Marketing Consulting Services

The Vendor is required to provide marketing consulting services for include:
- The associated services required of the selected supplier may include, but are not limited to:
•    Assisting state exporters in making contact with potential importers, distributors, and retailers by developing matchmaking opportunities and providing interpretation and translation services, as necessary; 
•    Developing and delivering promotional material, correspondence, and for meetings, trade shows, and escorting foreign buyer missions in state; 
•    Assisting with travel for state agribusiness exporters to the target markets including arranging meetings and developing itineraries for department and traveling state companies, making hotel arrangements, and arranging transportation details; 
•    Maintaining on-going contact with foreign buyers, including buyer selections and escorting buyer missions to state; 
•    Advising and assisting with distribution including finding importers, warehousing, and other distribution facilities and partners; 
•    Advising on import ingredient restrictions, labeling regulations and other relevant regulations in the target markets;
•    Reviewing market reports and other sources of information on the target markets to support better target market intelligence and understanding of export opportunities for state-produced products. 
•    Information should include issues of trade policies and changing economic conditions to provide department with the most salient information; 
•    Corresponding directly with state companies to keep trade leads active and obtaining necessary information, ensuring department is made aware of this contact and is copied on the correspondence; 
•    Advising on obtaining payment for export transactions; and 
•    Advising on marketing and public relations activities for state -produced products.
- Supplier shall maintain responsibilities in carrying out trade servicing including, but not limited to:
•    Visiting with potential importers, distributors, retailers, and food service companies and food ingredient buyers, as well as developing lists and maintaining a database of these companies, to include contact information, detailing those that are the most reputable, experienced, and in the best position to purchase state -produced products; 
•    Liaising with foreign agricultural service posts on a regular basis; 
•    Informing department of development opportunities for the target markets that arise throughout the year and marketing activities that should be included in any department marketing plans for the next year; 
•    Traveling to the united states for meetings with department personnel and clients as requested; 
•    Generating and following up on trade leads after an event; 
•    Following up with key buyers from trade missions and other special projects; 
•    Assessing and recommending solutions to problems which may be inhibiting export sales; 
•    Obtaining evaluations or participant feedback following each marketing activity; 
•    Tracking sales and other performance measures resulting from all live events (such as trade shows, missions, or other in-person activities); 
•    Assisting, on an ongoing basis, in generating export success stories; and
•    Providing information regarding trade servicing in a weekly report that outlines the trade servicing completed and any results achieved.
- Supplier shall conduct research, development, and promotion on the target markets including, but not limited to:
•    Undertaking industry and sector studies as requested; 
•    Identifying and recommending promotional opportunities in the food service, food retail, and food ingredient sectors of the target markets; 
•    Developing and assisting with implementation of promotional activities within the guidelines specified by department, including negotiating promotional terms, assisting with in-store merchandising and display, digital and social media marketing, and developing promotional concepts and materials; 
•    Submitting an activity report following each marketing activity, providing any required evaluation results, such as performance metrics, successes, and campaign key performance indicators (KPIS)
- The types of services considered for each trade show should include, but are not limited to:
•    Identifying and providing details on food trade shows in the target markets, including the number of exhibitors, key buyers attending, and recommendations on which shows to exhibit; 
•    Conducting pre-show product research regarding pricing, import regulation, and competitor analysis;
•    Targeting invitations to qualified buyers for exhibitor booths, providing buyer-seller instructions, and setting up pre-arranged appointments for each exhibitor; 
•    Providing basic exhibitor material for buyers on each company exhibiting and their product information; 
•    Providing technical support at the trade show, to include on-site show assistance by representatives in the target markets; 
•    Providing in-target markets briefings and local industry tours, as appropriate; 
•    Qualifying exhibitors’ leads from the show and conducting due diligence, if necessary; and 
•    Conducting follow-up correspondence with key buyers after the show.