Marketing contest begins for students

NORMAN - Retailers in Norman are enlisting the creativity of high school students to boost sales in Norman.

The winning team of students will get a prize of $500, said Lynn Palmerton, general manager of Sooner Mall. Palmerton is chairman of the chamber's Retail Trade Committee, which is holding the contest.

The contest is patterned after a similar one last year that resulted in a poster for the Norman area with the slogan, "Your Roads, Your Community, Your Money ... Shop Norman!"

Norman sees a steady sales tax growth of about 5.3 percent a month, said Anthony Francisco, finance director for the city of Norman.

"We would like to think we had a bit of an impact there," Palmerton said.

The new campaign will be directed to outlying communities, such as Ada, Blanchard, Chickasha, Duncan, Lawton and Pauls Valley, Palmerton said. Residents from Moore, Noble, Purcell and south Oklahoma City will also be encouraged to shop in Norman.

The contest will give students "some real-life experience in a marketing and promotion campaign," Palmerton said.

Palmerton and other chamber members have been visiting high school classes to explain the focus of this year's contest.

The students' entries will be judged in early May by members of the chamber staff and the retail trade committee, Palmerton said. The winner will be announced at the May 15 chamber board of directors meeting, Palmerton said.