OHMSA takes Loeries outdoor

The outdoor association entered into negotiations with the MFSA with a view to amalgamating the OHMSA Creative Awards with the Loerie Festival and has agreed to sponsor the Out of Home Loerie Award to the extent of R50 000 in addition to the prizes which the overall winner would have been entitled to had they won the OHMSA Creative Awards.

"I am absolutely thrilled by this innovative move as it is logical that the Marketing Federation of South Africa's Loerie Festival and Out of Home Media South Africa should unite forces. It simply did not make sense that each of them should be going their own way as there is too much synergy between the two bodies for them to go it alone," says Davy Ivins, General Manager of the MFSA.

"The Outdoor industry had not involved itself with the Loeries for a number of years due to dissatisfaction with various aspects surrounding the outdoor category. These differences have, however, been resolved to our mutual satisfaction," says Les Holley, Executive Director of OHMSA.

OHMSA had earlier launched its own creative awards competition which was well supported by the industry and would have been judged in June of this year. The prizes for the OHMSA Creative Awards are: a trip for two for the winning creative team to the OBIE Awards hosted by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America; media space and production to the value of R250 000 for the winning client.

The American Association brought forward the entry dates as well as the event date for the 2005 OBIE ceremony, which meant that entrants into the OHMSA Awards would have their trips deferred to the 2006 function in America in any event.

OHMSA has further agreed to enter all entries received for the OHMSA Creative Awards into the Out of Home Loerie Awards at no additional cost to the entrants.

If you have not yet entered the Loeries log on to www.loerie.org.za now to ensure that you stand a chance to win these magnificent prizes.