Marketing isn’t just students reading about marketing in a textbook; it’s more than that. It’s about them getting the real-life experience out of it. This semester, business teacher Lindsey Rost and her Marketing class teamed up with School Grounds adviser Christine Dimas and employees to allow students to see the real side of marketing.
“I wanted to do it especially for my classes to give them more of a real-life experience of marketing. The effectiveness of different marketing skills and the effectiveness of creating advertisements. It’s more than just a project, it’s something real for the school,” Rost said.
Rost wanted students to experience marketing as professionals do. After meeting with Dimas to create a list of all the things that needed to be done for the marketing, Rost divided responsibilities between her two Marketing classes. Students designed menus, posters, a credit card system, punch cards, badges, and many more items to come.
“It makes it real for the marketing students,” Rost said. “I could just teach them about marketing and advertising, but it really doesn’t make sense until they actually put it into application.”
After School Grounds was closed for a whole semester, many students may not have known it was ready for business. Dimas thought it was the perfect opportunity to partner up with Rost and her marketing classes to bring the word out that School Grounds is open.
“I thought it would be a great way to collaborate,” Dimas said. “I was looking for some new, refreshing ideas for menu design and advertising to get the word out that we are open again.”
Dimas’s goals for collaborating with Rost and her marketing were very clear. She wanted to increase awareness, update the menu, and encourage more students to support the coffee shop. There was behind-the-scenes work to get done as well. School Grounds employees worked to clean and reorganize the coffee shop, check for expired products, and train new employees.
“We just started, so far the marketing class has created a new menu design, name badges for employees, advertisements, and labels for the organization. We have more planned,” Dimas said.
Marketing student junior Audrianna Reiser gives positive feedback about being a part of marketing for School Grounds.
“I love it,” Reiser said. “It makes me feel more seen, and I like putting my input into school.”
For Reiser, the project has been both a fun and an eye-opening experience. She explained that marketing isn’t just about what she likes, but it’s about understanding the audience’s taste.
“Make sure it’s not one-sided. It’s not just what you like, but it’s what everyone else around the school likes,” Reiser said.
Reiser’s proudest achievement was designing the new School Grounds menu independently, then gathering feedback from classmates to refine it.
“Even though it might seem hard, marketing is a lot of fun, and a lot more people should do it,” Reiser said.
School Grounds employee, sophomore, Tatianya Sahotsky’s favorite marketing item is the redesigned menu, and that Rost’s Marketing classes are doing what they are for School Grounds. Sahotsky also expresses that she wouldn’t change anything about what Rost’s marketing class is doing for School Grounds.
“The menu is my favorite because of the colors and the style of it, Sahotsky said. “I wouldn’t change anything about the marketing because the Marketing class is doing a great job on it,” Sahotsky said.
School Grounds are open to students and staff only for the first hour of the day. Students can order through email using the School Grounds email with what drink they want and how much money they have.
“Please support School Grounds!” Dimas said.
