Clemson business students partner with Guy Harvey

CLEMSON, SC — Clemson University business students have teamed up with Guy Harvey, the man behind both Guy Harvey Inc. and the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) to understand how social media can be used to tackle problems related to ocean wildlife conservation.

The Creative Inquiry class, led by Jason Thatcher, director of Clemson’s Social Analytics Institute and professor of management, has been working with Harvey’s team since January. Along with their study of ocean conservation, the class also hopes to dissect the Guy Harvey business model, focusing specifically on social media utility in the company’s strategy.

“This class is about two things: getting the students involved in a hands-on way with real data and cultivating a lasting relationship with a popular brand,” said Thatcher.

Guy Harvey stands with some of the students and faculty he met on his Clemson visit.

He explained that companies like Guy Harvey are always thrilled to work with young students on real-world projects as it creates a pipeline of trained and employable graduates.

Thatcher’s students will be working with Guy Harvey’s marketing team on two projects simultaneously. First, they will be investigating the social media strategies behind Guy Harvey’s new marketing campaign called “Real Guy, Real Life,” which aims at making the brand more transparent and open to its followers.

The group’s second project involves an examination of Guy Harvey’s “Great Shark Race.” The students will be studying the race’s impact on various social media platforms as well as its effects on the awareness of conservation — a major focus of the Research Institute.

Rich Davies, CEO of Pavilion Development Co. and vice chair of Clemson’s The Will to Lead capital campaign, introduced Harvey and his team to Clemson University in 2014 via a tour of Clemson’s Social Media Listening Center in Sirrine Hall. Harvey was there and agreed Clemson could be a major asset to his brand.

Thatcher’s Creative Inquiry students are Alison Cucci, Hanna Evans, Annemarie Hodgson, Chelsea Lilland, Julie Luxemberg, Nick Phillips, Kelly Saxby and Kristy Ward.

The class’ research is facilitated by SocialTap, an open-source tool developed in partnership with Clemson Computing and Information Technology and supported by the National Science Foundation. Additional insight and deep analytics for the projects are provided by Stat Social through Clemson alumna Audrey Hungerman.