By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8 and Council President Rory Riddler, Ward 1 are ready to present a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to the St. Charles City Council.
The RFQ is an effort to “capitalize on the assets of St. Charles in a thoughtful, coordinated and organized fashion,” Gieseke stated.
Gieseke presented the idea of coordinating all marketing and public relations in the City at the first advertising committee meeting. Gieseke told the First Capitol News, “St. Charles has a wealth of amenities, beginning with our location and access to the regional transportation system. A wide array of housing, employment and leisure opportunities. It is clear that in defining and marketing our City, first to our residents and businesses, and to potential visitors and other investors, we need to sell ourselves on a community-wide basis. Residents and business services, economics and job development, parks, entertainment and tourism should all be promoted within the context of a unified marketing plan.”
Councilmen Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1 and City Council President agrees. “We need to coordinate the efforts and activities of every department of the city, assure that our decisions are researched based, well thought out and coordinated in their execution to insure we are getting the most exposure in a cost effective way.” Gieseke and Riddler both agreed our current system of marketing is disjointed and confusing.
The RFQ will ask for qualifications from firms that have the ability and expertise to develop a comprehensive marketing and communication plan for the City.
“Using a private firm does not institutionalize a PR position and allows for greater creativity,” Gieseke stated. The RFQ will be discussed at the Council’s work session in April. Riddler is confident that this will help create the desired results of “branding St. Charles and making all of the assets a priority.”
Gieseke told the FCN, “St. Charles has so much to offer the residents of the City, County and greater St. Louis region. We need to go to the next level and hire a professional company that understands marketing and public relations and create a true marketing plan that can be followed.”
