Check it out! We're looking for proposals from qualified graphic/brand designers to design the Co-op's new "look"!
Request for Proposals
Olympia Food Co-op Brand Design
August 11, 2011
The Request
The Olympia Food Co-op, a member based, collectively managed, not-for-profit, natural food grocer located in Olympia, WA is seeking the services of one or more qualified professionals to design a new look and feel for our external and internal marketing materials. Specifically, we are looking for a new or updated logo, font(s) and a coordinated color palette as well as a small selection of sample templates. Additional web and/or graphic design work may be available for the right person/company in 2012. We prefer individuals or companies with both graphic design skills and an understanding of brand management concepts. Previous work with co-operatives or within the natural grocery sector is ideal but not required.
Background
The Olympia Food Co-op has been in business for over 30 years. We specialize in local, organic, and environmentally-friendly foods and household products, with an emphasis on affordability and social justice. The organization has grown from a volunteer-run buying club that operated out of a garage to two stores which now employ over 75 staff. The staff collectively manages the stores using a non-hierarchical consensus based process. The co-op has over 22,000 active members, some of whom volunteer in the stores.
Our marketing strategies and materials have not kept pace with our growth. Over time, multiple people have created different marketing materials (website, newsletter, flyers, store signage, etc.) without a common theme, leading to a disjointed brand identity. In 2010 we committed to a brand review and creation process which will culminate in creation of a new look and feel for our communications and stores, to be implemented in 2012.
Our work to this point has included: auditing our current brand identity; auditing the brands of competitors as well as fellow co-ops; assessing our current positioning and future positioning opportunities; engaging staff and members in a branding survey; and creating a design brief. At this point, we are ready to share this information with a design partner to bring our brand personality alive with shape and color!
The Process
As a member-based, collectively-managed cooperative, we are committed to engaging members and staff in the brand creation process. Our current logo has been in use since the early 1980s and although many members agree that it has drawbacks, it also has a long history within our community.
The designer will work closely with members of the Outreach and Education Committee to create mock-ups of three possible logos and color combinations. These three choices will be presented to Board, staff and members, both online and at staff and community meetings. After feedback has been received from stakeholders, the designer will complete work on the final choice. We expect the stakeholder engagement part of this process to require roughly three weeks. Although the designer is not required to be present at community meetings, we would welcome their participation.
Our goal is to complete the design process by the end of 2011 and begin implementation in 2012.
Proposal Timeline and Selection Process
The deadline for proposals is September 1, 2011 at 5:00 pm. Applicants may be contacted for a follow-up interview. The successful applicant will be notified no later than September 15th.
Please keep in mind when designing your proposal that we are a not-for-profit organization.
Interested applicants should submit their proposal via e-mail to jayne@olympiafood.coop
For additional information or questions, contact Jayne by email or at 360-357-1106, extension 11.
