Cleveland State University Business Students Offer Services Abroad

The Monte Ahuja College of Business at Cleveland State University is seeking local companies that can benefit from free international marketing research conducted in London, England, this spring.

CSU business students will travel to London in May to conduct marketing research in an effort to provide local companies with valuable information. Student groups will work with local companies to define information needed to benefit the specific firms. In London, students execute research specific to local company needs. Research efforts typically include visiting business libraries, contacting company officials, visiting competitive stores or conducting interviews.

The effort is part of an international marketing and business research class led by Kimberly Ruggeri, lecturer in the Department of Marketing at CSU. The program has benefited several companies in past years. Last year, student groups provided valuable market and competitive information to three Cleveland-based companies interested in expansion into the London market.

“This collaboration is beneficial to both the students and the company,” Ruggeri said. “Students get an opportunity to learn about marketing research while experiencing a new culture. Local companies receive marketing research and recommendations about their business problem at no cost to the company. In the past, the project has been successful for both the students and the partner companies.”

Because the number of opportunities to participate in the program is limited, interested firms should act quickly by contacting Kim Ruggeri at k.ruggeri@csuohio.edu or 216.687.3670.