Seneca High School’s marketing students, in addition to the DECA club, hosted the eighth Annual DECA Fashion Show on Thursday, Feb. 7.
Seventy-five students under the direction of Grace McCloskey organized the fashion show.
Students were given the challenge of marketing the occasion to the target audience.
“It’s a whole semester of learning,” said McCloskey. “The students need to decide the best form of promotion for the event.”
Organizers utilized their personal social media accounts to help reach the target audience comprised of peers.
Additionally, they sent emails, created a spoof commercial based on “Dirty Dancing” and sent Tweets. Students sold 300 tickets prior to the show.
“These kids are so quick these days, especially with technology,” said McCloskey.
Part of the assignment was creating a budget for the event.
Students were required to ask local businesses to donate goods for a silent auction.
“I think the hardest part would be getting everything together,” said senior DECA club member Alex McGrainer. “Mrs. McCloskey pointed out there were hree different target markets we have to reach with the fashion show. We had to reach the young, middle-aged and the older, tying all of that together was tough.”
First-year DECA club member and senior Alex Smith said the goal with the local band, The Royals, was to reach the younger target audience.
According to Green, the band has performed at the Student Council Charity Dinner and Walk Under the Stars.
The band is popular among the students.
“[The students] wanted to come and see the concert, too,” he said, noting parents wanted to see their kids model and the older crowd invested more interest in the silent auction.
For McCloskey, managing the large group of students was a challenge.
“This year was tough,” she said, noting an increase of approximately 35 students from last year’s event. “It’s hard to keep them focused sometimes.”
McCloskey allowed the students to take the reins, admitting she lends them guidance throughout the process.
“They can’t learn unless they make mistakes, which they do,” she said.
DECA members and students attributed the success of the event to McCloskey.
“It’s because she teaches the basics of marketing and sales. She gives us really cool ways to implement everything,” said McGrainer.
“Instead of just fliers being put around the school, she gives us ways to be creative with how we market ourselves,” added sophomore DECA club secretary Julia Green.
All three students plan to use the skills learned from DECA and the contributions they made to the fashion show to future college endeavors.
“You can always use what you learn to help get a job,” said Smith.
The students noted DECA’s alumni support.
Alumni returned to lend a hand to the fashion show and cheer on the club during competitions.
The night ended with The Royals playing a 30-minute set for the audience, students and the models.
“It’s two huge sales and marketing classes and the DECA club working together. We do pull it off pretty well,” said Green.
“The kids just work so hard on this project, they really stepped up to the plate,” said McCloskey.
