As part of its ongoing commitment to raising industry standards the DMA has launched the DMA Excellence 2004 awards to honour best practice. Until now, despite the various awards ceremonies that recognise excellence in marketing communications, best practice within the dm industry has gone largely un-rewarded. The awards have been divided into three categories: people development, customer service and innovation. The winner of each category will receive a specially commissioned glass trophy, and the overall winner will take home the Premier award.
Rita Courtney, Best Practice Manager at the DMA, commented, "The aim of these awards is to encourage the spread of best practice across the industry and alert the wider business community to the high standards expected and achieved by direct marketers. Our intention is that a DMA Excellence award will become a symbol of best practice, attracting more skilled practitioners into the industry and thereby maintaining the UK's position as a world leader in direct marketing."
Direct marketing agency Presky Maves have this year designed the specially commissioned trophy for the DMA Excellence 2004 awards as well as the eye-catching creative which uses the line, 'Your chance to shine' to reflect the importance of winning a DMA Excellence award. The Awards have been sponsored by Pharos International, 2Touch and Kellysearch and supported by Fit for the Future, the national best practice campaign led by the CBI and supported by the DTI.
The Call For Entries for the DMA Excellence 2004 awards has now been issued and the closing date for entries is 5pm on 27 February 2004. The awards presentation ball will take place on 29 April 2004 at the Raddison Hotel, Portman Square, London and tickets are available from 15 March 2004.
For further information about the Awards please visit www.dma.org.uk/excellence or contact:
Liz Bastone
DMA PR Manager
Tel: 020 7291 3315
Email: liz@dma.org.uk
For information about how to enter the awards please contact:
Rita Courtney
Best Practice Manager
Tel: 020 7291 3314
Email: excellence@dma.org.uk
About the Direct Marketing Association (UK) Ltd (DMA)
The DMA UK is the largest trade association in the marketing communications sector, with almost 900 corporate members. The DMA's mission is to maximise value for members, whilst maintaining and enhancing consumer trust and confidence in the direct marketing industry.
To assist, the DMA administers a portfolio of Preference Services that allow consumers to register their contact details, free of charge, should they choose to reduce the amount of direct marketing approaches they receive via mail, telephone, fax and email.
DMA members benefit from added protection, intelligence and growth, which together we call the Power of Association. Within these three areas, DMA member services include government lobbying, free legal advice, training & development, representation on DMA Councils, networking opportunities, regular updates of current dm issues/legislation, research, use of the DMA logo, promotion of member companies and discounts on a range of dm products/services.
Over £11.85 billion was spent on direct marketing activity in 2002, resulting in over £60 billion worth of sales. This makes direct marketing one of the top ten industries in the UK. For further information please visit www.dma.org.uk. For details on the benefits of becoming a DMA member please call 020 7291 3388 to speak to the membership team, email membership@dma.org.uk, or visit www.dmamembership.org.uk
