Veronika Sokolova, a student of the advertising department of the Higher School of Printing and Media Technologies of St. Petersburg State Pedagogical Institute, has developed a comprehensive business strategy for the development of the Bullit family hockey store in Barnaul. The concept includes various PR tools: from creating a digital profile of a young hockey player to applying new standards for working with the hockey community in the Siberian Federal District. The main idea of communication events is to position the store as an expert in hockey equipment, capable of offering solutions for players of different levels.
Hockey is one of the most expensive sports. Parents of young players and amateurs are faced with the fear of buying low-quality hockey equipment, making a mistake with size. Veronica suggested creating a "hockey profile" on the store's website. Upon registration, the player turns into a digital character. Further - indicates age, height, weight, position, level of play and frequency of training. The algorithm analyzes the data and gives recommendations not only for models, but also for the degree of wear of the current ammunition. He will also remind you when it is time to change laces or insoles, thereby helping to prevent injuries. No analogues of development are presented. The digital profile creates direct communication with the athlete's parents and translates communication from an aggressive "buy" appeal to the value "we will help you choose safely."
"For me, this is not just a project, but a solution to the real problem of the family business. The Bullit store has been operating for many years, we have an excellent reputation among regular customers. But I realized that we are losing a new generation of players as our audience. Hockey in the Siberian Federal District is developing very quickly, new sections are opening, amateur leagues are being created, and many people learn about the store only through word of mouth. It became clear that without competent communication, even the best product will remain on the shelf," Veronica explained.
The author of the project decided to hold face-to-face events for young pupils of hockey schools in the Altai Territory. She suggested inviting famous players and conducting master classes on hockey freestyle and testing new models of clubs. Children get new emotions, get acquainted with the legends of Russian sports and improve their playing skills, and the store gets direct contact with the target audience and parental loyalty.
As events, collaborations can be held to coincide with the release of thematic films, for example, "Hockey Dads 2." Before the session, viewers enter the interactive space of the Bullit store with the concept "the champion's path begins long before going on the ice." It is a pavilion designed as a locker room for athletes with uniforms, skates and equipment. In the center - personal stories of hockey players from Siberia about how important the correct choice of the first pair of skates or helmet is. According to the author of the project, this will create a powerful emotional attachment to the brand. Veronika thought out a partnership with the hockey club Ƶ. The store offers equipment at affordable prices, in return receiving a loyal audience and advertising. In addition, the author has developed gift certificates for the birthday of young hockey players in schools in the region.
Also, the student proposed to create in Barnaul the first free station for checking the safety of equipment in Russia. Any hockey player can bring their own helmet or bib for specialists to check the condition of foam and plastic. This will form the image of a socially responsible business that is not indifferent to the life and health of athletes.