Updated on May 31st, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LONDON, ON - February 3, 2022 - Northern Commerce and Fanshawe College are partnering for the third consecutive year to support local businesses and Fanshawe Students with The Northern Digital Marketing Challenge. Students gain hands-on marketing experience helping local businesses in a competition that challenges them to create solutions that deliver revenue-generating impact.  

Funded by Northern, The Northern Digital Marketing Challenge is open to Fanshawe students in the Business Administration - Marketing, Marketing Management, and the Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Digital Marketing) programs. Led by Liz Gray, a faculty member of the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business, students build, execute, and manage live marketing campaigns using Google and Facebook for 13 local businesses over two months. “This is a unique and exciting opportunity for students. It provides them with hands-on experience working with advertising tools that businesses need to build their brand and drive sales,” says Liz Gray, Fanshawe College professor. 

Students get an opportunity to learn from the experts at Northern Commerce, an industry leader, recently named the 2021 Google Premier Partner of the Year for two awards. “Our goal is to provide students with fundamental learning experiences to help launch their careers while sustaining local businesses,” says Corey Dubeau, VP Strategy at Northern Commerce. 

“Working on a live campaign that impacted an actual local business was exciting and rewarding. The skills I acquired ignited my passion for digital marketing and my career,” Marketing Project Coordinate at Northern Commerce and former Fanshawe College student, Reena Herbstreit.

“Since participating in last year's program, we’ve seen a significant increase in patient registrations thanks to the advertising campaigns run by the students,” says Michele Burk, Office Manager of Mclauchlin Wellness Clinic in Blenheim, Ontario. 

The following is a summary of the 13 local businesses included in the 2022 program:

At the end of the two-month challenge, teams will present their campaigns and results to
a panel of judges from Northern and Facebook, where a grand prize winner will be
selected. The winners receive prizes such as Kindles, Wireless Speakers, Wireless Earbuds, Notebooks, gift cards, and more. In addition to supporting the students, Northern donates thousands of dollars towards the advertising budgets for local businesses.

Contact

Northern Commerce
1.866.930.4608
@email

About Northern Commerce

Headquartered in London, Ontario, Northern is an integrated digital solutions agency helping brands navigate digital transformation. Our solutions help brands grow by optimizing their digital customer journey. From initial engagement to conversion, we enhance their audience’s digital experience to support their commerce objectives. 

For more information on Northern Commerce, please visit www.northern.co

About Fanshawe College

Fanshawe College is one of Ontario’s largest colleges, serving students with a promise to educate, engage, empower and excite. The College has over 200,000 alumni and attracts students from 80 countries every year, opening up a world of possibilities through more than 200 degree, diploma and certificate programs, along with apprenticeship training. Located in London with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock and throughout Huron and Bruce Counties in Ontario, Fanshawe College has been providing excellence in academic learning and industry training for more than 50 years helping people to unlock their potential and achieve success.