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  • 04.02.2025

Call for proposals: 5-country EU marketing campaign for flowering plants seeks an External Evaluator

June 2024 saw the launch of a new EU-funded campaign to promote pelargonium and poinsettia plants in five countries: Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. Worth more than 2 million Euros, the campaign aims to grow and secure long-term sales of both plant groups, in turn, supporting and enhancing the competitiveness of Europe’s horticulture sector. It will run for three years, from 1st June 2024 to 31st May 2027.

Pelargoniums and poinsettias are important products for the green industry all over Europe. Both are seasonal ornamental plants which complement each other, as when the poinsettia season ends, the pelargonium season begins, and vice versa. A large proportion of Europe’s horticultural growers produce both plants, and due to their characteristics, they are often produced and sold locally in Europe.

For 20 years the Stars for Europe (SfE) initiative has been supporting poinsettia sales with generic product promotion, while its sister campaign, Pelargonium for Europe (PfE), launched in 2016 to do the same for pelargoniums. Both projects are active in 22 countries and will remain so, while winning this EU funding enables increased activities and impact in the five named target countries.

The campaign targets both end-consumers and supports the green trade. The marketing mix comprises public relations, media collaborations, digital and social media marketing, POS support for retailers, and sustainability communication for producers.

A call for proposals is announced for the role of External Evaluator, open to highly experienced marketing professionals or consultants in the green (horticulture) sector, ideally also in generic campaigns and/or EU-funded projects. The workplan will primarily involve producing an Evaluation Study at the end of each year, which should provide an independent, expert judgement covering the results of each work package, as well as campaign impact in terms of economic impact and awareness impact.

The campaign year runs from 1st June to 31st May, and the main working period for the External Evaluator will be between April and June each year.

To receive the full briefing and application information, email tendering@org-intern.info with your name and one or two sentences outlining your horticulture and marketing experience (you will have the chance to send further information later).

The deadline to tender is 3rd March 2025.