Quality entries for 2007 Marketing Excellence Awards

The Brand Marketing Campaign Category has received the most number of entries, with a 15% increase in entries received when compared with last year. This category will provide a challenge for the judges, given the high quality and diversity of entries, which range from FMCG, services, media, financial services, telecommunications, hospitality to retail, among others, and right across the branding and marketing spectrum.

This year, the Marketing Excellence Council introduced improvements to attract more entries from smaller brands, businesses and companies. As a result, while large brands tend to dominate the entries list, there has been an increased number of entries from smaller companies and brands and specifically brands which operate in niche markets.

Dominated

However, the sponsorship and marketing company categories are still dominated by larger spenders. Despite this, competition will be fierce in the sponsorship category which has attracted more entries than 2007. The Marketing Excellence Council encourages all brands, large and small, to enter ensuring that the playing fields are leveled.

Judging for the awards commences at the end of September. Leading marketing industry practitioners and specialists will be participating in the judging process, the results of which are overseen by a leading auditing company and ratified by a committee of eminent persons established by the Marketing Excellence Council for the express purpose of ensuring the results are fairly adjudicated.

“Gratifying”

Dr Ivan May, chairperson of the Marketing Excellence Awards Council, says, "It is so gratifying to see excellence in branding and marketing. Plus the value attached to the branding and marketing process. Clearly this is taking branding and marketing process right into the heart of the boardroom where in actual fact a critical analysis will show any director or chief executive that those elements responsible for income generation are branding, marketing and sales in that order.”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 18 November 2007 at the new Victorian-styled 1100-seater Lyric theatre at Gold Reef City, south of Johannesburg, which is currently under construction.

The awards are sponsored by Absa and Vodacom and are endorsed by the JSE, Services Seta, Marketing Association and interim Chartered Marketer Council of South Africa.

For more information or to reserve tickets, go to www.marketingexcellenceawards.co.za or call Kirkpatrick & Associates on +27 (0)11 483 2970.