecturer Pam Feetham, who teaches the 300-level paper, said the standard was “so high this year that additional awards were given to the winners.
