Students assist company leaders in developing marketing strategies for their products
April 2025 – Drew University’s Consumer Behavior course has spent the spring 2025 semester partnering with leaders of five companies, giving students hands-on marketing experience.
This semester, students have been working with one of five companies in their respective real-life projects:
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- Developing a marketing strategy for A Work of Heart Productions’ production of Merrily We Roll Along
- Creating a marketing strategy for ELYS’ new subscription service app that allows users to pre-record messages to be sent out if something unexpected happens to them
- Helping with social media and branding for HappyCamperLive’s card games for consumers, schools, and camps
- Identifying the target market and marketing strategy for SleepGift’s anti-electromagnetic field textiles and clothing
- Assisting with digital marketing and website creation for AumOui Essentials
“This is a great opportunity for students and has definitely raised the stakes in the course,” said Christopher Andrews, associate professor and chair of sociology.
The program is made possible through a Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) grant and is being run by Riipen, an experiential learning platform that allows for collaboration between students and organizations.
Samantha Haase C’25 has worked with A Work of Heart Productions, giving her a close-up look at an industry she is passionate about.
“By working with a small business to help promote their brand, I can help expand their audience and then put that into my LinkedIn profile and result,” said Haase. “I am showing not only myself but future employers that I can do what I say I can do.”
Sophie Gajowskyj C’25 and her peers organized into small teams aligned with AumOui Essentials’ target categories, developed content calendars, and drafted social media posts ready for distribution.
“This experience put all of the knowledge and skills that I have learned over the last four years to the test,” said Gajowskyj. “As I prepare to enter the marketing industry, I feel more ready to encounter challenges and know that I can do a good job as a marketer.”
Alexa Cirri C’25 gained valuable perspective in working with ELYS, pinpointing what she wants to focus on after Drew.
“I realized that social media content isn’t quite my passion,” she said. “I’m more intrigued by the theory behind marketing—research, branding, and strategy. Trying these different aspects was essential. You really don’t know what you enjoy until you give it a shot! I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore this in a comfortable, academic environment.”
Each group will present on their experiences during Drew’s biannual Bear Den event where students pitch products, investments, and business ideas to industry experts, including Drew faculty, and alums.
