Marketing Consulting Services

The Vendor is required to provide marketing consulting services for include:
- Recommendations and strategies for improving the competitiveness of state exports in the target markets.
- The associated services required of the selected supplier may include, but are not limited to:
• 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;
• 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 intelligence on target markets 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.
- 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 instore 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).