Marketing Research: Vintage themed retail venture.

A group in SE Asia and Europe is creating a 'positioning document' (concept statement), around which a business plan will be built at a later stage. The intial and general concept may be described as: - Retail based, locally focused, supported by 'local internet based promotion' - Vintage/retro themed around the general notion of '20th Century Design and Fashion' - Cafe/bar environment to include display/marketing of exceptional and genuine Vintage articles. Such pieces would be sourced largely (but not exclusively) from the womens fashion/jewellry/bags segment, but also to include furniture/lighting/ceramics and graphics/art. - It is envisaged that the cafe/bar would be themed with some detail around a 40/50's construct, supported by relevant graphics/music etc. - Displayed Vintage pieces would be drawn most likey from the 20's through to the 60's era and be of significant quality as demonstrated by their rarity and to whatever extent possible, historical provenance. - The target market would be educated property owning professionals with a developed aesthetic sense/appreciation of design and a sensitivity to the current 'retro culture'. - THE PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH IS TO HELP VALIDATE/DENY/ALTER THE BSUINESS CONCEPT. The project details and requirements are that: - The project is a 'competitive research and information project' and can be conducted largely on th basis of internet search. - The requirement is to provide a report that demonstrates research into the concept as outlined above, and to provide specific and objective reporting into a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 20 existing retail ventures (European, American and possibly Japan based) that broadly mirror the description under concept above. Such reporting to include photo's/graphics and links as they appear on the web, but also to describe how the business is structured, target markets/segmenst aimed at, products and services offered, size of business (as measured by revenue and people) as available etc. A detailed list of core requirements will be made available, plus some guidance from the sponsor as to at least one existing company that is felt to fit the profile, as an example. - The requirement will be to offer broad recommendations relating to how the existing concept could be improved and reasons given. - It is envisaged that this project should not exceed 30 hours and/or 3 weeks. - Bidders must be able to demonstrate credentials in respect of: relevant marketing research, recent retail research projects, an affinity to design/architecture/fashion/furniture/20th century history-landmarks. They must be used to presenting their findings in a written form suitable to be presented to corporate executives who though experienced in business may not understand the genre (Vintage/20th Century Design). - Bidders must demonstrate their capability to present their research verbally over the phone (Skype). - Milestones will be set broadly along the lines of: Understanding the brief, Research, and Final Presentation/Recommendations. Finally, it is envisaged that a further reseach project could follow, this time focused upon researching Vintage product segments and sub-segments and setting up a sustainable supply chain. This bid will be tendered, but the successful bidder in respect of this (current) project, assuming performance criteria are met, will be given preference. All bids will be read toegether with attached documents detailing credentials. Bids that we wish to further explore will be contated in the first instance via the message boards on this site.