1. Support retail store advertising.  Is your product sold in retail chains in markets outside the U.S.?  If a retail chain in Canada (or any other market) currently sells your product, and utilizes weekly newspaper inserts for promotion, the MAP Branded program will refund 50% of the cost to feature your product in that flier.

 

2. Point of Sale Materials.Would your distributor or retailer like to have some Point-of-Sale materials or literature to support your product in their store?

 

3. Trade Seminar in country by distributor.  Does your distributor want to conduct a trade seminar in their country to highlight how to utilize your product?  Will they demonstrate ways to use your product?  Do they want to show how your product can be incorporated into local cuisine, or highlight U.S. style cuisine that might appeal in the target market?  Your distributor probably knows the best way to promote your product, now you can offer to fund 50% of those costs.

 

4.  In Store Sampling.  Better still, does the retail chain conduct in-store sampling of products? This program will cover 50% of the costs for that sampling. 

 

5. Support your importer at regional trade show.  Does your importer hold regional or annual trade fairs for their customers?  In country trade shows qualify for support through the MAP program.  IF there's a trade show, the Branded program will cover 50% of all the costs.  That can include:

 

 

6.   Attend a trade show in your target market.  Would attending a trade show in your target market help you develop distribution and sales in your target market?  Would it help you develop a market for your fresh produce (or any product) to attend a trade show to locate and sign up importers before you plant a crop?  Again, the Branded program will cover 50% of all the costs.  That can include:

 

 

7.    Change a Label.  Do you need to change your current label to sell in a new market?  If your product is entering the Canadian market, you will need English/French labels.  The Branded program will refund you 50% of the costs to design and translate that label, as well as reimburse you 50% of the costs for your first order of labels or packaging film.

 

8.    Advertise in US trade magazines.  Does your primary U.S. trade industry magazine have international readership?  Most likely they do.  You can place ads in the U.S. trade magazines advertising your company, you just need to include some key statements such as "Product of USA" and possibly "seeking international distribution", and 50% of these costs can be reimbursed.

 

9.     Advertise in consumer magazines.  Do U.S. consumer magazines also reach the Canadian market?  Again, if you can reach your international customers through a U.S. consumer magazine (just check on their circulation figures), you can claim the 50% reimbursement for these advertisements.

 

10. Develop a public relations campaign.  Is the best way to promote your product in a target market through a Public Relations campaign?  Again, the program will cover 50% of these costs.  And remember the other 50% can be paid by your importer.  It doesn't have to be paid by you.  A public relations campaign can be developing and conducting 3-5 direct mail pieces to your target buyers in their local language.

 

11. Attend an approved US trade show.  Is there a trade show in the U.S. that attracts international buyers?  This program will cover 50% of the booth rental and shipping costs to get your products to that show.  (Sorry, it will not cover the travel for the domestic show.) 

Colorado Department of Agriculture · 700 Kipling Street · Suite 4000 · Lakewood, CO 80215-8000 ·(303) 239-4100