November 21/28, 2016: Volume 31, Number 12
Hicksville, N.Y.—Time is quickly running out for manufacturers to enter the 2017 Best of Surfaces competition. The deadline is Dec. 30, and there is no cost to enter.
Now in its third year, the competition, cosponsored by Floor Covering News and Informa, owners and operators of The International Surface Event, has quickly become a benchmark for product and program excellence.
The 2017 International Surface Event, which includes Surfaces, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and TileExpo, is the floor covering industry’s premier trade show. It is slated for Jan. 18-20 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The Best of Surfaces awards are designed to recognize those companies whose product, program, service, business practice or booth design are considered to be best in class. What separates Best of Surfaces from other awards programs is categories are not segmented by product type; rather, they focus on attribute. As such, the Best of Surfaces awards will cite products and programs in the following categories:
- Innovation
- Sustainability
- Style & Design
- Technology
In addition, there will be two awards for exhibit space:
- Booth Design (under 1,200 square feet)
- Booth Design (over 1,200 square feet)
The products do not necessarily have to be new. However, they must have been introduced to the market within the past year. Of course, products making their debut at Surfaces 2017 are also eligible.
Contest rules are simple. Manufacturers and suppliers can nominate one product, program, service, business practice or booth per category by Dec. 30. A company may not have multiple entries in one category. As well, a particular product may not be nominated in multiple categories. There is no fee for submitting a nomination.
Between now and Dec. 30, FCNews will be forming the panel of judges who will be evaluating each entry on the criteria that has been established for each respective category. That arduous task will begin the following week and continue until the start of Surfaces. The judges will then have the opportunity to view their finalists on-site at Surfaces, where they will also have the chance to ask manufacturers any questions they may have regarding the product, program or practice. The judges will obviously be evaluating all best booth design nominations on the first day of the show.
Winners will be announced on day two at Surfaces and be provided with the appropriate designation to display in their space for all to see during the second and third days of the show.
“This program truly exemplifies a ‘Best of Surfaces,’ said Steven Feldman, publisher and editorial director of FCNews. “First, as illustrated by some of the winners in the contest’s first five years, a smaller company has as much a chance of winning as a larger company. Second, there is no nomination fee as a barrier to entry. Third, winners are determined by an impartial panel of judges. Fourth, the judges will have ample time to review all nominees.”
Feldman added that this partnership with Surfaces parallels the magazine’s goal to add value to the industry. “A good example of this is FCNews’ sponsorship of Surfaces’ free Educational Conference in 2017 for the seventh consecutive year. This is the most comprehensive offering of its type in the industry. And educating retailers is one of our core values. While we continue to co-sponsor the flooring component of the conference, the Best of Surfaces competition is a value-add for exhibitors. These companies spend extensive resources developing products and programs that provide solutions for retailers. This is a way for them to receive some well-deserved recognition, which hopefully will provide some market momentum.”
Best of Surfaces award winners will receive:
- Recognition on the Surfaces and FCNews websites for a period of six months (February through July)
- A customized logo for placement on all advertising, recognizing the company as a Best of Surfaces 2017 award winner
- An exquisite, custom-engraved award presented at the booth by members of show management and FCNews staff
* Booth signage acknowledging the company was voted Best of Surfaces in the particular category
- A press release announcing the winners
For more information or to enter the Best of Surfaces competition, call 972.536.6449 or email michelle.swayze@informa.com.