A sweet festival with philanthropy at the core
The California Strawberry Festival offers a weekend of food, fun, and entertainment for the entire family, but it doesn't stop there. The Festival is a nonprofit organization with an all-volunteer board that gives back to the community in a big way, supporting annual educational scholarships and providing fundraising opportunities for more than 30 local non-profit groups.
The Juicy Results
With Searle's marketing strategy in play since 2019, the festival has seen sustained social, email, and website user growth, resulting in soaring ticket sales. By 2023, ticket sales for the festival jumped to more than 270% above pre-2020 heights and has held strong at nearly double past averages.
The Backstory » Festivals are our strawberry jam
Searle thrives on planning, permitting, organizing, and executing buzz-worthy events. When we redesigned the California Strawberry Festival website in 2015, we were excited to establish a long-term partnership. We aimed to create turnkey, effective event marketing that consistently drives results.
Jumping In » A kickoff backed with experience
Each event has unique features, audiences, and goals. We follow a proven method that turns marketing challenges into measurable results.
The cycle for annual event marketing follows distinct milestones. These include kickoffs, meetings with board and department leaders, supporting sponsor partnerships, new creative, and a fully planned marketing schedule across multiple platforms.
A Change Up » The festival makes a move
When the festival proposed a move from Oxnard to the Ventura County Fairgrounds in 2023, Searle was able to offer support and advice to the board about the potential implications of the move. When the decision was made, we worked creatively to build awareness and highlight the benefits of the new location across all marketing channels.
Bring the Crowd » Marketing with momentum
Driving ticket sales means creating excitement at every turn. From juicy reels and TV commercials to playful PR with the mascot, we capture attention and keep fans engaged.
Custom media outreach ensures the right audience sees the right message at the right time. Proactive content and channel management address challenges like traffic and vendor concerns. Over nearly a decade, our campaigns have consistently expanded the email list, boosted website traffic, and delivered engaging content that keeps momentum high and audiences returning each year.
