Students from University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College, in Bury St Edmunds, prepare marketing plan for museum

A Suffolk museum is to take up suggestions made by Business and Marketing students as part of their degree.

Students from the University of Suffolk at West Suffolk College (pictured above) visited The Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket and prepared a marketing plan full of suggestions to help the museum gain more visitors and raise its profile.

After visiting the museum and asking questions the team presented their final plan to its director Jenny Cousins and marketing officer Chloe Brett.

Chloe said the students suggestions put a strong emphasis on working on their social media and website. “We have put a lot of their ideas into our marketing plan”.

Other ideas being looked at are working with youth groups like the Scouts Association, helping them to get badges, and they are considering the suggestion of a shepherds hut for refreshments and another for toilets.

Chloe said the students had suggested more animals, and in particular, more Suffolk breeds. The museum is currently fundraising for a Heritage Farm, which would involve getting more animals.

“They have given us lots of food for thought,” added Chloe.

Director Jenny Cousins said: “We are really pleased with some of the ideas, they did a really good job getting to grips with the problems and suggesting some feasible solutions. It was a very good presentation.”

The Museum of East Anglian Life reopens on March 24.