The Product Awards 2023-24
The Product Awards has now closed for suppliers in the promotional merchandise industry. Open to members of the BPMA and any Qualifying Supplier to the industry, here we set out the categories available, how to enter plus what's changed for this year. Including a downloadable entry guide and helpful advice, read on to find out why you should enter and what's involved.
Important Dates
- 1st September: open for entry
- 11th September: BPMA member early bird entry rate closes at 11:59
- 9th October: entries close at 12:00 (Extended date)
- 23rd October: shortlist announced
- 30th October: branded samples to be submitted for shortlisted entries
- December 2023: Winners will be announced! Look out for a special event announcement!
Who can enter?
Entries are open to all BPMA member Suppliers and 'Qualifying Suppliers'. 'Qualifying Suppliers' are those companies with registered status in the UK or another country, have been trading for more than 12 months, trade in the UK market and are classed as Trade Only or Multi-Channel. These Awards are not open to Distributors or Agencies.
In addition, the Marketing Campaigns of the Year categories are now open for BPMA members only with entry from 1st September. For more information about these categories, please click here.
Entry requirements for 2023-24
This year, all entrants are required to enter and submit a minimum of 1 x entry into a ‘Category A’ award category before access to a ‘Category B’ special award is granted. This is to ensure all products are entered into the most appropriate product category before entering a special category. The categories are set out below and will be familiar to those who have entered before.
The Product Awards are open to all promotional merchandise products on the market and with the exception of Category B criteria, do not need to be new to the market but must be able to evidence the date on the market. Please see the guidance notes and terms for more details of on the market dates.
Please note all entries are subject to Terms & Conditions plus an entry charge which is set out below.
Criteria for entry
The criterion for entry remains broadly the same as in previous years, asking the questions you’d expect about product USP, origin and pricing. This year, we have increased the requirement to disclose sustainable product credentials to allow our judges to assess your product’s impact on the planet. As a result, we have removed previous ‘sustainable only’ categories to ensure the winning product in its own category is able to stand out for its overall product credentials.
The special categories, Innovation of the Year and UK Made, have specific criteria linked to entry. Please note the Innovation of the Year category is for new to the market products only and UK Made requires UK made and finished criteria.
With a chance to provide relevant images, certificates and evidence of when your product went on the market, your entries will provide a detailed picture for our Judges of why your product stands out from the rest!
Our judging panel
The Product Awards are judged in three overall rounds by two judging panels. The first two rounds take place online and produce a shortlist. The final round takes place in person and determines the Platinum, Gold and Silver Awards and the coveted Grand Prix Award.
Help and Support
We provide support for entrants in help notes, webinars and one to one support. It’s important to note the BPMA cannot advise you on wording or content, submit your entries for you or tell you anything about your fellow entrants. Below we set out the guidance and help available to every entrant.
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Webinars: we hosted a ‘How to Enter’ webinar on 6th September and can be viewed here. Further support sessions will be released dependent on demand.
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Entry Guide: you can view and download your PDF entry guide here.
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Frequently asked questions: we have created an FAQs page to answer a range of frequently asked questions. You can find this information here.
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Contact us: if you’d like to ask a question, please contact us by email with your question here and a member of the team will respond.
Categories
Suppliers can enter the following categories (please see the category criteria for each category). There are 13 categories split across 11 ‘A’ Categories and 2 ‘B’ Categories to enter.
For detailed category information criteria, please click here. Please note you must enter and submit a Category 'A' entry before access will be granted to Category 'B'. Entries can be edited after submission if before the final deadline and must be re-submitted before the deadline to be counted. Any entry submitted will be vetted prior to the first round of judging.
Category A
- Apparel Product of the Year
- Award & Gifting Product of the Year
- Bag & Folder Product of the Year
- Drinkware Product of the Year
- Exhibition Product of the Year
- Food & Drink Product of the Year
- Health & Travel Product of the Year
- Stationery Product of the Year
- Technology Product of the Year
- Work & Play Product of the Year
- Writing Instrument Product of the Year
Category B
- Innovative Product of the Year
- UK Made Product of the Year
Grand Prix
An overall winner will be awarded from all winning entries across the 13 categories, awarded on an accumulator points basis. The Grand Prix Award will be revealed at the BPMA Awards in January 2024.
Shortlist
The Shortlist will be announced on 23rd October and any entrant shortlisted will be required to provide a branded sample of product to be delivered to the BPMA offices by 30th October.
Providing a branded sample
It is a condition of entry to be able to provide a branded sample of the product entered. If you are shortlisted, you will be required to submit a branded sample entered to the BPMA’s offices by 30th October 2023 for the final stage of judging. A branded sample is required to demonstrate the product as a promotional merchandise item. Any entrant unable to supply a branded sample for the final stage of judging may be disqualified.
Entry charges
All entries are subject to a charge unless specified. Only submitted entries will be accepted and charged.
BPMA member rates
- BPMA Members receive the first (1st) entry free of charge and all subsequent entries are charged at £60+VAT.
- BPMA members can claim an early bird rate of £30+VAT which will be charged to all entries submitted by 11.09.23. Please note to claim this rate, the entry must be submitted by 17:00 on 11.09.23.
Non-members
- All non-member entries are charged at £160+VAT.
Entry fees are payable no later than 30.10.2023 and will be billed on receipt and submission of entry. Any entry that remains unpaid after this date may be disqualified. Payment can be made via debit or credit card, or invoice and entrants can choose payment method at time of entry.
Terms and conditions
Like all Awards, we have terms and conditions which detail our requirements and conditions of entry, how the vetting and judging process works and providing key dates. Please see the terms here.
Opening and closing dates
To enter these awards, you must register our awards platform. If you have entered these Awards previously, you can use your previous login. This will be available from 1st September. Entries do not open until 1st September. Entries close promptly at 12:00 9th October 2023.
Questions? Need more help?
Contact us today via [email protected] or call us on 01372 371183
