• Address: Boston, MA 02196 (map)
• Date Posted: 10/31/09
• Job Type: Full-time

Wood Products Marketing Expert

Excellence in Innovation Project - Bosnia-Herzegovina



Background

The Excellence in Innovation (EI) Project has created a Wood Products Technology Center (Arteco), which provides fee-based services to strengthen the competitiveness of wood products manufacturing companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH). The services focus in particular on CAD/CAM services and marketing assistance that will enable BH companies to compete in European and other high-end markets. The EI project aims to make Arteco financially and operationally self-sustainable within two years



Seeking Wood Products Marketing Expert



The Excellence in Innovation (EI) Project is seeking a marketing expert with strong experience in the Wood Products industry for a short-term assignment in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH), with an immediate start date. The following are essential skills, knowledge and experience for this consultant assignment:



• At least 10 years experience in marketing furniture and other wood products

• Deep understanding of the international market for wood products, especially in Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe

• Knowledge of specific market opportunities -- especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe -- for wood products manufacturers that have CAD/CAM capability for high value-added market niches

• Strong, demonstrated entrepreneurial and business skills, e.g., ability to develop viable business marketing plans



Valuable additional skills include:

• Experience with start-up wood products manufacturing enterprises

• Experience working with South East Europe companies



Scope of Work



This assignment has two major parts.



Part 1. Assist in developing a strong sales/marketing plan (1 week in BH; 2 days in home country)



Main task:

Provide marketing expertise to help Arteco provide effective services that strengthen BH wood products manufacturing companies’ competitiveness in international markets (especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe), including:

· assistance in the development of a detailed sales and marketing plan

· concrete advice and assistance regarding successfully marketing BH wood products in international markets (especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe), including identification of specific promising potential buyers and specific market niches

· concrete advice and assistance to strengthen Arteco’s ability to market/sell services to BH wood products manufacturing companies

· concrete advice and assistance to Arteco to identify a network of 6-8 BiH companies that could be marketed in international markets, especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.

Subtasks:



1. Review and assess Arteco’s service offerings:

a. Review and assess Arteco’s service offerings

b. Provide recommendations for improving service offerings

c. Competitive analysis – identifying major competitors in the international market and developing a strategy for competing successfully with them

2. Assist in the development of a sales and marketing strategy

a. Segment the international – especially European -- market

b. Develop a marketing strategy and detailed sales/marketing plans for each target international market segment

3. Customer relationship management vis-à-vis BH customers (wood products manufacturing companies) and international buyers

a. Provide advice and assistance in building strong relationships with international buyers

b. Meet 8-10 BH companies and provide concrete advice about their products and offerings to determine whether they could compete in the international market.

4. Provide advice on the development of promotional materials

5. Provide advice on international venues for marketing BH companies, including specific trade fairs and potential buyers

6. Provide specific contacts to international buyers, especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe

7. Propose steps Arteco needs to undertake to effectively market the BH companies’ offerings, in international markets, especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe, and in the South East European regional market.


Deliverables for Part 1


· Detailed report on Arteco’s offerings and ability to deliver products competitive in European/international markets, and proposals for marketing Arteco and its customers (BH wood products manufacturing companies) in the international markets (especially in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe

* Draft sales-and-marketing plan and action plan for Arteco’s marketing of BH wood products manufacturing companies including steps to be taken and recommendations for specific contacts to international buyers and to marketing venues, e.g., trade fairs



Part 2. Provide ongoing marketing agent services



The EI Project and Arteco will be interested in establishing a relationship with a marketing expert that can provide on-going marketing agent service with a focus on Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe. Based on experience with other EI Project Services Centers, we envision a commission-based relationship; however, other arrangements will be considered.



Consultant fees commensurate with experience and in accordance with USAID rates.



Please send expression of interest and resume to:

Janice Brodman

JBrodman@edc.org



The EI Project is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer