The marketing arm of Washington State’s wine industry is reviewing its $1.5M marketing communications contract with an RFP process through early May.
The Washington State win Commission is calling for pitches to handle its advertising, communications strategy, brand management and PR over the next two years. The commission in February hired a new executive director, Steve Warner, a Seattle native and marketing vet most recently with Merck in Eastern Europe and Asia, after a global search.
The win sector has a $8.6B impact on the Evergreen State, according to an impact study released this month. By 2009 figures, Washington State was No. 3 among states, closely behind New York. California produces nearly 90% of American wine.
Last year, the commission committed $7.4M to construct the Wine Science Center at Washington State University in Richland.
Key sectors for outreach with its marketing are the wine trade, media, and core consumers who drink wine at least once per week.
Seattle-based Green Rubino is the incumbent. Edelman and MWW have worked PR for the commission in the past.
The commission said it plans to award a single contract for the marketing communications business. Proposals are due May 11 with finalist presentations slated for Seattle on June 1.
View the RFP (PDF).