Students in Free Enterprise and the American Marketing Association have teamed up with Papa Leo’s in an effort to construct a new marketing plan to better capture the attention of college students.
SIFE and AMA received a grant in the amount of $1000 to fund a project designed to assist Myrna and Leo Rideout, owners of the business established in 2007.
SIFE and AMA are also helping The Donut Shop to expand.
Since the opening of Brubaker’s Barbeque & Burgers in 2010, Papa Leo’s has experience competition.
Volunteers are putting in work to create more publicity for the small business.
AMA is a marketing club that operates in the same manner as a marketing firm. This organization helps marketing majors and also helps in improving the community.
As the director of communications for SIFE and vice president of AMA, junior marketing major Michael Thomas said, “We are trying to help out the small businesses and promote them. That’s what we’re supposed to do. We are just trying to get some exposure for Papa Leo’s.”
As part of the project, volunteers have re-designed the menu, created fliers, planted trees, and even helped Papa Leo’s in going green. “We have to tackle environmental, social, and economic issues,” Thomas said.
According to AMA members, the menu items at Papa Leo’s are generally less expensive than those at Brubaker’s.
SIFE and AMA members hope to increase Papa Leo’s revenue by at least 20 percent.
Thomas said, “They are some of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life. They just love cooking, and you can tell that they do it from the heart. There was a day when they made only $56-and they come all the way from Missouri City! People from our generation wouldn’t have even stayed there after the first year.”
Papa Leo’s will be hosting a mixer for a “re-grand opening” on Monday, March 7 at 12 p.m. Door prizes will be given to attendees.