August 17, 2011
August 17, 2011 (Albany, NY) – Austin’s School of Spa Technology and CDTA today unveiled a new ad campaign featuring Austin’s School of Spa Technology students. This is the first time the school has featured its own students in a creative advertising campaign. Austin’s School of Spa Technology launched the new campaign with the unveiling of a CDTA bus at the Albany campus this morning.
“This is a new venture for Empire Education Corporation and Austin’s School of Spa Technology,” said Faith Takes, President and CEO of Empire Education Corporation. “We are so excited to showcase the talents and artistic skills of our students through these ads. This is also a tribute to the Austin’s School of Spa Technology faculty who do a tremendous job preparing students for a career in the beauty industry. They all worked very hard to make this happen and we are extremely proud of them.”
“Our students are very passionate about what they do and they bring so much creativity to their trade,” explained Ricky Romero, Creative Director. “When we were developing our new campaign, we really wanted to encompass what students are learning and give the Capital Region a snapshot of the amazing things that are happening at the Austin’s campus. Who better to demonstrate that than the students themselves?”
“The models you see in these ads are all students and their hair and make-up were done by student stylists,” remarked Maria Neal, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “It really was quite an undertaking as everything was developed in house by our own marketing team from the concept, to the photo shoot, to the design of the ads. Our students and our faculty are truly gifted and we wanted that to be the focal point of this creative campaign.”
“I would also like to thank CDTA which has been a wonderful partner for Empire Education Corporation and its Austin’s and Mildred Elley campuses,” added Takes. “Many of our students are riders of CDTA buses and depend on reliable public transportation to get to school. In fact, since 2008 when the campus relocated from Latham to Central Avenue, enrollment at the Albany campus has increased 52 percent. We believe that locating our campus along a main bus route, has attributed to that increase.”
“We congratulate Austin School of Spa Technology’s on their great campaign, which illustrates what the school and their students have to offer and will be seen on CDTA buses by tens of thousands of people every day, said CDTA CEO Carm Basile. “As a loyal CDTA partner, the Empire Education Corporation recognizes the importance of reliable public transportation services to get their students, staff and clients to the school on time. The re-location of their new office on Route 5, home to BusPlus where we provide great service and connections throughout the region, was rewarded with a 50% increase in student enrollment and a 30% increase in Swiper sales, further solidifying our business relationship.”
Since its, introduction in April, CDTA has seen a 10% increase in ridership along the Route 5 corridor. Queue jumpers and traffic signal priority systems that allow BusPlus buses to proceed ahead of cars and give them extended green lights to stay on schedule are slated to be added later this year. These amenities will increase the reliability, convenience and speed of BusPlus services. The ads will appear on the outside and inside of CDTA buses, in bus shelters throughout the Capital Region as well as print and web ads.
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