Print Week Awards 2011

2010 Winner

Geoff Neal Litho

Commended
Dialogue Solutions
The Lettershop Group

Finalists
Howitt
Real Digital International

While all too often any form of direct mail is slurred with the label of 'junk mail', this award is designed to prove that far from being 'junk' an innovative and thoughtful piece of direct mail can prove the true marketing potential of print. Time and time again, the ROI of intelligent direct mail has beaten its digital rivals when they have gone toe-to-toe, so here we're looking for the finest examples the sector has to offer.

While print is clearly the focus, the full range of finishing techniques will also be judged in this category, including folding, perforating, personalisation, die-cutting and pop-ups. Judges will be looking for consistent quality of print and finishing as well as repro (if applicable). DM pieces printed sheetfed or web offset, and digital, may be entered and judges will take into account the production implications of each technology. Here the judges are looking at the quality of the work produced. All entries need to include a single copy example of four different direct mail pieces (so each entry will consist of an entry form, four different DM samples and a 250-word production summary for each sample), printed since 1 July 2010, in order to demonstrate consistent production excellence. If any part of the job was produced by a different company – for example the repro or a special finish – remember to credit the company that undertook it.

1 Entries must be commercial production runs and must have been printed or produced since 1 July 2010.

2 Please submit your 250-word summary for each of the four samples submitted on a separate sheet of paper. Please do not supply on letterheaded paper. Note: Entries without this summary may be marked down accordingly.

3 Any entry that does not comply with category criteria may be disqualified. Please supply only the number of samples requested.

4 You may enter as many different categories as you wish, however, you may only enter the same category once. 

5 All material should be clearly labelled. If you enter the same jobs in more than one category, we will need a full set of examples and supporting material for each category entered. 

6 The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

7 Confidentiality: all material will remain confidential to the judges, but winning case studies may be written up and published in PrintWeek based on the material provided. If the work entered is under embargo, the embargo must expire before 17 October 2011 (unless special dispensation is agreed prior to entry – contact event manager Kate Collins for more information - 020 8267 8188/kate.collins@haymarket.com). 

8 All entrants must be registered companies in the UK and all work entered must have been produced in the UK.

9 The entrant must have been consistently trading solvently since 1 July 2009.

Please note

Whilst every care is taken with entries, PrintWeek and Haymarket Media Group cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage, whatever the cause. Please pack your entries carefully so they arrive in good condition.

Entries will not be returned. They will be held until 4 November 2011 for you to arrange collection. Contact the Awards team on 020 8267 4312 to arrange. Please make sure you indicate on your entry form if you wish to collect your entries.

Remember to enter the best examples of each of the four different DM pieces; samples that are damaged or have imperfections will be marked down – this award focuses on production excellence after all.

Use your 250-word production summary for each of the four DM samples not only to detail the equipment used to produce each stage of the job, but also to highlight any challenges you faced to produce it, for example tight turnaround times, working closely with external suppliers, difficult substrates or simply the demanding nature of the client. Also detail run lengths, time frames and any involvement you may have had with the development of the DM piece.

Client testimonials are always helpful.

Three copies of the completed entry form

• Four different pieces of direct mail
• Three copies of each of your four 250-word summaries