Annual Report Awards

There are two annual report awards categories in The 2013 American Business Awards, the premier business awards competition in the U.S.A., to help you highlight your organization's successes. (Friday, November 16, is the first early-bird entry deadline for the 2013 ABAs, request your entry kit here and you'll receive it right away.) These categories recognize excellence in corporate literature issued since January 1, 2012.

Our annual report award categories include:

• Best Annual Report: Online/Electronic
• Best Annual Report: Print

Our other corporate literature awards include:

• Best Marketing or Sales Brochure or Kit
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print
• Best House Organ/Publication
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print

Submission requirements for annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications include:

• An essay of up to 125 words describing the work's purpose and results to date.
• If applicable, the electronic publication, in the form of an attachment or a URL (via our attachment/link uploading tool).
• Optional:  You may list creative and production credits for your work - a list of the people and organizations that contributed to its development.

2012 Gold publication awards winners include Cargill, Incorporated, Minneapolis, MN, DaVita, El Segundo, CA, EffectiveUI, Denver, CO, IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME, Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee, WI, and Quality Systems, Inc., Irvine, CA.

Want to submit your publication offline for review? If you wish to submit your publication offline for review by the judges, you must first submit your entry online. Then print out a copy of your entry and mail it with one (1) copy of the publication or series of publications to: The Stevie Awards, 10560 Main Street, Suite 215, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The Stevie® Awards have added five new corporate literature awards categories in The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition. (All organizations and individuals worldwide may submit nominations to the IBAs. The extended entry deadline is 18 July; request your entry kit here.) These categories recognize excellence in corporate literature issued since January 1, 2011.

Our newly added business award categories include:

• Company History
     a. Up to 50 Years
     b. More Than 50 Years
• Other
     a. Company
     b. Government
     c. Association or Non-Profit

Our annual report award categories include:

• Best Annual Report: Online/Electronic
• Best Annual Report: Print

Our other corporate literature awards include:

• Best Marketing or Sales Brochure or Kit
     a. Online/Electronic
     b. Print
• Best House Organ/Publication
    a. Online/Electronic
    b. Print

Submission requirements for annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications include:

• An essay of up to 100 words describing the work's purpose and results to date.
• If applicable, the electronic publication, in the form of an attachment or a URL (via our attachment/link uploading tool).
• Optional:  You may list creative and production credits for your work - a list of the people and organizations that contributed to its development.

If you wish to submit your publication offline for review by the judges, you must first submit your entry online. Then print out a copy of your entry and mail it with one (1) copy of the publication or series of publications to: The Stevie Awards, 10560 Main Street, Suite 215, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 2011 honorees included Daimler AG, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Ludwig van Beethoven Association, State Street Corporation, and TDIC Company, among others. 2012 honorees will be celebrated at the 9th annual awards banquet on Monday, 15 October in Seoul, South Korea.

Not sure which category is right for your organization? Email us at help@stevieawards.com and we'll direct you to the appropriate categories.

The final entry deadline for The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition is 27 June. (All individuals and organizations worldwide may submit nominations to the IBAs. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit today.)

Here we highlight four annual report awards tips to help you showcase your organization's excellence.

1. Review the business awards categories.
There are several awards categories honoring annual reports and other corporate literature at the 2012 IBAs:

Our annual report award categories include:

• Best Annual Report: Online/Electronic
• Best Annual Report: Print

Our other corporate literature awards include:

• Best Marketing or Sales Brochure or Kit
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print
• Best House Organ/Publication
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print

2. Review the entry submission criteria.
Submission requirements for annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications include:

• An essay of up to 100 words describing the work's purpose and results to date.
• If applicable, the electronic publication, in the form of an attachment or a URL (via our attachment/link uploading tool).
• Optional:  You may list creative and production credits for your work - a list of the people and organizations that contributed to its development.

If you wish to submit your publication offline for review by the judges, you must first submit your entry online. Then print out a copy of your entry and mail it with one (1) copy of the publication or series of publications to: The Stevie Awards, 10560 Main Street, Suite 215, Fairfax, VA 22030.

3. Review past winners' entries.
The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 2011 honorees included Daimler AG, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Ludwig van Beethoven Association, State Street Corporation, and TDIC Company, among others.

4. Contact us.
If you have any questions about the 2012 IBAs, email us at help@stevieawards.com or call us at + 1 703-547-8389.

Winners of the competition will be celebrated at the ninth annual awards banquet on Monday, 15 October at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.

Leave us a comment and let us know how our corporate awards categories will help you to highlight your organization's successes.

There are two annual report awards categories in The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, to help you showcase your organization's successes. (All organizations and individuals worldwide may submit nominations to the IBAs. The entry deadline is 16 May; request your entry kit here.) These categories recognize excellence in corporate literature issued since January 1, 2011.

Our annual report award categories include:

• Best Annual Report: Online/Electronic
• Best Annual Report: Print

Our other corporate literature awards include:

• Best Marketing or Sales Brochure or Kit
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print
• Best House Organ/Publication
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print

Submission requirements for annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications include:

• An essay of up to 100 words describing the work's purpose and results to date.
• If applicable, the electronic publication, in the form of an attachment or a URL (via our attachment/link uploading tool).
• Optional:  You may list creative and production credits for your work - a list of the people and organizations that contributed to its development.

If you wish to submit your publication offline for review by the judges, you must first submit your entry online. Then print out a copy of your entry and mail it with one (1) copy of the publication or series of publications to: The Stevie Awards, 10560 Main Street, Suite 215, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 2011 honorees included Daimler AG, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Ludwig van Beethoven Association, State Street Corporation, and TDIC Company, among others. 2012 honorees will be celebrated at the 9th annual awards banquet on Monday, 15 October in Seoul, South Korea.

Not sure which category is right for your organization? Email us at help@stevieawards.com and we'll direct you to the appropriate categories.

As the final entry deadline for The 2012 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., approaches on Wednesday, April 25, we want to highlight our annual report awards  categories. (If you haven't already received an entry kit, you can download your entry kit here.) These categories recognize excellence in corporate literature issued since January 1, 2011.

Our annual report award categories include:

• Best Annual Report: Online/Electronic
• Best Annual Report: Print

For inspiration, please read our 2011 ABA winning entries:

• Best Annual Report - Online/Electronic
  IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME: IDEXX Laboratories 2010 Annual Review
• Best Annual Report - Print
  Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Walnut Creek, CA: Heffernan Insurance Brokers 2010 Annual Report

Our other corporate literature awards include:

• Best Marketing or Sales Brochure or Kit
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print
• Best House Organ/Publication
              a. Online/Electronic
              b. Print

Submission requirements for annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications include:

• An essay of up to 100 words describing the work's purpose and results to date.
• If applicable, the electronic publication, in the form of an attachment or a URL (via our attachment/link uploading tool).
• Optional:  You may list creative and production credits for your work - a list of the people and organizations that contributed to its development.

If you wish to submit your publication offline for review by the judges, you must first submit your entry online. Then print out a copy of your entry and mail it with one (1) copy of the publication or series of publications to: The Stevie Awards, 10560 Main Street, Suite 215, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Let us know how we can help you submit your entries. Email us at help@stevieawards.com.

IDEXX Laboratories of Westbrook, Maine, USA won a Stevie® Award in the corporate literature and annual report awards categories of The 2011 American Business Awards for Best Annual Report - Online/Electronic. (The 2012 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., are now accepting entries. Download your entry kit here and submit entries by the March 28 deadline.)

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is the global market leader in diagnostics and information technology solutions for animal health and water and milk quality. Wanting to showcase annual successes in an engaging way, the business awards winner decided to create an online report. Throughout the annual report, IDEXX successfully conveys how the company:

• Achieved and sustained market leadership,
• Exceeded customer expectations,
• Empowered and rewarded customers,
• Innovated with intelligence,
• Cultivated entrepreneurial spirit and,
• Contributed to communities.

Distributed in 2011, the annual report award winning piece highlights the company's personal, financial, and technological successes to both customers and investors through their interactive, easy-to-read communications awards winning online annual report.

See the corporate awards winning submission here.

About IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is the global market leader in diagnostics and information technology solutions for animal health and water and milk quality. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX employs over 4,700 people in more than 60 locations around the world. IDEXX's largest business helps more than 50,000 veterinary practices worldwide advance medical care, improve staff productivity, and increase practice profitability. IDEXX accomplishes their goals through the use of portfolio of pet-side diagnostic tests, point-of-care instruments, reference laboratory services, digital radiography, and practice management solutions. Additionally, IDEXX is the world leader in microbiology testing technologies that ensure safe water, and is also the top provider of diagnostic tests and health-monitoring systems for milk safety and production for animal health.

Looking to apply to one of The American Business Awards Annual Report Awards? (Request your entry kit for the 2012 ABAs and it will be emailed to you right away. The second early-bird entry deadline is December 14.) Let us help you make the most out of your ABA submission with these helpful hints:

• Best Annual Report: Online/Electronic
• Best Annual Report: Print

• An essay of up to 100 words describing the work's purpose and results to date.
• If applicable, the electronic publication, in the form of an attachment or a URL (via our attachment/link uploading tool).
• Optional:  You may list creative and production credits for your work - a list of the people and organizations that contributed to its development.

If you wish to submit your publication offline for review by the judges, you must first submit your entry online. Then print out a copy of your entry and mail it with one (1) copy of the publication or series of publications to: The Stevie Awards, 10560 Main Street, Suite 215, Fairfax, VA 22030.

• Best Annual Report - Online/Electronic
  IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME: IDEXX Laboratories 2010 Annual Review
• Best Annual Report - Print
  Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Walnut Creek, CA: Heffernan Insurance Brokers 2010 Annual Report

Still need help deciding which ABA Annual Report Awards category to apply to? Contact us: help@stevieawards.com!

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The Retina Foundation of the Southwest (RFSW), located in Dallas, Texas, is a nonprofit institution whose mission is to prevent and restore vision loss through innovative research and treatment.  RFSW annually distributes an appeal letter to donors, prospective donors, and friends of the organization, and asked DAWSON + MURRAY + TEAGUE Communications (D+M+T) to design and produce the 2009 letter.

D+M+T’s goal was to design an attention-grabbing piece that would engage donors’ interest, demonstrate the impact of their contributions on RFSW and its patients, and increase the overall amount of donations gained from the annual appeal.  D+M+ T partners Roslyn Dawson Thompson, CEO, and Norris Murray, Creative Director, applied their experience in nonprofit fundraising and marketing, and their understanding of the RFSW audience, to develop the concept and execute it.  Distributed in November 2009, the D+M+T-designed annual letter resulted in a 30% increase in donations over the prior year’s annual appeal.

See the award-winning package here.

“We like the challenge of making an organization like RFSW stand out, especially at a time of year when virtually every nonprofit is asking for a year-end contribution,” said Norris Murray, D+M+T Creative Director.  “We were very pleased that our work produced such significantly improved results for our client.”

About D+M+T Communications
For 25 years, D+M+T Communications has served national, regional, and local clients, providing comprehensive marketing communications and public relations services.  The agency’s clients span a broad array of industry sectors, from technology and telecommunications, legal and financial services, industrial services and mining, to corporate philanthropy and nonprofit organizations. For further information, visit www.dmtcommunications.com.

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Sun Life Financial, Inc., of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, received a Stevie® Award for Best Marketing or Sales Brochure or Kit in the publications and annual reports awards categories in The 2010 American Business Awards.

Two lessons to be learned from this case study:

1. No form of communication today is immune from the requirement to be compelling and immediate.
2. The message still determines the medium.  Printed sales collateral will continue to be an invaluable tool, in the right context.

The objective for Sun Life Financial’s U.S. creative team was to provide a conversation piece for the firm’s sales force that would capitalize on Sun Life's important connection with Great Britain and Winston Churchill.  They wanted to create a one-of-a-kind commemorative piece that highlighted both Sun Life's wartime mission with Great Britain and Winston Churchill's endorsement of insurance.

The piece, in the form of a parchment scroll, described Winston Churchill’s decision to transport Britain’s wealth to Canada.  In 1941, fearing an invasion, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the wartime Cabinet decided to send the wealth of the British Treasury out of England. Billions in foreign securities were secretly loaded onto a merchant vessel and sent to Canada for safekeeping. The securities were deposited in specially built vaults deep beneath the Sun Life Canada offices in Montreal.

The handsome scroll was an instant hit with the Sun Life sales force and went to reprint within less than one week of its release in January 2010. Additionally, other business areas of Sun Life requested the piece so that, while originally developed for the U.S., it now sees worldwide distribution.

On accepting the Stevie Award, Dawn McDermott, Associate Marketing Director and writer of the piece, said: “In realizing the magnitude of the trust Britain placed in Sun Life through this historic decision, I was honored to write the piece, and our designer really brought it to life visually.”

Sun Life won a second Stevie Award in 2010 for Best Sales Presentation in the live event awards categories with its Sun Executive Universal Life Client Seminar Program.  “It has been extremely gratifying to see our marketing pieces recognized by our peers,” said Roberta Ruel, Creative Director of Sun Life’s Creative Services. “The Stevie Awards recognize top achievements and contributions across the spectrum of American businesses, and we are pleased to be honored alongside so many other significant organizations.”

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial-services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth-accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2010, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of US$442 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.