Introduction With its inception in 2004, the Writers at Woody Point Festival have become an ever increasingly popular annual literature festival for Newfoundland’s west coast. The festival has grown each year and has now reached the point where council believes a formal marketing strategy and plan is necessary for the festivals short and long term economic sustainability in the ever-increasingly competitive literature festival market. To create the marketing strategy for the festival, analysis will include looking at the events strengths and weaknesses, as well as its opportunities and threats in its external environment. Viable options will then be considered that will dismiss managements concerns, which will further be explained through specific recommendations for both short and long term for management to implement for the festival.
Analysis
In this next section S.W.O.T analysis will be used to analyze the festivals strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats which will provide the framework that the recommendations will be based upon. The festival has many strengths that have enabled its continued success since its infancy. The location for the festival alone is a great strength as it takes place within the popular Gros Morne National Park which provides a setting of amazing natural landscapes, and spectacular scenery for the event. It is apparent that the festivals majority of customers are locals from nearby communities, which is great as it shows the festival has the support of the nearby communities, and does not rely on visitors from afar or out of the providence. The strong focus on community can also be seen within the festival as there are various local artists, musicians, and writers showcased along with the numerous local programs and collaborations with local arts groups, including the: Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, Gross Morne Summer Music Program, and school outreach programs.