Here to study marketing communication problem

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 12, 13 August 1985, Page 16

Here to study marketing communication problem

A group of 20 students from the Design School in Wellington will be in Ohakune this Friday to study the seasonal 'boom or bust' phenomenon that affects this township's winter and summer scenes.

They are third year students of the Wellington Polytechnic's Visual Communication Design course and the subject which brings them to Ohakune this weekend is 'Marketing Communication'. I Their assignment is to suggest a possible solution to the problem of the winter "1 'feast' and summer 'famine' situation experienced by all businesses in town. While this is an assignment set by the school it is also the sort of'real-life'pro-ject that these students like getting to grips with they have recentlycompleted two very successful similar projects for Europa and the Wellington Harbour Board. Both clients were delighted with their reports and recommendations. The seasonal cycle that affects Ohakune's businesses — retailers, accommodation houses, restaurants, tourist operators etc. — has been one that's concerned the Ohakune Promotions Association for a number of years. By looking at the problem from outside and with a J fresh eye these students of

visual communication design and marketing communication may be able to suggest some ways in which Ohakune can promote the summer activities of the Waimarino area and the Ruapehu region. Each student will select a particular business in town and, after discussing the problem with the owner or operator of that business will, in due course, submit a report and make a recommendation as to how that particular business may improve year-round trading. They will also, as a class, pool their combined research and experience to come up with a collective recommendation as to how all businesses may benefit under a single promotional and marketing strategy, image or device. The idea behind this project already has the support and approval of a number of local businesses that have been contacted so far. It is hoped that others will be willing to outline the problems associated with their seasonal ups-and-downs when they are approached by these students this week.