Know-How Exchange : Strategy

Why not advertise in your college paper, college dorms, student center, and even have a booth in the college quad (with college permission)? Also, team up with a college group that would market the business for you in exchange for a donation to their favorit charity.

Jay's ideas are the most common ways to get to college students.

A booth in the student center might be the best method. With things like catering it is great to give people a taste. This is the best way to attract people.

You might see if you can set up a tasting booth at one of the sports games. This is another great place to get student's attention.

You should see if the college has a "vegan" group or a vegeatrian group. This might be a great group to partner with. See if there are any vegan groups in your area. Perhaps some health clubs might know of any. Depending on you location, health clubs might be another avenue to advertise at if you are a "healthy" caterer. Perhaps you can do tastings at various clubs.

Hope this helps,
Mike

Phil is right, its a small world when you know your business as you should-- there are no secrets.

Are you sure that college students are the best venue? My starving student daughter eats very cheap. When we do a student event and offer food you'd think these kids were stashing it in a wooden leg.

Facebook, etc are good ideas. These students belong to "future whatever" associations- that have meetings that often include food. When I was on the board of the Co chapter, www.usgc.org, we always had catered food with our event, and always included vegan. So think environmental groups.

Really, my best advice isn't students. I market to architects and do several "lunch & learns" a month where I buy box lunches and do my non commerical presentations. I am always looking for something different food wize -- these groups appreciate it too, some firms are booked 9 months in advance. They are bored with same old same old. There is always one vegan in the group-- usually the most vocal one if you don't get the food right. The front desk often keeps a book of menus for reps, so we know which caterers the firm likes. Law firms, realtors, insurance co's etc also do these lunch & learns, they often come with CEC credits required to keep their licenses current.

I'd toodle in such firms and ask if they do these lunches, tell them about your lunches, and drop off a menu. If you think the prospect is good, I'd follow up with a cookie break of samples.

Hope that helps, Carol
Sell Well and Prosper tm

The answers thus far have been very insightful. In addition, I'd look for student organization associations i.e. student congress, greek life, etc.

Generally, these groups have funding and can purchase food. While you might not get contracts, you will get exposure to hungry students, especially if you 'seed' the groups with some snacks.

Too bad exam period is over; delivering study baskets could've been a good way to introduce your service. And, hey, why not reach out to parents, too. My freshman hates the food and would love to have healthy stuff delivered. I'd pay for that.

Best wishes,

Dina
Charmed Life Cards

I would look for a junior/senior marketing student and ask if they'd like to build their portfolio by helping you.

Michael

Michael has a good point, beyone the few words written.

It reminds me when I owned a restaurant and wanted to expand into catering, specifically box luncheons.

I hired a marketing student as intern and we made a "hit list" of those types of businesses we thought would use our service. Then we designed a "survey", asking the co if they have working lunches, if they use box luncheons for meetings, how often, what they like about their current vendor -- and dislike. With that info I was able to create a niche of what is really needed. And I had the contact names, etc. We were able to hit the ground running with just the right information.