Concordia students offer free marketing services to Montreal's non-profits and businesses
Montreal's small businesses and non-profits can now access free marketing services thanks to a student-led group at Concordia University.
While corporations spend thousands on marketing reports, the Concordia Marketing Aid Clinic (CMAC) creates detailed reports on event marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), target audience reach and content creation — all without charging a penny.
Founded two years ago by Concordia University students, the CMAC initially wanted to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rivkah Groszman, president and co-founder of the CMAC, says her group also gives Concordia students valuable work experience before they graduate.
"I hope they learn how to analyze a real-life marketing situation and create solutions. By creating their own reports, templates and examples we suggest to our clients, they will have a chance to work on strategies and their actual implementation in theory," she said.
Last year, the group created 60-page marketing reports for Scratch Takes, a local video production service, and a youth-led non-profit called Medical Herstory.
Both got a detailed analysis of industry threats and opportunities, probability of success, consumer segments, and the four Ps of marketing: product, price, place, and promotion.
Two other applicants will receive a free marketing consultation in the new academic year, after sending in their client recruitment form by Aug. 28.
"We're all very passionate about giving back to our small businesses and non-profits because they’re really the backbone of Montreal culture and the Montreal community," Groszman added.
The group is funded by the Concordia Student Union (CSU) to make sure it can provide free tools to its clients and organize student events, but all of its members work voluntarily.
For Renee Belanger, a fourth-year marketing student at Concordia, being the vice president of events at the CMAC is an "engaging and exciting" opportunity.
"I want to work with small businesses. I think it's more personal and more down my alley," she said. "I like taking on bigger challenges, which I think is what small businesses allow you to do, and it feels more rewarding to see the results."
Belanger added that organizing events helps her expand her network, while the overall experience is a solid foundation for her future marketing career.
With the new application season well underway, a sample of the group's past consultation reports can be found on the CMAC website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.