Spectrum Brands' Marketing Competition Creates Hands-On Experience for University of Arkansas Students

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Sam M. Walton College of Business AMA students outside the Spectrum Brand's offices in Bentonville, Arkansas.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Twenty-four members of American Marketing Association student chapter in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at University of Arkansas have been granted the exceptional experience of developing both a new product idea and a marketing launch plan for Spectrum Brands Inc.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Spectrum Brands has partnered with the U of A chapter of the American Marketing Association to offer this opportunity to students. Spectrum Brands is a globally diversified consumer products company with market leading brands.

“Spectrum Brands has been an amazing resource for our chapter, allowing us real life applications in a learning environment,” said Whitney Hull, the U of A's American Marketing Association chapter vice president of communications and project participant. “Our chapter is grateful for their stewardship of our education in the competition and I look forward to seeing the final presentations!”

The introduction to the competition began with a walk-through of Spectrum Brands product showrooms for students. Split into five groups, students will create a product idea, learn about the process of product development, and create a marketing strategy. Students will work on the project throughout the semester and will be given the opportunity to present to a panel of executives, allowing real world experience of presenting in a workplace environment.

Spectrum executives have given their time to give insight on the projects, allowing students to gain relevant experience from a trained eye. “Working with Spectrum Brands’ is an incredible opportunity for college students to gain real world experience,” said Alex McGowan, the American Marketing Association chapter executive vice president of special projects and project participant. “Not many people get a chance to develop product ideas and marketing strategies to accompany them, but Spectrum has given us the honor of working side by side with them to bring something new to the table.”

Spectrum Brands is a leading global supplier of consumer batteries, residential locksets, residential builders’ hardware, faucets, shaving and grooming products, personal care products, small household appliances, specialty pet supplies, lawn and garden and home pest control products and personal insect repellents. Its range of registered brands includes Rayovac, Kwikset, Pfister, Remington, George Foreman, Black and Decker, Farberware, Tetra, Dingo, Natures Miracle, FURminator, Healthy-hide, Digest-eeze, Cutter, Repel and Black Flag. Spectrum Brands’ products are sold by the world’s top 25 retailers and are available in more than one million stores and in 160 countries.