As you begin to put together your marketing program, you might consider involving your local college’s marketing department (some high schools have programs too). The best time to talk to the marketing department is shortly before the first semester (quarter) is completed. At this time they will know who is going to handle the program for the next period. Call the professor in charge and discuss the possibilities with him. Invite him over to have a FREE lunch with you so he can see your restaurant first hand. Discuss with the professor what you would like to accomplish and get his feedback and ideas.

At the conclusion of the meeting if you feel you want to move ahead with the project, give the professor a “Dinner for Two” for him and his wife to enjoy a fine dinner on you. Ask him the date you should talk to him to be considered as a marketing project for the next year.

The only costs involved in having the students do the marketing project is the cost of the materials and the incidental expenses incurred which is not over a couple hundred dollars. The key to the success of this project is for you to be clear about what you want to accomplish and to properly communicate it to the students. What a tremendous value this can be to you if YOU are properly prepared for it.

It is recommended that you take detailed notes about items that you would like to accomplish with the marketing class. Before you meet with the marketing students from the school, define exactly what you would like to accomplish and then reduce it to writing. The students will spend a lot of time working toward what you want to accomplish and will give you a nice finished report.

But I want to re-emphasize the key to the success of the class marketing project will be a result of your preparation and communication to the students. It will take some time and effort on your part to make the project successful.