More than cash at stake

Four winners of the national Junior Marketeer competition will be taken on as full-time staff at the Central Restaurants Group. Apart from employment and a cash reward of Bt300,000, the winning team will also be given a chance to implement their winning marketing plan in real life.

The only caveat is that the team must consist of four members from the same university. They can be third- or fourth-year students from any faculty, though.

"This is a short cut for them to get both a job and gain hands-on experience," says Pradit Pinyopasakul, senior vice-president of the Central Restaurants Group. "Also, we will have top-quality students working for us."

This year 160 teams from 34 educational institutions around Thailand have participated in the contest, which is divided into five regions - north, northeast, central, south and Bangkok.

The theme for the first round was writing a marketing plan for a fast-food family restaurant that has been operating for five years.

Four teams will be chosen from each region and then be given a chance to attend the one-day workshop in October in Bangkok to study various aspects of marketing from Central Group staff.

After that, the teams will have to submit a plan to promote the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream chain. The Central Group will cover all expenses, including accommodation, travel fare and food.

"Students from some provinces may have difficulty accessing information since Baskin-Robbins can't be found everywhere," says Pradit. "But that's not a problem. We'll be judging on the ideas, marketing analysis and marketing plans."

Teams will be graded on the following criteria: 20 per cent on the analysis of the overall marketing situation; 20 per cent on creativity, 20 per cent on actual practice and 40 per cent on the marketing plan.

"It's useless if students have the ideas but don't know how to apply them," says Pradit.

Winners will be announced in January. The first-prize winning team will receive Bt300,000 and a trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn; first runners-up Bt200,000; second runners-up Bt100,000 and two consolation prize winners will get Bt50,000 each.

In the final round, 20 teams will be also considered for jobs with the Central Group.

"Students in the final round who apply to work with us should get a job," says Voradanu Nimmit, an advertising and public-relations manager with Central Trading. "But it's up to them as well if they want to work with us. Award-winning students always have a better chance in the job market."

All marketing plans submitted will be owned by the Central Group.

The deadline for submissions this year is closed.

For more information, call (02) 635 7930, extensions 495, 670 or e-mail: padcharapornsri@crg.co.th.

By Rojana Manowalailao

The Nation