The Co-op launches ‘Brand Experience Program’ for youth brands targeting Uni students with ‘unique on-campus brand marketing initiative’

Australia’s largest member owned retailer, the Co-op, today announced the launch of an exclusive retail initiative; the ‘Brand Experience Program’.

From October 2013, the Co-op will open its doors to eight youth brands and offer them unrivalled access to over 450,000 highly coveted university students per day.

Says Greg Smith, chief marketing officer of the Co-op: “This is a first for youth centric brands to gain access to this previously closed community. Now retailers can gain a ‘backstage pass’ to embed themselves into our unique on-campus retail footprint,” commented Greg Smith.”

Opening its doors to its top 20 university campuses across Australia, the Co-op will be sharing their retail space, knowledge and student engagement strategies with the eight brand partners who successfully qualify by exhibiting the most cutting-edge and innovative products and brands for the university student market.

Says Smith: “The Co-op is the main retail hub on campus and a perfect place for a smart youth brand to connect with this experiential hungry 19 – 29 demographic. What better way to have a brand in the hands of its core target audience who will be very quick to participate and talk about it to their friends.”

The eight new brand partners will be given full creative freedom to design and implement their own brand story, as well as exclusivity for a four-week period. They will also receive access to the Co-op’s active student database.

Smith adds: “This is a golden ticket for any brand trying to tap into the youth market. With only limited spaces available we’re expecting the competition to be fierce.”