Congratulations!

"Well done for achieving your target."
"Thank you for your long service."
"Congratulations on being the best in the business."

These words, although they maybe heartfelt, can also be soon forgotten without a tangible reminder in the form of an award or trophy.

As well as being used as rewards, awards and trophies also make great incentives. The sense of achievement in reaching an annual target is multiplied a hundred fold when the recipient steps up onto the platform and receives an award for the triumph. So, it's quite fitting that in a world of doom and gloom the awards sector is really booming: so says Melanie Osborne, MD of Special EFX. The company has expanded its design department to cope with demand and are set to exceed last year's total production of over 6,500 individually designed awards.

Melanie says, "Companies are increasingly looking for alternatives to pure cash as a means of rewarding and motivating their employees. People are working harder, often longer hours than ever and in many cases it's just not possible to recompense them fully financially. However, an award has an intrinsic value far greater than any cash payment, as it makes an open public statement of a person's real worth to a company, whatever their status within the organisation.

"It is the ability to truly reward a person for their efforts and commitment, irrespective of their position or salary, that makes award schemes so beneficial. At a time when business and commerce has become essentially impersonal, award schemes play a vital role in making people feel noticed and good about themselves."

Recycled Award … for recycling
Just as many buyers in the promotions sector are demanding recycled goods, the same is true with awards and trophies. Despite the economic downturn, Stratford upon Avon-based Special EFX is enjoying strong worldwide demand for its stunning sculptural awards made from recycled Wellington boots, plastic bags, bottles and cups, redundant gas and water pipes, discarded electronic circuit boards and even old toothbrushes.

"It is incumbent upon us all to reduce our impact upon the world and to recycle as much as we can," says Melanie. "By pioneering and promoting the development of ethical recycled awards, we feel we are making our own small contribution to reducing waste."

Designing for Designers … well architects actually!

EFX has produced some stunning awards for the inaugural World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, Spain, held in October (see pic). Awards that would be subject to scrutiny by one of Special EFX's most critical audiences to date – the designers of the world's most innovative modern buildings.
Special EFX Ltd

Architects are obviously very keen on awards as Purple Zebra has just supplied an award for an architect, which was commissioned via a distributor.

Paul Bonning of Purple Zebra Products told us, "The architects wanted to celebrate one of their most prestigious projects, which was The Millennium Bridge in Gateshead, so they commissioned a special piece of glass with the bridge laser engraved into the centre and then surface engraved underneath and in-filled with their corporate colour. Lastly we glued a £1 coin on top, which has the image of the bridge on the reverse of the coin. The result was a stunning award / paperweight!"

Paul also reports that, " … Purple Zebra (don't you just love that name!) are seeing an uplift in sales, as organisations are seeking to motivate and reward their staff during the tough economic climate and can't necessarily afford a pay rise, so recognition awards are perfect for this."
Purple Zebra

A Changing Market
As with a lot of product areas in the promotional sector, there is a definite swing away from 'off-the-shelf' solutions for trophies and awards and, despite the fact that the definition of bespoke has changed; there is still a move for quality products.

Kevin Ross, Director of Solo says, "With 20 years experience we have seen many changes in the market. A decade ago there was a definite move away from expensive, high cost, long turn-around time, proper bespoke trophies and awards in favour of more 'off-the-shelf' solutions.

"Recently we have found a real hunger for something a bit more special and different and we are once again being approached for bespoke solutions. We recently designed and manufactured an award for Codemasters (the computer game company), which was presented to their game designers.

The award was made from solid acrylic, the main body was clear with a thin strip of blue acrylic at the back.

Kevin went on to say,
"… the black base meant that the award appeared translucent with the colour gradients changing from deep blue at the base to almost clear at the top. The unusual shape and laser engraved detail made this a very successful award, which was extremely well received by the recipients."

Over and above the tailored option, Solo also offers a range of 'off-the-shelf' awards that are ready to engrave.
Solo

Shooting Stars
It's not just businesses that use trophies and awards, sporting events are always graced with suitable mementoes of the prowess of the winners.

Coventry Silvercraft has produced this attractive award which features a 10" long 3D modelled shotgun in a choice of finishes – antique silver (as shown), antique gold and antique copper. Mounted on a double wooden base and fitted with suitable engraving plates (small shields to form a perpetual trophy or with one engraved plate to reward a high achiever).

Marie Oakley, MD of Coventry Silvercraft (which supplies bespoke and stock awards and trophies as well as a range of business gifts), has supplied this month's Top 10 Tips on specifying Awards and Trophies. She too reports that business is busy across the board. She puts this down to being a long established company with clients in a wide range of business fields. I can't help thinking its also to do with the company's excellent customer service!
Coventry Silvercraft

Industry Awards
In an industry that's focused on incentive, reward and motivation it's good to know that awards abound.

As I write this I am just about to set off to the BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) Christmas lunch (Wednesday 17th December), where I and my colleagues from Promo e-News will find out who has been judged to be the Entrepreneur of the Industry and receive that award. You'll find details and pics on our blog shortly after the event.

The remaining BPMA Awards will be made at the Trade Only dinner in Coventry in January.

Earlier this month I attended the ISP (Institute of Sales Promotion) Christmas lunch where the Integrated Marketing Communications Council European Awards were presented. The only way for UK companies to enter the IMC European Awards is to win an ISP award.

The Communications Agency's 'Give a Few Bob' campaign for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation won a total of six awards – including the Grand Prix. The Communications Agency's chairman Robert Prevezer and Bob Monkhouse's daughter, Abigail Williams, collected the Grand Prix and five other IMC European Awards for the campaign at the lunch.

The 'Give a Few Bob' campaign saw the late comedian Bob Monkhouse 'resurrected' for an appeal to raise funds to fight the disease that killed him in 2003. After collecting the awards, Prevezer dedicated the Grand Prix to the memory of Jackie Monkhouse, who had approved the campaign but who sadly died in March this year.

The IMC European Award UK winners included:

Digital communication
Bronze to Meteorite for Argos 'Giant Jar'
Silver to The Communications Agency for 'Give a few Bob'

Event marketing
Bronze to Steam for John Smith's People's Race

Cause or Charity/Non-profit Marketing
Silver to The Communications Agency for 'Give a few Bob'

Brand-building
Silver to Chemistry for 'Oyster iTunes'

Innovative Idea or Concept
Silver to Steam for John Smith's People's Race
Silver to Bray Leino for Intel and
Ikea Duvet Days Experiential campaign
Gold to The Communications Agency for 'Give a few Bob'

Sponsorship/Joint Effort/Tie-in
Silver to Steam for John Smith's People's Race

Direct 1:1 Communication
Silver to The Communications Agency for 'Give a few Bob'

Integrated communications
Gold to The Communications Agency for 'Give a few Bob'

Grand Prix
The Communications Agency

For details of all the European winners, visit www.imceuropeanawards.com

Carole Bull
Editor

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