Creative Awards

The Future of User Experience, by an American Business Awards Judge

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Thu, Mar 27, 2014 @ 11:01 AM

Mark Shewmaker, chief experience officer at SMITH, an independent digital experience agency based in Seattle, Washington, will chair the final judging committee for the creative awards categories (Apps, Live Events, Publications and Videos) of The 2014 American Business Awards, the U.S.A.'s top business awards. (Entries for this competition are still being accepted.  Get your entry kit here.)

14 ABA CR Chair SmithWe asked Mark, with his deep understanding of user experience, for his thoughts on what major innovations in technology would most affect businesses in the coming year. 

“I work with many clients who are trying to find out how to connect the customer experiences in their online and offline businesses,” Mark told us. “This often finds its epicenter in the retail channel, where customers, who regularly shop online with a brand, often feel anonymous when in the physical stores.”

Bridging the Gap

“Until recently, there were few options available to bridge the gap,” continued Mark. “Some retailers have tried digital kiosks or other static, immovable installations at their stores, but customers seem to lose interest quickly, leaving these installations to collect dust–or worse, break and never be serviced.”

Moving with the Customer

The breakthrough, in Mark’s opinion, is to leverage the customer’s digital footprint by building shopping experiences that recognize customers specifically, move with them, and remain under their control.  For example, as Mark suggests: “Retailers should use their customers’ cell phones or WiFi-enabled tablets to deliver tools and services.”

While this is no small feat from a technology or logistics perspective, Mark advises: “It’s vital that businesses invest in what they’re confident will provide value both for themselves and their customers. To do this you first need to understand how customers use their personal devices to make their shopping experience easier.”

ECommerce Solutions

We asked Mark what ecommerce solutions he would recommend to businesses. Mark is most excited by technologies that allow retailers to measure foot traffic and engagement in their stores by installing wireless-signal or video-based tracking systems. According to Mark: “Ecommerce is a key focus for SMITH, so I’m excited by technologies like Apple’s iBeacon which is the darling of the category, but there are many more, like Nomi, Xandem, and LightHaus.”

Added Mark: “The ability to use real data to precisely understand shopper behaviors allows retailers, venue managers–really, any business with a space you can walk through–to experiment and prototype new in-store digital interactions, measure their potential success, and plan for a larger-scale rollout.”

Business Travel

Mark travels a lot on business, so we asked him what business apps he found most useful. “Thankfully, apps are simple and utility-focused these days, which makes my life as a regular business traveler a little more bearable, and I depend on a few great ones to get my job done,” Mark told us.  “But my most important, my most relied on, my if-I-were-stranded-on-a-desert-island-with-my-cellphone-and-still-had-to-do-my-job app is Dropbox.” 

“I use Dropbox exclusively,” adds Mark. “It has thoroughly supplanted all other storage resources I have access to—including, sadly, those in my own brain. Even my vocabulary has changed in deference to this mighty wizard of technological convenience. I don’t ‘send’ files to others any more; instead, I confidently ask ‘can I Dropbox this to you?’ which is almost always met with acknowledging approval.”

According to Mark, the most life-saving feature of Dropbox is: “Transferring files to my co-workers. I simply send them a download link, which the app automatically creates from what’s stored in my account. I never have to transfer a file over email or VPN—a sketchy proposition anyway when you have no other option than unreliable hotel and airport WiFi connections.”

An added bonus, according to Mark: “It also means you’re rarely the offender who clogs everyone’s email account with enormous file attachments. So if you’re regularly put in ‘mail jail’ for exceeding your Outlook quota, you may also want to give Dropbox a shot.”

A Business of Invention

Having worked in digital communications for nearly two decades, Mark is inspired by the notion that ideas are no longer bound by the barriers of standardized media or channels, like the old days of print and TV advertising.

“My teams have the freedom to dream up clever ways to solve problems,” says Mark. “To me, it’s become a business of invention. New technologies are being constantly introduced, giving us countless building blocks to create fresh solutions for our clients and their customers.”

Concludes Mark: “Frankly, I find it all very exciting, even after nearly 20 years of chasing the future. A new device can be launched and—BOOM!—the whole game changes instantly.”

About Mark Shewmaker

Mark is an expert in user experience with an impressive portfolio of award-winning campaigns and digital solutions created for some of the planet’s most recognized brands. At SMITH, Mark leads UX, creative, and content teams on their mission to craft cutting-edge and revenue-driving brand experiences.

Prior to SMITH, Mark was Executive Creative Director at R/GA San Francisco. Throughout his 9 year relationship with R/GA, Mark worked with clients such as Microsoft, Nike, Verizon Wireless, Abercrombie & Fitch, L’Oréal Paris, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, IBM, and Merck, overseeing the development of category-leading digital commerce, mobile, retail, marketing, and product-design initiatives.

When he’s not traversing the planet on business, Mark finds his home in the Bay Area of Northern California, with his wife Wendy and two children.

About SMITH

SMITH is one of North America’s leading digital experience agencies and global commerce service providers. Creators of transactional brand moments for humans living in an all-channel world, SMITH’s clients include some of the world’s most important and highly recognized brands, including Microsoft, AT&T, Cisco, Motorola, Nestle, Sam’s Club, Xerox, and MasterCard. The company is headquartered in Seattle and has offices in Atlanta, Portland, Spokane, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.smith.co.

Tags: Mark Shewmaker, business awards, stevie awards, creative awards

How Hanaroadcom Uses Its Stevie® Awards to Build on Its Success

Posted by Michael Gallagher on Thu, Jan 16, 2014 @ 02:04 PM

Jung Hieh Shon, President of Hanaroadcom, a marketing and PR consultancy in Seoul, South Korea, won the Gold Stevie Award for Creative Executive of the Year in the creative awards categories of The 2013 International Business Awards. We asked her about the experience of winning a Stevie Award, and what her company’s goals are for 2014.

Jenny Shon“Hanaroadcom will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015, so we will be preparing for this during 2014,” Ms. Shon told us. “It’s a significant anniversary for us because it means our efforts over the past two decades to provide quality PR and marketing, and to deliver a strong message on behalf of our clients, have paid off. So we will be looking back over the past 20 years’ activities while at the same time preparing for increased growth in the years ahead.”

Opening New Markets

Another important objective in 2014 will be to open up new markets overseas. “We already have several clients in foreign countries,” explained Ms. Shon, “but we intend to strengthen our marketing in order to be a truly global company. If you are looking for a partner in advertising or public relations for marketing in South Korea, you can find one in Hanaroadcom! Our aim is to be the best creative partner for business marketing in Korea.”

Winning New Business

According to Ms. Shon, winning several Stevie® Awards over the past few years has had a significant impact on Hanaroadcom. “The International Business Awards is a competition that is highly appreciated here in Korea and winning has contributed greatly to Hanaroadcom’s development: not only does it have a positive effect on the self-esteem of my team, but it also allows us to share the honor with our clients.”

“The Stevie Awards provide an objective evaluation of a company’s work and this has certainly helped us to win new business.”

“I should also add that the trophies make a handsome addition to our Wall of Fame!”

Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards

We asked Ms. Shon how she felt the new Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards could contribute to the success of Hanaroadcom.  Ms. Shon told us: “The more Stevie Awards we have won, the more our customer base has increased. Public organizations in particular view a Stevie Award as an indicator of good management, and the ability for Hanaroadcom to have consistently won international awards over the past seven years is an indication of our reliability.”

Adds Ms. Shon: “Each time I have participated in The International Business Awards presentations in different countries, it has been a great opportunity to study the characteristics and culture of that country. Experiences like this provide important data to improve working relations between companies in different countries.”

A Passion for Work

Not only is Ms. Shon a successful marketing executive, she is also something of a social media addict. “I check my Facebook page every day in order to reply to comments and to have conversations in real time,” she says. She is also something of a night owl. “I work a lot at night. Before sleeping I do the work that should be done in the morning. Going to sleep at 2AM is normal for me.”  She does believe in a healthy diet, however. “I have a good breakfast every morning because it gives me energy.”

Concludes Ms. Shon: “A passion for work is what inspires me. Setting increasingly higher standards for the future encourages me to advance despite the difficulties we may have to face. Looking at the Stevie Awards in my office reminds me that we can succeed and that we can achieve our goals.”

The entry deadline for the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards is February 19.  These awards are open to all organizations in the 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region.  The early-bird entry deadline for The International Business Awards, which are open to all organizations worldwide, is April 16.

About Jung Hieh Shon

Jung Hieh Shon is the CEO of a 19-year-old company that has won a Stevie® Award for seven years in a row. She herself has also been named “Creative Executive of the Year” for six years in succession. Working during the day and studying at night for fifteen years earned her professional degrees and a good knowledge of English, advertising and PR, social welfare, visual design, and real estate. She currently works as a PR and Design advisor to a number of government organizations and associations.

About Hanaroadcom

Hanaroadcom is a consultancy that helps organizations with their marketing activities through the effective and creative use of diverse promotional tools. Its areas of specialty include brochures, in-house magazines, brand development, communications solutions, and social media. Hanaroadcom is one of only a few companies to have won in the International Business Awards seven years in succession. The company has also achieved recognition in several Korean awards. Hanaroadcom’s customers are mainly Korean government organizations, public institutions, and large companies. It also has partnerships with overseas government organizations and global enterprises. For more information, go to www.hanaroad.com.

Tags: hanaroadcom, creative executive, Jung Hieh Shon, iba, Advertising awards, business awards, International business awards, stevie awards, creative awards, publication awards

5 Ways to Win Creative Awards in The 2013 American Business Awards

Posted by Liz Dean on Tue, Dec 04, 2012 @ 12:08 PM

The 2013 American Business Awards, the premier business awards competition in the U.S.A., feature a wide selection of categories to recognize the achievements of creative professionals working in web development, corporate communications, video production, app development, investor relations, and live events. (The second early-bird entry deadline for the 2013 ABAs is quickly approaching on December 12. Take advantage of discounted entries fees for entries submitted by December 12, request your entry kit here.)

Stevie Awards 2013 LogoHere are five ways to win creative media awards in The 2013 American Business Awards:

  1. App Awards Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in apps for handheld and tablet devices, and for PCs, issued or updated since January 1, 2012.
  2. Annual Report Awards & Other Literature Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications issued since January 1, 2012.
  3. Live Event Awards Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in live events staged since January 1, 2012.
  4. Video Awards Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in videos produced for a business- or work-related purpose that were first released or otherwise made public since January 1, 2012.
  5. Website Awards Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in web sites and blogs. There is no eligibility timeframe for these categories - it doesn't matter when the site or blog was first published.

Want more tips on winning creative awards? Download our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet for helpful tips and tools.

Tags: creative media awards, business awards, app awards, live event awards, video awards, website awards, American business awards, creative awards, annual report awards

2 Tips for Winning Creative Awards in the 2012 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business

Posted by Liz Dean on Wed, Aug 08, 2012 @ 03:20 PM

The entry deadline for the 2012 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, the world's premier business awards for women executives, entrepreneurs, and the organizations they run, is quickly approaching on August 29. (If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here.)

To help make the most of your creative awards entries, we suggest the following:  

  1. Creative Media AwardsDownload our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet.
    Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries. 
  2. Review past winners' entries.
    The 8th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business were presented in November 2011 in New York City, USA. Click here to view 2011 winning entries for website awards, app awards, video awards, and blog awards.

Winners of the 2012 competition will be celebrated at the ninth annual awards banquet on November 9 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.

Need help picking the right categories? Contact us at help@stevieawards.com and we'll direct you to categories that are right for your organization.

Tags: business awards, app awards, video awards, website awards, stevie awards for women in business, blog awards, creative awards

3 Resources to Help You Win Creative Awards in the 2012 IBAs

Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Jul 06, 2012 @ 10:08 AM

The final extended entry deadline for The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition is 18 July. (If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here.)

To help make the most of your creative awards entries, we suggest the following:  

  1. The Stevie AwardsDownload our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet.
    Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries. 
  2. Watch our How to Enter The 2012 International Business Awards video.
    The brief video offers a comprehensive overview of the IBAs and the submission process.
  3. Review past winners' entries.
    The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Click here to view 2011 winning entries in the annual report awards and other literature categories, website awards categories, app awards categories, video awards categories, and live event awards categories.

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.

Need last minute help? Contact us at help@stevieawards.com and we'll direct you to categories that are right for your organization.

Tags: creative media awards, business awards, app awards, live event awards, video awards, website awards, International business awards, creative awards, annual report awards

3 Tips for Winning Creative Awards in The 2012 International Business Awards

Posted by Liz Dean on Tue, May 22, 2012 @ 10:02 AM

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 here.)

To help you recognize your organization's creative achievements, we suggest the following tips for winning creative awards in the 2012 IBAs:

1. Review the creative media awards categories.
The International Business Awards feature a wide selection of categories to recognize the achievements of creative professionals including:The Stevie Awards

  1. App Awards Categories
  2. Annual Report Awards & Other Literature Categories
  3. Live Event Awards Categories
  4. Video Awards Categories
  5. Website Awards Categories

2. Review the entry submission criteria.
Make sure your corporate awards entries include all required submission information.

3. Download our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet.
Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries. 

Need help deciding which creative awards are best for your organization? Contact us at help@stevieawards.com and we'll help direct you to categories that are right for your organization.

Tags: creative media awards, business awards, app awards, live event awards, video awards, website awards, International business awards, creative awards, annual report awards

5 Ways to Win Creative Media Awards in The 2012 International Business Awards

Posted by Liz Dean on Thu, Apr 26, 2012 @ 02:52 PM

The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, feature a wide selection of categories to recognize the achievements of creative professionals working in web development, corporate communications, video production, app development, investor relations, and live events. (All organizations and individuals worldwide may submit nominations to the IBAs. The entry deadline for the 2012 IBAs is 16 May, request your entry kit today.)

Here are 5 ways to win creative media awards in The 2012 International Business Awards:

  1. App Awards CategoriesThe Stevie Awards
    These categories recognize excellence in apps for handheld and tablet devices, and for PCs, issued or updated since 1 January 2011.
  2. Annual Report Awards & Other Literature Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications issued since 1 January 2011.
  3. Live Event Awards Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in live events staged since 1 January 2011.
  4. Video Awards Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in videos produced for a business- or work-related purpose that were first released or otherwise made public since 1 January 2011.
  5. Website Awards Categories
    These categories recognize excellence in web sites and blogs. There is no eligibility timeframe for these categories - it doesn't matter when the site or blog was first published.

Want more tips on winning creative awards? Download our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet for helpful tips and tools.

Tags: creative media awards, business awards, corporate awards, app awards, live event awards, video awards, website awards, American business awards, creative awards, annual report awards

4 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in The 2012 ABAs

Posted by Liz Dean on Tue, Apr 17, 2012 @ 02:03 PM

The entry deadline for The 2012 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., is Wednesday, April 25. If you haven't yet requested an entry kit, you can request your entry kit here and you will receive it right away.

To help you recognize your organization's creative achievements, we want to share four tips for winning creative media awards in the 2012 ABAs.

1. Review the creative awards categories.
The American Business Awards feature a wide selection of categories to recognize the achievements of creative professionals including:

  1. The Stevie AwardsApp Awards Categories
  2. Annual Report Awards & Other Literature Categories
  3. Live Event Awards Categories
  4. Video Awards Categories
  5. Website Awards Categories

2. Review the entry submission criteria.
Make sure your corporate awards entries include all required submission information.

3. Download our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet.
Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries.  

4.  Watch our video, How to Enter The 2012 American Business Awards.
Get step-by-step instruction on how to submit your 2012 entries.

Not sure which creative awards are best for your organization? Contact us at help@stevieawards.com and we'll help direct you to categories that are right for your organization.

Tags: creative media awards, business awards, corporate awards, app awards, live event awards, video awards, website awards, American business awards, creative awards, annual report awards

10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the 2012 Stevie Awards

Posted by Liz Dean on Mon, Dec 12, 2011 @ 06:22 PM

We've just published our newest tipsheet, called 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet for 2012!  Get it here.

How to win a StevieWe want to help you get the industry recognition you deserve for your websites, smartphone and tablet apps, blogs, videos and more.  The 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet for 2012 is the perfect way to get insider help!

To make submitting your creative awards entries as easy as possible, the tipsheet provides an overview of your opportunities to win Stevie Awards in our categories for

The tipsheet offers insight on available categories in all four Stevie Awards programs:

Download our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet for 2012 today.

Which creative media category does your organization do best?

Tags: app awards, live event awards, video awards, creative awards, web site awards, annual report awards

Creative Awards Categories Eliminated in 2011 ABAs

Posted by Michael Gallagher on Thu, Oct 28, 2010 @ 04:22 PM

We've eliminated the advertising awards and creative awards categories for The 2011 American Business Awards.  But don't fret, we've created many new Marketing Campaign of the Year categories, and advertising campaigns or campaign elements may be entered in any of these categories, as part of your overall marketing campaign submission.

The big difference in 2011, though, is that you'll now be able to submit an essay or case of up to 500 words about the genesis, development, execution, and results of your campaign.  In the past you had to do all that in up to 100 words.

Here are the new marketing categories (the letter/number combinations are in internal category codes).  You'll note that a few of the Specialty Campaign categories are advertising-specific:

Marketing Campaign of the Year - Industry Categories
E01. Accounting
E02. Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations
E03. Aerospace & Defense
E04. Automotive & Transport Equipment
E05. Banking
E06. Business Services
E07. Chemicals
E08. Computer Hardware
E09. Computer Software
E10. Computer Services
E11. Conglomerates
E12. Consumer Products - Durables
E13. Consumer Products - Non-Durables
E14. Diversified Services
E15. Electronics
E16. Energy
E17. Financial Services
E18. Food & Beverage
E19. Health Products & Services
E20. Hospitality & Leisure
E21. Insurance
E22. Legal
E23. Manufacturing
E24. Materials & Construction
E25. Media
E26. Metals & Mining
E27. Non-Profit Organizations
E28. Real Estate
E29. Retail
E30. Pharmaceuticals
E31. Telecommunications
E32. Transportation
E33. Utilities

Marketing Campaign of the Year - Specialty Categories
E35. Business-to-Business Advertising Campaign of the Year
E36. Business-to-Business Marketing Campaign of the Year
E37. Consumer Advertising Campaign of the Year
E38. Consumer Marketing Campaign of the Year
E39. Mobile Marketing Campaign of the Year
E40. Online Marketing Campaign of the Year
E41. Retail/Merchandising Marketing Campaign of the Year
E42. Small-Budget Marketing Campaign of the Year: Open to campaigns launched since January 1 2010 whose entire budget was/is less than $3 million
E43. Viral Marketing Campaign of the Year

Other marketing/advertising categories include:

Marketing Professional Categories
E50. Marketing or Advertising Agency of the Year
E51. Marketing Department of the Year
E52. Marketing Team of the Year
E53. Marketing Executive of the Year
E54. Marketing Professional of the Year (for non-executive marketing professionals).  There's no entry fee for this category.

There are also a host of categories to recognize your work on web sites and blogs, annual reports and other literature, interactive multimedia productions, video, and live events.

Any questions about any of these categories or how to enter them, contact us.

Tags: Advertising awards, ad awards, ad award, advertising award, agency of the year, media award, media awards, creative awards, creative award