The Koozie Effect

I'm not sure when it started, but more and more companies are using a student ambassador to serve as a liason for their brand and the communities of students on campus. It is a strategy being used by a huge variety of companies, from Taco Bell, www.tacobell.com, to Southern Tide, southerntide.com, to Zaarly, zaarly.com.

These companies are looking for a means to tap into an existing network provided by the Rep in order to increase their brand awareness on campus. In return, the student gets hands on experience in both an executive and networking role, as well as all the koozies, Croakies, and stickers they and their friends could ask for.

VV Croakies

Indeed, all it takes is one box of branded freebies and a bright student to turn an entire school's Facebook feeds into a rolling slideshow swamped with pictures of friends in branded plastic sunglasses (we call them Rage-Goggles). That is the true power of this Campus Ambassador/Rep, they can make any social gathering into a marketing event. You would have thought my pre-party for Day Glow last Friday was sponsored by Zaarly because of how much of their stuff my friends and I have accumulated.

The truly savvy companies look at the trends and fads on campus, the Rage-Goggles are a prime example, and focus on those for their freebies. I can't even count how many of the above I have, and when I am at a party you'll always see me with a koozie from a brand I'm probably wearing at the time. This instant conversation starter makes me, and all the other kids with the same, into tiny billboards, but unlike a real billboard, I can talk.

So, here's to koozies, Croakies, and rage-goggles, and if you see a purple one anywhere, grab it 'cause that's the only color I'm missing.