Southern Miss Business Marketing Class Secures Sales Support

State Farm Insurance representative Bradely Black's appearance as a guest speaker at a University of Southern Mississippi marketing class, turned into support for a special sales program initiated by students.

During the visit, Sebastian Roa, class sales contest winner, explained to Black the potential benefits of the book advertising sponsorship program initiated by Dr. Anne Gottfried's business marketing class. “I totally support this program and wouldn't want to grow my business any other way,” noted Black.

The class sponsorship program involves a book called “Little People's Guide to the Big World.” The book is published by Family Concepts and contains a list of poems approved by the American Medical Association. The poems are designed to help children deal with a variety of problems such as death, bullies, stealing, etc. Consequently, the book becomes a powerful parenting tool for parents who read these poems to their children.

Through the sponsorship initiative, all kindergarten students in the Hattiesburg public education system will receive the book as a gift. The book is paid for by local businesses who receive advertising. Any commissions earned through the sponsorship sales will be presented to the USM American Marketing Association to pay for AMA membership dues of all students in Gottfried's class. 

“Everyone's a winner,” said Gottfried. “The Hattiesburg families who receive this book as a gift, the sponsors who receive positive public relations advertising, and the students who have gained not only valuable business marketing experience but also will receive the funding to join AMA”.