The District of Sicamous is seeking a hand to develop a brand.
Specifically, the district has put out a request for proposals for the development of a “brand identity and communication strategy.”
The RFP sets out a budget between $45,000 and $60,000 for the successful candidate to assist in the “development of a brand identity, including a logo and a visual guide, and a communication strategy for the District of Sicamous.” It notes the district currently has an outdated logo and tag line that do not reflect the community today as a “beautiful, tourism-based centre.”
In a memo to council, district town manager Evan Parliament identifies the hiring of a consultant as the ideal way to fulfill council’s objective of initiating a comprehensive communication plan and branding exercise. The two, he explained, represent phase 1 in an over-arching strategy. Phase 2 involves the development of a marketing plan, while phase 3 will address finer details such as a redesign and update of the district’s website and a social media strategy.
“First we have to establish a brand and we… have to go through a communication exercise,” explained Parliament. “That’s what this RFP is, and hopefully by mid-February we’ll have lots of interest from some proponents. We’re looking at a six- to eight-month process to come up with a communications plan and a brand for Sicamous – a new brand for Sicamous that will involve public consultation – and then we would launch from that a marketing strategy.”
Regarding the branding exercise, the successful candidate is expected to create a distinct, unique brand that will attract investors, visitors and residents, while the communication strategy will “support marketing initiatives and business investment campaigns.”