Digital Campaign Prompt

Digital Campaign Prompt: Athens Interiors Market

By:

Michaela DeRosa

Leah Foster

Allie Amato

Ali Diehl

We have partnered with Athens Interiors Market as our local business to conduct our Digital and Social campaign. It is a home furnishings and gift store located off of Broad Street in Athens. Linda Cook started Athens Interiors Market in 2003 as a small lamp repair and lampshade business. From there, the business expanded into a 5,000 square-foot marketplace, where several vendors could rent booths and sell their own merchandise. In 2007, Lee Lyons joined the Athens Interiors Market team as Mrs. Cook’s business partner. She and Mrs. Cook began buying for The Market together and currently own approximately 85% of the merchandise. There are five vendors, and the store carries everything from baby gifts and toys, to elegant mirrors and furniture, under one roof.

Currently, Athens Interiors Market has limited advertising. Because they do not have a website, Facebook is the main online source of information and advertising. They post three to five times a week on their page, which usually includes a picture and short description of arriving merchandise. They have over 1,000 users who “like” their page and interact with it through sending messages or writing comments on their timeline. In addition to Facebook, Athens Interiors Market does some print advertising. During the holiday season, the store has placed an advertisement in local newspapers, such as The Oconee Leader and Bulldog Illustrated. They normally only advertise in these publications two to three times a year.

After speaking with Ms. Cook, Mrs. Lyons, and Leah, an employee, Athens Interiors Market’s current advertising strategy is not as effective as it could be. Many customers who have visited the store make the comment that they are new to the store, but have lived in Athens for a long time. Though there are over 1,000 “likers” for the store, a very small percentage interact...