Generation Y has proven its imaginative talent and savvy networking skills in the first round of Cold Stone Creamery’s interactive iMix America Contest. Hundreds of creative ice cream Creations were shared and promoted through social networking avenues. The next round of competitors will rely on local support and interactive marketing tactics to drive sales of their Creations in order to advance to the finals.
The contest kicked off in February of this year with 9,000 applicants vying for the chance to win $30,000 in prizes. All the chosen participants partnered with a local Cold Stone Creamery store to create their own ice cream Creation. Using their social networks, these Generation Y contestants promoted their concoctions with friends all across the country. Then, after weeks of online voting, Cold Stone reduced the number of contestants to the top 125 Creations based on rank.
“The iMix America contest highlighted the imaginations of Generation Y in two very different aspects, creative development and interactive marketing,” says Dan Beem, president of Cold Stone Creamery. “These students have done a terrific job at promoting these very innovative ice cream Creations.”
With only 125 contestants remaining, the following states are still represented in iMix America: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
At the time of elimination, the top three Creations were Tiramisu Temptation from Florida, Chocolate Covered Cherry from Pennsylvania, and Breakfast in Bed from Massachusetts. The recipes of each of these Creations are described below:
1.
Tiramisu Temptation created by Evan Diamond from Florida–Coffee ice cream mixed with whipped cream, fudge, and yellow cake
2.
Chocolate Covered Cherry created by Hannah Haas from Pennsylvania–Sweet Cream ice cream mixed with chocolate shavings, maraschino cherries, and brownies with fudge drizzled on top
3.
Breakfast in Bed created by Brendan Czerwonka from Massachusetts–French Toast ice cream mixed with cinnamon, chocolate chips, and fudge.
The voting for iMix America continues throughout the year, with two more eliminating brackets to narrow the competition. The second bracket ends on November 15, when the competition will be down to the top 20 Creations. The last bracket ends on December 31, and the winning student and Creation for iMix America will be determined.
The iMix America winner will be awarded in January 2009 at the Cold Stone Creamery headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona. The prize package, worth $30,000, includes automotive, travel, electronics, and cellular phone products and services.
