Back-to-School Video Contest from Macy’s offers schools a chance to win up to $25K

My two daughters are back at home for a few days. Both are out of college now.  Kelsey is visiting because her sister, Alex, is home on a semester break from Ross University Veterinary School of Medicine. She’s got two weeks off before she has to head back down to St. Kitts, an island in the Caribbean. It probably sounds like a great place to go to school, but she was never so happy to be back in “America” as she posted on her Facebook page along with a photo of her meal at the airport of a burger, fries and a Bud Lite! She also brought home a huge empty suitcase so she can bring more stuff back to St. Kitts with her.

So I will include Alex in the “Back to College” crowd that adds quite a bit to the U.S. economy. The National Retail Federation says that college students and their parents will average $916.48 this year on back-to-school spending compared with $836.83 last year. And it predicts total college spending to hit $48.4 billion. By comparison, it forecasts that parents of kids K through 12 will spend $669.28 this year. This Back-to-College crowd is a key market for many retailers who have come up with some unique promotions this year to connect with them. Macy’s has launched a $50,000 video contest, inviting schools to submit a remix of the classic “Be True to Your School.”

The Macy’s Back to School Lip Dub Contest is giving schools and colleges the opportunity to win up to $25,000. They have created this video posted on the Contest You Tube page that provides many of the details that are listed in the Official Rules.

Contest submissions will begin being accepted on September 4 and run till October 10. The contest is open not only to colleges and universities but also to elementary, middle, and high schools that are located in the United States. Students are invited to upload a Lip Dub video of the school’s students lip-syncing in one continuous take to the song provided by the Sponsor (Macy’s) which is on the Contest Site. They must also include the following information: name of school, name of School Representative, email address, telephone, school identification number, and a statement (maximum of 500 characters) on how Entrant would use the prize.

Three winners will be selected based on the following judging criteria as weighted: school spirit and participation (50%), creativity (30%), and execution (20%).  First Prize school $25,000,  Second Prize school $15,000 and a Third Prize school $10,000. Winners will be announced on or around October 31.

Besides the video contest, Macy’s is sponsoring events such as campus bus shuttle services. transporting students to shopping parties at Macy’s that include DJs, mini-manicures, makeovers and apparel, as well as 25% discounts. Macy’s is using the #MacyBTS hashtag to also promote back to school selections on their Pinterest page.

Macy’s has here some very unique and well thought-out promotional marketing campaigns. However, what’s the first thing my daughter purchased since she’s been home? A new Apple MacBook Air since she spilled water and fried her last laptop two weeks before finals! I’m sure she’ll be hitting some other stores soon.

Ready to get started?

Get Your Free Consultation