The goal of this competition is to give students the opportunity to understand marketing process through presentation of a specific marketing plan.

-          Only students from secondary schools that are members of MASSUM, and have paid the yearly membership fee can participate in this competition.

-          Every school can nominate only one team (of three or four students) for this competition

-          Every team must send their marketing plan to the mentor’s e-mail.

-          Participants will be assessed by judges with experience in marketing 

Organization

          - Activities

Teams will be assigned the task of creating marketing plan for a specific product or service of their choice. It is desirable that the students choose a product or service that they produce or offer in their real or virtual companies (or their partners in real business).

The plan must contain the following aspects of marketing:

-          Market analysis (where are we now?)

• Trends in the corresponding branch
• Consumers’ profile
• Advantages and disadvantages of the competition
• Results of market analysis

-          Business proposal (where do we want to be?)

• Key assumptions in planning (the source of information should be stated)
• Goals (have to measurable, achievable and in defined time frame)
• Selection of consumers group –segment of the market consuming the specific product

-          Strategy and action plan (how to achieve the goal)

• Characteristics of the product/service: size, quality etc.
• Method of distribution and sale
• Structure of pricing
• Product promotion (which promotional activities are appropriate for the product or service?)

-          Projected budget (how much will it cost to achieve the goal and how to provide the necessary finance)

-          Evaluation (have we achieved the goal?)

• How to decide whether the goal is achieved (which instruments should we use)
• References for further steps
• Cover page (project title, team name, date)

The document is not allowed to exceed 8 pages written in A4 format and font size 12:

• Marketing plan – text (max. 5 pages)
• Annex – research, charts, maps, promotional material (2 pages)

Note: If the promotional material cannot be e-mailed, it must be brought directly at the competition.

PRESENTATION

1. Each team will have 5 minutes to prepare the presentation. They will be provided with computer, LCD projector, projection screen and flip chart.
2. Oral presentation of the plan must not exceed 15 minutes. If it exceeds 15 minutes, the team will lose points.
3. After the presentation, judges will have 5 minutes to ask questions. Each member of the team will be asked at least one question.

Assessment

The entire performance will be observed and assessed by two or three judges. The assessment of the teams will be carried out according to previously established criteria. Each judge will assess the teams individually and afterward the points given by the judges will be calculated. If two or more teams have the same number of points, then the team with more points on the promotional performance will win. If the result is a tie again, the team with more points on the questions asked by the judges will win.

Prizes

The prizes will be awarded at a special ceremony. The prizes will be provided by the MASSUM sponsors.

Assessment criteria are given in addition:

Note: Names of contestants of all competitions, including this one, must be written in the application form filled in by each school. The mentor for the corresponding competition and the application deadline will be announced in due time.