The Loyola Ad Team revved up its new advertising campaign on Tuesday, March 6 in the Peace Quad.
The Ad Team hosted the Nissan Experience, an interactive showcase for students of the team’s new client’s products. Local dealer Eric Hill Nissan brought five 2012 models of various cars. The showcase allowed students to visualize themselves in a Nissan vehicle of their choice by letting them sit in the parked cars and experience what it would feel like to be behind the wheel of a Nissan.
The objective of the experience was to gain consumer feedback on the vehicles. While behind the wheel, participants were polled on their opinions of the car. The surveys were recorded both in writing and on camera. The survey included questions on the reputation and preconceived notions of Nissan, as well as how the vehicle compared to students’ expectations.
Team creative director Kylie Tregre, mass communication senior, said that polling participants on the reputation of Nissan was extremely vital to the campaign.
“We found that Nissan’s biggest problem was their perception, so we wanted to bring the cars here so people could sit in the cars, experience the cars, to see how it compared,” she said.
As an incentive for students to participate, the Ad Team offered a raffle for a free gas card.
The Nissan Experience marked the first event of the team’s new campaign. The team won two regional Addy awards last month for print and best of show for its campaign for JC Penney last year.
Each year, the team competes against other universities, such as Louisiana State University, University of Alabama, Savannah College of Art and Design and Springhill College. This year’s competition is hosted in Nashville, Tenn. from April 12 to 14.
Team social media consultant and account executive Eddie Schneider, mass communication sophomore, said he has the utmost confidence in his team.
“Everyone here knows what they are doing, and I know that we can take home the gold from this year’s competition,” he said.
Schneider said much of his confidence comes from hands-on events such as the Nissan Experience.
“It is great to have the Loyola community so involved in what we do, and we really need their feedback,” he said.
Miranda Hernandez can be reached at [email protected]