The Product Awards are now open 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 has 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

  • 2nd September: Open for entry.
  • 20th September: BPMA member early bird entry rate closes at 17:00. (EXTENDED)
  • 9th October: Entries close at 17:00.
  • 22nd October: Shortlist announced.
  • 28th October: Branded sample submission deadline for shortlisted entries.
  • 6th December: Winners will be announced at this year’s Product Awards 2024 LIVE taking place at One Moorgate Place, London. Click here for more information and to book! Discounted tickets are available for all Suppliers who enter the Product Awards!

Categories

Suppliers can enter the following 9 categories.

For detailed category information criteria, please click here. Entries can be edited after submission, but before the final deadline (17:00 9th October) and must be re-submitted before the deadline to be counted. Any entry submitted will be vetted prior to the first round of judging.

  • Apparel Product of the Year (sponsored by Jack Nadel International)
  • Award & Exhibition Product of the Year (sponsored by The Big Promotional Trade Show)
  • Bag & Folder Product of the Year (sponsored by Wild Thang)
  • Drinkware Product of the Year (sponsored by Allwag Promotions)
  • Food & Drink Product of the Year
  • Health, Travel & Leisure Product of the Year
  • Stationery Product of the Year
  • Technology Product of the Year (sponsored by Pro-ad)
  • Writing Instrument Product of the Year (sponsored by PAGE Partnership)

This year, all entrants will automatically be entered into an additional three categories free of charge as well as the coveted Grand Prix Award.

  • Sustainable Product of the Year (sponsored by Merchexpress Ltd)
  • Innovative Product of the Year (sponsored by My Advantage)
  • UK Made Product of the Year (sponsored by Total Merchandise)

Grand Prix

An overall winner will be awarded from all winning entries across the 9 categories, on an points basis. The Grand Prix Award will be revealed at the BPMA Awards in January 2025.

Shortlist

The shortlist will be announced on 22nd October and any entrant shortlisted will be required to provide a branded sample of product to be delivered to the BPMA offices by 28th 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 to the BPMA’s office by 28th October 2024 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 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 13th September 2024. Please note to claim this rate, the entry must be submitted by 17:00 on 13.09.24.

Non-members

  •  All non-member entries are charged at £160+VAT.

Entry fees are payable no later than 30th October 2024 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.

Who can enter?

Entries are open to all BPMA member Suppliers and ‘Qualifying Supplier’ non-members. ‘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 open for BPMA members only with entry from 2nd September. For more information about these categories, please click here.

Criteria for entry

The criteria for entry remains broadly the same as in previous years, asking the questions you’d expect about product USP, origin and pricing. Sustainable product credential disclosure allows our judges to assess your product’s impact on the planet.
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.

How to enter

All Suppliers wishing to enter these awards must register via our awards website. Registration is now open. Please note, if you registered for last year’s awards, your login details remain the same and there is no need to re-register. To register or log in, click here. Entries are now open and close promptly at 17:00 9th October 2024.

Guidance

We provide support for entrants in our Entry Guide. 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.

Entry Guide: you can download your PDF entry guide here.

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 our T&C’s here.

Questions? Need more help?

Contact us today via awards@bpma.co.uk or call us on 01372 371183