This month we take a look at two international projects, Google and the British Chamber of Commerce in China, which illustrate how rewarding achievement and endeavour successfully crosses cultures and geographic boundaries.  We also come much closer to home, Coventry in fact, for an exemplary lesson from Tubs & Tiles in how to turn winning into an entire marketing campaign.  Whether you are a global brand or a local, small business, it’s plain to see that winning awards really counts!

A big thank-you to all our customers in 2009 and please do come back in 2010 for more winning designs!

Top ranking by Google

Google's 2009 internal sales conference was held in Killarney, Ireland in October with 2300 staff attending from across Europe, Africa & Middle East.  Outstanding Googlers within the organisation were nominated by their colleagues for various awards, and the ultimate winners given a rousing reception and presented with these unique Google trophies, which were designed and made by Special EFX. 

Vish Patel in Google Events was particularly impressed with the speed with which EFX turned around the order.  When asked how he came to choose EFX, the answer, not surprisingly, was: "I Google'd them!"

As easy as LABC !

The LABC (Local Authority Building Control) holds prestigious, regional and national awards each year to recognise building quality and standards including Best Educational Building, Best Sustainable Project and Best Social/Affordable Housing Project. This year White Square Events has co-ordinated the various awards ceremonies for the LABC, and commissioned Special EFX to design and manufacture 212 personalised awards, which are called off when required. 

Dave Chard of White Square Events visited EFX and was particularly impressed that the company not only provides a creative in-house design service but that all the awards are also manufactured at their works near Stratford-upon-Avon.  He also remarked that: “Everyone at EFX works together with a great team spirit and clearly enjoys the quality of the awards they produce”.  This team spirit and having everything so conveniently located proved useful when some of the winners’ names arrived late and the awards had to be turned around in record-breaking time.

The LABC wanted a unique award, which was strongly branded and would link the regional and national ceremonies.  The Special EFX design studio took the LABC logo and turned it into a bold profile in polished and brushed nickel on a black acrylic base, and provided two sizes: regional and national.

The awards are a big success and Dave has appreciated the dedicated service he has received from the team at EFX, Shelley in particular, who made sure nobody was let down: “A big thanks to Shelley for sticking with me – we got there in the end!”

www.labcawards.org

Made in the UK...in China

For the second year running, the British Chamber of Commerce in China (BCC) turned to Special EFX to make its iconic, Saatchi designed, British Business Awards.

Presented at a high profile dinner held in Beijing on November 4th, attended by the British Ambassador to China, Sir William Ehrman KCMG, along with Dr. Sun Yongfu, Deputy Director, European Department at the Ministry of Commerce, Ms Deng Yaping, multiple Olympic gold medal winner in table tennis, and Lord Wedgwood, these annual awards are more than a recognition of outstanding endeavours, they also play an important role in helping to promote long term, commercial links with the largest trading nation in the world.

Sponsored by global players such as BP, Standard Chartered Bank and government departments and affiliates such as British Council and UK Trade and Investment, and with the award winners this year including a number of blue-chip names such as HSBC, BBC World Service and Benoy, the stakes were a little higher than usual for EFX!

Duncan Clark of BDA China, Chairman of the Awards and also Vice Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, was very appreciative of the gleaming awards: “Thanks so much for your excellent workmanship - a rare but suitably prestigious example of Made in UK in China.”

Made from nickel plated solid aluminium, each award came in a silk-lined presentation box, and was supplied with white cotton gloves in order to avoid any marking, before the presentation ceremony, of the perfectly polished finish.

www.britishbusinessawards.cn

Have a Heart !

Special EFX and broadcasters Heart North West and Wales proved it it is certainly worth commissioning designer awards if you want to add a show-stopping element to your event. 

EFX designed and made ten awards for Heart 103's Heart Awards 2009 ceremony, featuring the distinctive bold red heart of the radio station’s logo; the aluminium hearts were mounted on solid wood, white bases, which were engraved with the winner's details.  Around 16 cms tall, 18 cms wide and substantial to hold, the heart awards were a dazzling success under the spotlights of the event, which was held at the Galeri in Caernarfon on September 22nd 2009 . 

Rebecca Waterfield, Programmes Organiser for Heart North West and Wales, was delighted with the awards: "We had great feedback from the overall sponsors and singer Mica Paris on the night saying the awards were just amazing ".

Winner takes all !

When Tubs & Tiles of Coventry won the Customer Service Award for Bathrooms in the KBB Review Industry Awards 2009, they were delighted, especially as it was awarded on the basis of a mystery shopper visit, rather than a case of nominating themselves.  Hot on customer service, Tubs & Tiles is also clued up when it comes to promoting its business, maximising the marketing potential from winning the award. 

The curvaceous, polished aluminium trophy, made by Special EFX, now takes of pride of place in the Tubs and Tiles showroom, housed in a display cabinet on a rotating turntable for all to see: customers, staff and suppliers alike.  The company’s good fortune was reported in the local papers and trade press (and now this newsletter), and the award is prominently featured in the company’s current adverts, on its website and as part of the company’s signature on all company Emails.

The benefits of winning the award are really tangible, according to Ashley Heath, Director of Tubs and Tiles: “We know new customers have visited the showroom for the first time, because they have seen we have won the award: it’s definitely raised our profile in a very positive way.”

Interestingly, the company has also been approached by a number of new suppliers since winning the award, keen to have their products sold in a bathroom showroom which is superbly laid out, where the staff are highly competent and provide an impressive service.

Not to be outdone, Ashley’s neighbour and friend Mike Toth, who is Manager of the Morrison’s supermarket, Holyhead Road branch in Coventry, was presented in June, by leading trade magazine The Grocer, with Store Manager of the Year award.  And, you guessed, EFX also designed and made The Grocer Gold Awards!  Like Ashley, Mike is hugely proud of his “big, golden G”, which sits on a shelf in his office: “It really means a lot to me and to Morrisons – especially as it was the first time the award was presented.”

www.tubsandtiles.net

Staying on the right side
of the law

This is the second year that Special EFX has been asked to make the LawNet awards.  Chosen from the Special EFX standard range the awards are made in striking blue acrylic, emblazoned with the LawNet logo and individually engraved.  This year’s winners were announced at the LawNet annual conference in October with East Midlands firm Actons scooping Law Firm of the Year 2009.

LawNet is a non-competing national network of independent, mid-market law firms and the awards are highly regarded by its members.  Helen Taylor, head of marketing and communications at LawNet sent her special thanks to the team at Special EFX commenting: “Excellent service as always! The awards looked fantastic and I received many comments on the night about how great they looked.  They are the perfect representation of the winners’ success.” 

Peter Seymour, chairman of Actons was obviously delighted with receiving his company’s award: “It’s great to have such a prestigious recognition of the ideas and hard work put in by everyone in the firm.”

It’s always advisable to stay on the right side of the law!

www.lawnet.co.uk

Getting in Touch with Us...

Web www.awardefx.co.uk
Email award@efx.co.uk
Phone +44 (0)1789 450005 - Dial 2 for Sales
Fax +44 (0)1789 450916

Special EFX Ltd, Ettington Park, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom, CV37 8BT

Let Special EFX make your next award or gift collection as notable and special as those
it has produced for its ever-growing base of satisfied clients worldwide.

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