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Department of Marketing
The Marketing Department at MSU Denver is Open for Business
Open for Business is a program, managed by Darrin C. Duber-Smith of the Department of Marketing in the College of Business, whose purpose is to serve students and members of the business community by providing marketing services to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations as well as practical work experience for marketing majors and minors. In 2008, his service was institutionalized as MKT 4520 Senior Seminar in Marketing, the capstone for marketing minors and an elective for majors, and also in professor-managed groups outside the classroom in the form of an internship.
Students work in teams to perform a marketing analysis and develop a strategic marketing plan in a real-world situation. In some cases, primary market research is conducted. Progress is monitored throughout the semester and corrections are made before presenting to the client so that students can demonstrate continuous improvement during the semester and the client can receive a higher quality end product.
Organizations
We have serviced the following organizations since the program was formally enacted during Fall 2008:
A Loving Hand Assisted Living (Assisted Living) 2011
A Wynning Solution (Computer Services) 2010
Abbott's Frozen Custard ( Retail - Food Service) 2014
Action Jackson Car Wash (Car Wash) 2012
Alferd Packer Restaurant and Grill/CU Boulder (Food Service) 2013
Alliance Flight Training (Aviation) 2012
Altitude Sports and Entertainment (Sports/Entertainment) 2009
American Animal Hospital Assoc. (Association of Animal Hospitals) 2010
Apricot Lane Boutique (Retail-Apparel) 2012
Asante Publications (Publisher) 2010
Aspire Tours (Tourism) 2018
AKSU Gallery (Art) 2014
As You Wish (Event Planning) 2011
Back Country Pizza (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2011
B & B Basketball Academy (Sport Services) 2011
Baked Cookie Company 2015
Barbara's Floral (Retail-Gifts) 2009
Blue Shutterbox (Entertainment) 2014
Boomer Be Well (Self-Published Books) 2010
Brandon Parker Magic (Entertainment) 2017
By Appointment Only (Accounting Services) 2012
Campus Village Apartments (Residences) 2009
Coalesce Design and Fabrication (Custom Furniture and Remodeling) 2009
Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse (Professional Lacrosse Team) 2010
Colorado Rapids (Sports/Entertainment) 2013
Colorado School of Mines Athl. (NCAA Athletics) 2010
Colorado Ski and Sport Expo (Convention) 2008 and 2009
Colorado Sled Hockey (League for Disabled Athletes) 2010
Compass USA (Education) 2014
CoolHaus Works (Executive Recruiting) 2009
Coosemans Denver (Wholesale Produce) 2014
Country Fair Garden Center (Garden Center) 2014
Crimson & Gold Tavern (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2015
Critter Gift Shop (Retail) 2017
Defiant Society (Retail Clothing) 2018
Degree Metropolitan Food and Drink (Retail - Food and Beverage) 2018
Denver Outlaws (Professional Outdoor Lacrosse) 2011
Denver School of Hypnotherapy (Health Care) 2012
Global Denver (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Website) 2010
Doctor Relocation (Property Management and Relocation) 2008
Eaton Senior Programs (Assisted Living/Senior Services) 2011
Echo Mountain Ski Area (Sports/Entertainment) 2008, 2011
Environmental Consulting Services (Consultants) 2015
Family First Insurance (Insurance Service) 2013
Five J's Restaurant (Food Service) 2011
Flare & Square (Retail - Apparel) 2017
Frank Design (Internet Services) 2014
Front Range Volleyball Club (Camp) 2018
Garden of Eden (Plant Service) 2008
Global Shot Doctor (Sports Services) 2011
Hearten Creations (Jewelry Gifts) 2018
Heelvixen.com (Retail-Shoes) 2012
High Roller Group (Recreation) 2011
Honest 1 Auto Care (Automotive Services) 2011
IndiCard (Retail Services) 2013
Innovative Sound Solutions (Sound Systems) 2009
Jumpstreet (Sports/Entertainment) 2018
KMET Met Radio (Media) 2011
Level Terrain (Retail-Apparel) 2012
LifeRing Recovery (Health Services) 2018
LoDo Wellness Center (Retail Dispensary) 2014
LOKTE Method (Fitness) 2017
Mercury Pro Wrestling Academy (Sports) 2015
Metro Caring (Non-Profit) 2018
Metro Seen (Video Production) 2012
Metropolitan State University Athletics (Sports/Entertainment) 2010
Mile High Baseball League (Sports/Entertainment) 2018
MSU Denver Women's Basketball (Sports/Entertainment) 2011
MSU Denver Alumni Association 2014
Mi Tierra Restaurant (Retail Food and Beverage) 2017
Motycka Lawn Care (Landscaping and Lawn Care Services) 2010
Mr. Powdrell's Barbeque (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2012
Mustard's Last Stand (Food Service) 2013
Neck R's Bottle T Neckties (Retail Gifts) 2013
New Destiny Youth Services (Child Placement) 2011
Nielsen Wilson Design (Interior Design) 2011
NRW Sports Entertainment (Sports/Entertainment) 2012, 2013
Oak Street Tavern (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2010
One World One Water/MSU Denver (Academic Program) 2013
Ovo Films (Video Services) 2010
Passion Flower Design (Gift/Flowers) 2011
Pat's Bar and Grill (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2013
Premier Basketball Club (Sport Services) 2014
Progresh (Snow Park) 2012
Recycle Runway (Fashion) 2011
Redlaw Sauce Company (Consumer Product) 2014
Rialto Cafe (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2015
RMT Swimming (Sports Services) 2013
Rockies Luxury Limo (Transportation) 2015
Rocky Mountain Pro / Mercury Pro Wrestling Academy (Sport Services) 2017, 2018
Rocky Mountain Terror (Entertainment/Attractions) 2010
Rojas Acupuncture (Acupuncture Clinic) 2010
Rosarius Coffee (Retail Food and Beverage) 2008
Rustic Mountain Roofing (Roofers) 2011
Share Lingo (Education) 2014
Silver Spoon Homecare (Medical Services) 2010
Solar Roast Coffee (Retail Food and Beverage) 2013
Sparkles Laundry Services (Laundry Service) 2014
Sports Advantage Recruiting (Sports Services) 2011
Sports Sounds (Custom Music) 2009
Stan Natchez Art Studio (Retail-Art) 2015
Sterling Global Products (Consumer Goods) 2015
Steve's Snappin' Dogs (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2012
Stoney Creek Golf Course (Sports/Entertainment) 2014
Strange Brewing Company (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2014
Summer on the Snow (Education) 2012
Sustainable Living Road Show (Festival/Fair) 2011
T & A Wrestling (Live Entertainment) 2012
T. Galaxy (Retail and Wholesale Licensed Apparel) 2009 and 2010
Telluride Bud Company (Retail Dispensary) 2014
Tivoli Brewing Company (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2018
The American Way Market (Retail) 2015
The Pearl Group (Non-Profit) 2012
The Rav House (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2012
The Zone (Non-Profit Services) 2015
Triple Berry Frozen Yogurt ( Retail-Food and Beverage) 2015
University of Wyoming Football (NCAA Athletics) 2014
Vallagio Cleaners (Retail Services) 2015
Violet Stores (Retail-Apparel) 2009
Virgin Icons For You (Retail-Apparel) 2018
Waste Connections (Disposal Company) 2012
Web Force One (Internet Services) 2011
West Design House (Design Services) 2011
Western Deli Provisions 2012 (Food Distributer) 2012
Westminster Recreation Center (Fitness) 2013
Wheat Ridge Recreation Center (Fitness) 2013
World Cup Coffee Exchange (Retail) 2015
Wynkoop Brewing Company (Beer Manufacturer) 2012
Xtreme Gym 24/7 (Fitness) 2014
Yolkstar (Retail-Gifts) 2010
Zing List (Real Estate) 2017
Zone Denver (Entertainment Services) 2013
Zooch the Pooch (Twikeltopia) (Audio Children's Books) 2011
Testimonials
"The Open for Business program at MSU Denver has been a great asset for my business. I was assigned a team who was involved and enthusiastic, asked the right questions and were able to work closely with me to put together a marketing plan with truly actionable objectives. Each of their recommendations are sure to have a direct impact on the growth of my company that I am looking forward to implementing."
"It is an outstanding piece of Work, and we plan to implement almost all of the recommendations. One key finding was the need for two marketing approaches . . ." (One World One Water Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship)
"I am amazed that your students, in just 4 months, have grasped an industry that I have been involved in for 35 years. Their professional approach and enthusiasm for the task has produced a plan I can use for another 35 years and a plan that will be required reading for my entire management Team." (Mustards Last Stand)
"It has been so insightful and helpful! I will definitely use this information to grow my business." - Sylvia Salcedo Rojas (Denver Acupuncture, Denver, CO).
"I gained good information about the industry and my competitors as well as some very creative marking ideas, many of which I will be executing in the coming months." - Greg Schriener (Silver Spoon Services, Denver, CO).
"I believe the five of us were greatly enriched by the experience. It is very beneficial to read their analysis and recommendations." -Randy Stark (Yolkstar, Ukraine).
"I especially liked their quality research on CSM a an institution and athletics department." - Brandon Leimbach (Colorado School of Mines Athletics, Golden, CO).
"I am excited by the ideas the group presented for promotion."- Scott Gales (Boomer Be Well, Denver, CO).
"I felt the team did a great job and I will be implementing many of their suggestions." - Ty Bradford (Ovo Films, Denver, CO).
"Your students were very creative and supportive of the book, brand and project. Enclosed is a small donation to MSU Denver with my appreciation." - Boomer Be Well, Denver, CO
"It was a much needed eye-opener into my business and things I need to work on." - Emil Motycka (Motycka Lawn Care, Boulder, CO).
"The class was great for me. It's important to get real-world experience and actually utilize the skills you've been taught. The class really inspired me and cultivated my entrepreneurial spirit. I opened my business with a partner right after the semester ended and it's been very successful." - Rand Lemarinel (Web Force One, Denver, CO).
"Working with students was wonderful. They were very professional. They gave me so many useful tips and ideas, including setting me up with a patient database program that I would not have thought of on my own. And now I could not live without this system. It has revolutionized my practice. I am very grateful." - Sylvia Salcedo Rojas (Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Clinic, Denver, CO).
"They did a great job of really understanding the nuances of my rather unusual company and provided some really interesting suggestions." - Nancy Judd (Recycle Runway)
"I greatly appreciated the opportunity for engagement with the students, from whom I learned a lot. I write to note that based on my experience last spring, I would like to provide a donation to the Marketing Department." - Duane B. Lewis (Global Shot Doctor, LLC)
Here's how the program works:
- If your business has a challenge or project that may benefit from a consultation with our faculty, a class project, or training, please complete the Open For Business Application and fax to 303-556-3307 or email it to ddubersm@msudenver.edu.
- All applicants will be contacted after review.
- Selected applications will be assigned to a faculty member who composes a formal proposal after discussing the project with the applicant.
- The project is initiated once an agreement is finalized documenting the project’s scope, timeline, and resources.
Please contact Darrin C. Duber-Smith at 303.819.5445 or ddubersm@msudenver.edu if you have any questions about the program.