Provision to establish a print-on-demand partnership to expand UN stamp-themed merchandise portfolio

The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) intends to expand its product portfolio to include United Nations stamp-themed merchandise. To support this initiative, the UNPA seeks to engage with an experienced intermediary vendor to facilitate the registration, design, listing, and management of such products through multiple print-on-demand (POD) and merchandise-on-demand platforms. The selected intermediary would coordinate with POD providers on matters including production, quality assurance, order fulfillment, payment processing, customer service, and related operational activities.

The United Nations Postal Administration was established on 28 March 1951 and has been producing and marketing postage stamps and philatelic products for more than 75 years. UNPA possesses an extensive collection of high-quality artwork and illustrations associated with its stamp program and intends to leverage these assets in the development of UN stamp-themed merchandise.

UNPA currently distributes and sells its postage stamps worldwide through its postal counters located at United Nations Headquarters in New York (United States), Geneva (Switzerland), and Vienna (Austria), as well as through its online store, unstamps.org, and a network of authorized sales agents and dealers in various countries. While UNPA's long-term objective is to offer stamp-themed merchandise globally, its initial market focus will be the United States, Europe, and China, in that order of priority.

The objectives of the merchandise expansion initiative are to:

• Increase revenue generation;
• Reach and engage younger audiences and consumers who are not currently purchasing and/or collecting United Nations stamps; and
• Introduce these non-traditional UNPA customers to the historical, cultural, and educational significance of United Nations stamps, with the goal of encouraging future purchases of UN stamps and related philatelic products.

Specific Requirements/Information UNPA seeks to partner with an intermediary company that demonstrates proven expertise and experience in the print-on-demand merchandise sector. The ideal partner should have successfully established and managed print-on-demand businesses, either on its own behalf or on behalf of other organizations, through platforms such as Amazon merch-on-demand and other leading POD marketplaces.

The intermediary company will be expected to:

• Identify, evaluate and recommend suitable print-on-demand providers and platforms;
• Register, establish, and manage relationships with print-on-demand providers on behalf of the UNPA, including support with contractual and operational arrangements as appropriate;
• Collaborate with UNPA in identifying and selecting suitable stamp artwork and illustrations for adaptation into commercial merchandise designs;
• Develop and prepare merchandise designs that align with UNPA branding and product standards;
• Create, manage and optimize product listings across Amazon merch-on-demand and other relevant print-on-demand platforms;
• Coordinate directly with print-on-demand providers regarding pricing strategies, promotional activities, order processing, production oversight, quality assurance, fulfillment, payment management, and customer service; and
• Provide ongoing monitoring, reporting, and recommendations to maximize sales performance and customer satisfaction.

The UNPA's preferred business model is one that does not require UNPA to purchase, store, or maintain inventory, nor assume any inventory-related risks. The intermediary company shall establish and manage an operational framework whereby print-on-demand providers handle the acceptance, processing, production, and fulfillment of customer orders with minimal operational involvement from the UNPA.

The intermediary company shall be responsible for ensuring that all merchandise produced under this initiative meets high standards of quality and is consistent with the reputation, values, brand image, and visual identity of the UN.

In addition, respondents should describe their proposed royalty and revenue-sharing model. Any royalties generated and paid to the UNPA should be competitive with, and comparable to, prevailing market rates offered by leading print-on-demand platforms and licensing arrangements.

Interested companies are invited to provide information on the following:

1. Company profile, ownership structure, and years of operation

2. Relevant experience in establishing and managing print-on-demand businesses and online merchandise programs. 3. Experience with Amazon merch-on-demand and other major print-on-demand platforms. 4. Examples of comparable licensing, branding, or merchandise commercialization projects. 5. Proposed approach for onboarding and managing print-on-demand providers on behalf of UNPA.

6. Design, listing, marketing, and product management capabilities

7. Quality control processes and customer service arrangements

8. Proposed commercial model, including royalty structures, fees, and revenue-sharing arrangements. 9. Geographic coverage and ability to support sales in the United States, Europe, China, and other international markets.

10. References from current or previous clients for similar engagements