November 27-December 11, 2017: Volume 32, Issue 13
Hicksville, N.Y.—Time is quickly running out for manufacturers to enter the 2018 Best of Surfaces competition. The deadline is Dec. 29, and there is no cost to enter.
Now in its seventh 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 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 two awards for exhibit space: Booth Design under 1,200 square feet and Booth Design over 1,200 square feet. This allows exhibitors to compete on equal playing fields.
Contest rules are simple: Manufacturers and suppliers can nominate one product, program, service, business practice or booth per category by Dec. 29. Note: 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.
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
Seeking panel judges
In six short years, the Best of Surfaces awards have become the benchmark of product and program success at The International Surface Event, the floor covering industry’s most important trade show. As such, FCNews is once again seeking a panel of retailers to judge the competition. If you are a flooring dealer—past or present—who has an understanding of what constitutes excellence in the Best of Surfaces’ four categories—style and design, innovation, technology and sustainability—we want to hear from you. (There are also two awards for best booths.)
Some criteria: First, you have to attend Surfaces. Second, you must be willing to evaluate some of the submissions in the weeks leading up to the show. Third, you must be willing to share your thoughts with other members of the panel. After we decide the category for which you will be judging, you and your peers will be given some criteria on what to look for. You will then receive information on each of the entries. In some cases, it will be a description of the entry. The respective panels will then come up with their five finalists, which they will view on site on day one at Surfaces. By the end of the show’s first day, they will have informed FCNews of their choice.
Those individuals interested in judging Best of Surfaces can contact FCNews publisher Steven Feldman at steve@fcnews.net. For more information or to enter the Best of Surfaces competition, call 972.536.6449 or email michelle.swayze@informa.com.