Already half done at Kennesaw State!! weeks 3 & 4

In WEEKs THREE & FOUR most of our time was spent working on the marketing plan for Spring 2014. We are using the SWOT analysis to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the meal plan program from 2013. The marketing plan includes an executive summary, situational analysis, basic SWOT analysis, plan objectives, action plan, and appendix. Our objectives are to increase total meal upgrades by at least 15%, upgrades to 3 square and unlimited meal plans, percentage of residential students upgrading (from 15.4% to 20%), percentage of commuter students upgrading (from 4.8% to 6%), and percentage of optional plans sold (from 7.2% to 10% of sales). We created an events calendar and brainstormed specific ways to achieve each of our objectives. We also began designing promotions for meal plan upgrades. I enjoyed the marketing side of things and using pinterest and the internet to find ideas for advertising.

 

On Tuesday, we had a benefit dinner for Moore county Oklahoma which was hit hard by the tornadoes. We handed out t-shirts and meal tickets, direct people, and set up the A-frame and balloons. There was also a prize drawing, DJ, banner to sign, and t-shirts (see pic) that come with meal purchase. The event  ended up being pretty successful especially considering it is summer.

On Wednesday we went to a meeting with Nathan the web concept designer and presented our ideas to make the website easier and more efficient to use for parents and students. We were able to see the draft of the new website format. The web designer is going to implement some of our ideas when updating the website. Also, KSU culinary & hospitality services was in the newspaper for their big culinary sustainability award (see pic).

On Friday we had new student and parent orientation. We went with Rob to set up a drink cart at the Bailey performance center where the parents were offered cold beverages when they exited. We worked on the marketing plan a little afterwards before we headed to the entrance of The Commons and handed out fliers to parents and students about the two new culinary classes that will be offered in the fall along with the new culinary sustainability major. We then headed upstairs to the Culinary & Hospitality table to answer questions from parents about meal plans. At the end of the day we met with Rob about our marketing plan and went over what we have done so far and what else we need to do to accomplish our goals. I also tried craw fish for lunch (definitely a different taste than lobster!) (see pics)

On Monday of WEEK FOUR Rob gave me an alternative assignment to design a weekend cook-to-order menu so I could spend time with my sister who came down from Tennessee and has a break from Sunday through Tuesday every other week. My mom was down from Ohio for the weekend as well (see pic before from before our adventures to Kennesaw Mt.) and took Monica and I to brunch before she left. Monica and I went floating on the Chattahoochee River (aka shoot the hooch) and went to dinner. 

On Tuesday we went to house 48 (the auxiliary services office) with Rob for a meeting with the furniture company sponsors supplying for the new sushi restaurant. Gary, Randy, and Rob picked out mostly red and black tables and chairs. I think the style they picked out will look great in a sushi restaurant where most people will get food to go and there is limited seating. After the meeting we participated in a Freshens panel to test out a new line of crepe wraps that they are adding to their menu. The Freshens at KSU will open sometime in the early fall semester. We tasted and evaluated each wrap as well as a couple other menu items. It was exciting to be a part of the process. Because Freshens is out of Atlanta the menu is largely determined by the feedback of KSU students, staff, and faculty. We have a Freshens at Purdue as well so it will be interesting to see what the new menu looks like when I go back in fall. The rest of the day we continued work on the marketing plan; specifically determining the cost of promotional items as well as events and staffing. 

On Wednesday we had the make-up orientation for the group of students and parents that were supposed to visit KSU on the Friday when there was no power because of the two tornadoes. Natalie and I helped Rob with setting up a table (we did not use the cart that we did last week) with soda (aka coke in the south) and water for the parents when they came out of a session in the Bailey Performance center. When we got back to The Commons we helped Shana set up chairs upstairs for parent break-out sessions. We then marked off and clicked in the parents and students. We helped answer questions from parents about meal plans at the Culinary & Hospitality table upstairs with Haley and ended the day working on promotional posters for fall meal plans. 

We found out from Rob on Thursday that we are officially going to the NACUFS conference in Minneapolis, MN from the 9^th through the 14^th! I am so excited J We began filling out forms and making travel arrangements. The rest of the day we worked on advertising for the fall meal plans. We have gotten a lot of positive feedback on our “keep calm and meal plan” design for posters, t-shirts, napkin holders, and flyers and found out they are going to use the design for fall promotions instead of spring. We also worked on a “keep calm and carry out” poster to inform students that there is now an optional take out option for their meals for an extra $5 per semester. Check out the posters that Natalie and I designed (below). It was exciting to see our hard work paying off! We also worked on a second ad that will be a poster and possible floor sticker in the student center and The Commons. It says “It’s as easy as 1,2,3… upgrade your meal plan today.” It has a picture of hopscotch and three easy steps for meal plan upgrade. If we purchase the floor sticker, it will be life size so that people can actually jump on the spaces. At the end of the day we got to try the hot sauce that we prepared a couple of weeks ago and Chef Billy gave us a jar of it to take back to our apartment (see pic)!  It was really good especially with eggs.

By Friday, the plans to go to Minneapolis, MN for the NACUFS conference are finalized! We have our hotel and plane tickets booked and Natalie and I will travel with Rob from July 9^th through the 14^th. In the morning, I booked my plane ticket and then we went to building 48 and met with Elaine who helped us register for the NACUFS conference. We also worked a little bit on advertising for the fall meal plans (see pics). I finished the napkin holders. I can’t believe that we are already halfway through our time at KSU!!