Tag Archives: Prince Lawn

Lemonade Stand Competition, Round II

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Last week I reminisced about some of my Kool-Aid stand memories to set up a great event that was held at Coastal Carolina University. Students in a Management 309 class formed teams to participate in a lemonade stand competition. During the morning of September 15, these teams took over Prince Lawn with numerous lemonade stands, competing to see who could generate the most revenue. As I wrote in that day’s blog post, the tactics used were very creative.

Two days later a different Management 309 class set up shop on Prince Lawn and did what they could to raise the most money. Perhaps inspired by the class that went before them, Thursday’s crop of lemonade stands displayed even more creative revenue generating recipes and schemes. As I did last Tuesday, I thought I would shine the spotlight on these most recent summertime drink entrepreneurs.

The first stand I approached opted to go for the “mobile strategy.” The student working the stand told me that she was alone because her two other group members were out trying to recruit customers to visit their stand. However, this team was trying to attract a different type of audience. Instead of hassling students to stop by, the young marketers went right to staff and faculty members! I don’t know if our professional CCU employees responded well or not to the tactic but I definitely thought it was a great idea. The team also “sweetened” their stand by providing homemade lemonade.

This student is at her lemonade stand solo because her group members are out and about convincing staff and faculty members to come purchase their drink.

This student is at her lemonade stand solo because her group members are out and about convincing staff and faculty members to come purchase their drink.

Still fresh on my tour, I went to the next stand that definitely stood out. These particular students configured their stand to accept credit and debit cards! How cool. They explained to me that most students don’t really carry cash around campus and having the option to just swipe their card for a glass of lemonade is a convenience that would be enjoyed by all.

Their stand itself might not have the best presentation but it doesn't matter because they accept credit and debit cards.

Their stand itself might not have the best presentation but it doesn’t matter because they accept credit and debit cards.

The original ideas kept coming. The next stand I visited offered cold bottled water with your choice of various lemonade flavor packets to choose from. You could mix your own lemonade drink, knowing exactly that the chief component of the concoction (the water of course) was fresh and pure. The team across from this group went with a much different approach. They were offering Starbucks lemonade, the only premium brand name drink available on Prince Lawn they assured me. Better yet, the group was selling the drink for a 1/3 of the price that Starbucks commands for it.

The group on the left had bottled water in their color and lemonade mixes on the table. The group on the right sold Starbucks lemonade.

The group on the left had bottled water in their color and lemonade mixes on the table. The group on the right sold Starbucks lemonade.

I strolled over to the next team and was greeted with two sturdy juice dispensers, one filled with regular lemonade and one filled with strawberry lemonade. The original option had lemon halves floating at the surface while the second option had full-sized strawberries at the top. The students proudly informed me that they were the only stand to offer fresh fruit in the product. Not only that, but the team made sure to grab the most strategic location on Prince Lawn, the area straight ahead from folks the moment they walk off of Wall Bridge.

These students used fresh fruit and a strategic location to attract customers to their stand.

These students used fresh fruit and a strategic location to attract customers to their stand.

I made the rounds to two more lemonade stands right next to each other. The first one offered regular lemonade but with a chance to get twice the amount. The group had a water pong table set up. If you purchased a glass you had the opportunity to take a shot. If you sunk the ping pong ball in a cup, you received a free glass of lemonade. The other group was selling blue raspberry lemonade. Although the clear blue liquid looked tempting in the milk jug, I think I liked the idea of teal lemonade from the previous class better.

This first group on the left offered a chance to win an extra cup if you made a water pong shot. The group on the right had blue raspberry lemonade.

This first group on the left offered a chance to win an extra cup if you made a water pong shot. The group on the right had blue raspberry lemonade.

The final two teams I visited also had unique twists. One of the groups had Gatorade coolers of lemonade and iced tea. Customers were invited to walk up and pour their own Arnold Palmers. The other group offered Capri Sun lemonade for those who wanted to travel back several years to enjoy the drink they received after completing one of their third grade soccer matches.

One group had you help yourself to mix an Arnold Palmer while another group sold Capri Suns.

One group had you help yourself to mix an Arnold Palmer while another group sold Capri Suns.

For me, my choice for favorite lemonade stand was a no-brainer. I thought the group that accepted credit and debit cards blew away the competition. My second favorite idea was the stand that allowed customers to take their own bottled water and lemonade packet and mix it themselves. Of course the ultimate combination would be a cross between the best of the best from the first day of lemonade stands and the second day. The group that sold TEAL lemonade would team up with the group that accepted cards to form a stand on Prince Lawn that would generate a line stretching miles. Needless to say, I would pull out my debit card and buy a cup. Don’t Blink.

Lemonade Stand Competition

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Many summer days of my young childhood were devoted to Kool-Aid stands. We lived across the street from a park and we would constantly stand at the corner of it and sell the sugary drink for ten cents a cup. It gave us business insight and taught us customer service. However, the real winner were my parents. They would gladly buy us unlimited Kool-Aid packets and sugar to get us off their front lawn. We played whiffle ball every day during the summer and absolutely tortured the grass. 

Anyway, I am not kidding you, Kool-Aid stands have a big spot in my memory bank of fond childhood memories. Because of this, as I grew older I always followed the stories that would make news centering on lemonade stands. A kid would raise a bunch of money for a good cause, someone would have their stand robbed, or a sweet little girl would receive an outrageous tip. Pretty much all this stuff is cliché by now in lemonade lore.

Perhaps this is why I was so excited when I saw a new dimension brought to the lemonade stand concept this morning right here at Coastal Carolina University!

This morning lemonade stands took over Prince Lawn at Coastal Carolina University.

This morning lemonade stands took over Prince Lawn at Coastal Carolina University.

The professor of one of our Management 309 classes split the students up into teams. The eight teams then set up lemonade stands around the most scenic and busiest part of campus, Prince Lawn. The students had a budget ($30 I think) and about an hour to generate as much revenue as possible. All proceeds would go to a local animal shelter but the prestige from creating the most successful lemonade stand would swell in the prideful hearts of the victorious students.

I covered the event for #CCUSocialMedia and went around to each stand where I talked to the students. I got a real kick out of the tactics used by the various teams.

One group gave their lemonade a unique texture by mixing and blending it. They decided to strategically forgo a set price and accept donations only. Another group brought an actual dog out as a prop to sway customers. They also had the economical idea of selling their lemonade in cans so people wouldn’t fret about taking it to class or in their vehicles.

This team sold lemonade in cans and brought a dog out as a prop.

This team sold lemonade in cans and brought a dog out as a prop.

The third lemonade stand I went to added an ingredient…iced tea. Yup, this specific team decided to stand out by offering Arnold Palmers. The next group I encountered had candy poured all over its table. If you bought a cup of lemonade you received a complimentary mini candy bar and the option to play water pong.

This was the group that blended its lemonade.

This was the group that blended its lemonade.

I went on to the next group and they proudly informed me that their lemonade stand stood out because they had recruited a marketing team to boost sales. Sure enough, the two guys behind the table pointed to Wall Bridge where a few enthusiastic individuals were encouraging students walking across to the Prince Lawn side to splurge on an ice cold lemonade. I then walked the short distance to the next stand where the designated spokesperson for the group told me they had an “incentives program.” If you bought a cup of lemonade or a cup of PINK lemonade you would receive a souvenir cup or a sticker.

If you purchased either regular or PINK lemonade from this group you received an incentive such as a cup.

If you purchased either regular or PINK lemonade from this group you received an incentive such as a cup.

I hustled over to the final two stands. The first one on the final stretch was selling TEAL LEMONADE! Not only did that simple fact win my heart over but the color of the liquid was extremely close to the actual official #CCU teal color (it is very hard to replicate). The final stand wasn’t too shabby either. They offered frozen lemonade fresh out of the blender.

Competition over. In my mind, the teal lemonade was the best idea out on Prince Lawn.

Competition over. In my mind, the teal lemonade was the best idea out on Prince Lawn.

Although I didn’t get to actually sample any of the different lemonades, I definitely enjoyed conversing with the students and hearing their sales tactics. My award for best stand (not based on taste of course) definitely goes to the teal lemonade team. What an absolutely genius idea.

You know the best part of all this? The other Management 309 class will be out on Prince Lawn this Thursday at the same time to give their best shot at selling lemonade. I can’t wait to see what they come up with. Maybe this time around I will actually buy a cup. Don’t Blink.

CINO Day 2015

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Another example of what makes the university that I work at stand out from all the others took place this past Friday. Under sunny skies and warm temperatures, I covered my first CINO Day at Coastal Carolina University. The acronym-named day (CINO stands for “Coastal is Number One”) is circled on the CCU calendar each year and is a major source of pride at our institution.

CINO Day has evolved quite a bit over the decades but what it has established itself as over the past several years is a full blown afternoon of fun, food, and celebration. While many universities have annual festival days, I think you would be hard pressed to find an event as anticipated and glorified.

This is what CINO Day looks like from above. A few minutes after the event started I climbed to the top of the Prince Building and took this photo.

This is what CINO Day looks like from above. A few minutes after the event started I climbed to the top of the Prince Building and took this photo.

I went into my coverage of CINO Day not knowing exactly what to expect. I had heard people rave about it for the past year but you never know how much is legit and how much is hype. I received a good indication of how seriously this event is taken when I went out on Prince Lawn at 11:15 a.m. to see a huge line of students waiting patiently for the noon start time. When the clock hit 12 p.m., the students in line would receive the free CINO Day tank top and the fun would begin. Right when the designated time hit, the line started moving and the party began.

Students lined up well before the noon start time of CINO Day so they could get the free shirt of this year's event.

Students lined up well before the noon start time of CINO Day so they could get the free shirt of this year’s event.

Most first notice the rides at. The organizing body of CINO Day, the student-run Coastal Activities Board (CAB), orders in a full-sized ferris wheel. Students who hop on this attraction enjoy a wonderful view of Prince Lawn once their cage takes them to the very top. Then you also have the Round Up, a ride that was packed the whole afternoon. Most impressive though is the zip line that is brought in. The particular one for CINO Day allowed two people to go at once. I watched more than one time as riders had to overcome their fears and take the plunge. I saw one girl stand at the very top for about five minutes before descending.

A look at the rides at CINO Day this past Friday.

A look at the rides at CINO Day this past Friday.

If inflatables are your thing, CINO Day had you covered this year. A large blow up climbing wall was set up, a Velcro bouncey jump was installed, a freefalling double slide was offered, and a mechanical surfboard surrounded by an inflatable pit intrigued countless students to give it a try.

A look at the inflatables at CINO Day.

A look at the inflatables at CINO Day.

I knew little about the exotic animals on display until I arrived on scene. You had a leopard, birds, a big ol’ snake, and a MONKEY. The excitement for the monkey was insane as people circled around the creature and his caretaker for the full four hours. Although I don’t know how exotic this animal is, they also had a porcupine out there as well.

The animals were a big hit with the students at CINO Day.

The animals were a big hit with the students at CINO Day.

For all that is made about college students always being hungry and on the lookout for free food, CINO Day is an oasis for them. Since the theme was Hawaiian, students could pick through a large spread of tropical food under one of the tents. Buffalo Wild Wings was also on hand serving up free wings. Cotton candy was unlimited. An island smoothie stand and an Italian ice cart provided cool treats throughout the course of the warm day as well. Everything was free.

CINO Day had a lot of food options. Above some student enjoy cotton candy and below students go through a Hawaiian line.

CINO Day had a lot of food options. Above some student enjoy cotton candy and below students go through a Hawaiian line.

You also had the attractions that give CINO Day such personality that don’t really fit in the categories above. A fire breather performed the whole afternoon. A DJ was on hand as students danced in the middle of Prince Lawn. Several campus and community entities set up booths and handed out free items. Art stations were set up for students to create something that they could take home and always remember CINO Day 2015 by.

A glimpse of the fire breather and the dance floor in addition to a couple photos of happy students.

A glimpse of the fire breather and the dance floor in addition to a couple photos of happy students.

Yes, I think CINO Day lived up to the hype. A lot more went on at the event than what I had anticipated. I kept thinking to myself that I wished something like this existed where I went to school at. As I mentioned above, CINO Day was organized by one of our amazing student organizations, an incredible feat considering the festivities went off without a hitch. Great job to the Coastal Activities Board and I can’t wait for CINO Day 2016. Don’t Blink.