News

Take your chance to be a CEDIA Award winner - deadline for entries looms (25/2/2008)

There's not much time left for CEDIA Electronic Systems Professionals (ESP) to get their entries in for the CEDIA 2008 Awards before the 20th March deadline.

The CEDIA Awards, taking place on Friday 9th May at Vinopolis in London, are an opportunity to dazzle fellow CI industry colleagues with the best and most creative residential custom installations.

Open to all members, the CEDIA Awards are a celebration of the custom installation industry. This year they are separate to the CEDIA Expo for the first time, which will provide members with an even more fitting platform on which to showcase their expertise and achievements. Vinopolis is an exciting venue - it's highly individual, unique and inspiring, everything a winning custom installation should be!

The CEDIA Awards were set up in 2006 to recognise and reward high quality system design, installation and integration within the home electronics industry. Now in their third successful year, they continue to set the standard for CEDIA ESP members across Region 1.

The CEDIA Awards are a fantastic showcase for the talents and imagination of CEDIA ESP members; with significant publicity spin-offs for those who are successful. They are unrivalled for their ability to generate media exposure and as such are a highly effective vehicle for raising the profile of members and their expertise. Participation in the Awards scheme allows members to directly benefit from the resultant coverage and gain a unique competitive edge and many brand-building advantages. As a result of their success in the Awards programme, winners have generated new business and enjoyed higher profiles for their company amongst their customers.

Doug Mackenzie from Hometech Integration, which won the accolade of 'Best Multi-Dwelling' in 2007, explains: "Our profile has been raised, especially with our suppliers and partner organisations, and customers impressed by our award win have been swayed to use Hometech. Being able to use the CEDIA award logo on all our marketing material, and the UK wide PR generated from the awards has reinforced our credentials and helped boost general brand awareness."

Seymour Forsyth from D&T Electronics comments: "Since winning the CEDIA Award for Best Integrated Home Under £100k, as well as being a finalist in the equivalent over £100k category, business has definitely increased. We use the award logo widely, in general correspondence by email, direct marketing items and our website. The award has certainly raised our profile within the industry, bringing in extra referrals from architects and other professionals, as well as attracting new end clients through the consumer press and via the CEDIA website. Holding the award has helped us win more business because it demonstrates that we can bring something extra to a project - setting us apart from the competition."

The 2008 categories of the Awards have been extended to provide greater opportunity to showcase the higher end of the market. Amongst the new additions are 'Best Marine', 'Best Integrated Home Between £100,000 - £250,000', 'Best Integrated Home over £250,000' and a 'Best Dressed Installation' to reward engineering expertise.

The full list of CEDIA Awards 2008 categories is as follows:

* Best home cinema installation project under £20K (35,000 Euros)
* Best home cinema installation from £20K-£100K (35,000-150,000 Euros)
* Best integrated home under £100K (150,000 Euros)
* Best integrated home from £100,000 - £250,000 (150,000 - 370,000 Euros)
* Best integrated home over £250,000 (370,000 Euros)
* Best multi-dwelling installation
* Best dressed installation
* Best special project
* Best marine
* Best trade supplier
* Best stand at Expo
* Best shell scheme stand at Expo

Award entry forms have been improved and are now even more user friendly. Versions are also available in French, making entering easier for all members across the whole of the region. Best Stand categories will continue to be judged at the CEDIA UK Expo in June with winners revealed at the Chairman's Reception.

The CEDIA Awards are open to all member companies. Tickets for the black tie event, which includes a sit down dinner and entertainment, are priced at £95 per person, or £850 for a table of ten.

www.cedia.co.uk/awards