Sales Awards Blog

There are 13 sales awards categories specifically for departments in the 2013 (7th annual) Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the world's top business awards for contact center, customer service, business development, and sales professionals. (All organizations and individuals worldwide are eligible to submit entries for sales awards and customer service awards. January 15, 2013 is the last day that late entries will be accepted; request your entry kit here.)

Our Sales Department of the Year categories include:

1. Sales Department of the Year - Computer Services
2. Sales Department of the Year - Computer Software
3. Sales Department of the Year - Computer Hardware
4. Sales Department of the Year – Distribution & Transportation
5. Sales Department of the Year - Financial Services
6. Sales Department of the Year – Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Related Industries
7. Sales Department of the Year - Industrial & Manufacturing
8. Sales Department of the Year – Hospitality & Tourism
9. Sales Department of the Year  - Media & Entertainment
10. Sales Department of the Year – Public Services & Education
11. Sales Department of the Year - Services
12. Sales Department of the Year - Telecommunications
13. Sales Department of the Year – All Other Industries

Information required for entries in these categories include:

1. An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee’s accomplishments since July 1, 2011. 
2. A brief biography (up to 100 words) of the leader of the nominated sales department.
3. Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.

Our 2012 Gold Stevie® Award winners for Sales Department of the Year include: Carahsoft Technology Corp. (Computer Services), kCura (Computer Software), NetApp, Inc. (Computer Hardware), Hyundai Motor America (Distribution & Transportation), Zions First National Bank (Financial Services), PetRays Veterinary Telemedicine Consultants (Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Related Industries), Boeing Commercial Airplanes (Industrial & Manufacturing), The Knowland Group (Hospitality & Tourism), Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (Media & Entertainment), Skillsoft Corporation (Public Services & Education), Olneya Restoration Group (Services), Vodafone Turkey (Telecommunications), and Crown Imports, LLC (All Other Industries).  

2013 honorees will be celebrated at the 7th annual awards banquet at Paris Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on February 25.

Not sure where to start? All sales and customer service entries are submitted directly online through your account. You can begin by registering here.

MarketBridge of Bethesda, Maryland, USA, received the Gold Stevie® Award for Best Sales Training or Coaching Program of the Year in the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the world's top business awards for contact center, customer service, business development, and sales professionals. (The early-bird deadline for the 2013 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service is October 10. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here.) Here we look at what made their training program outstanding.

MarketBridge, in partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue and MasterCard Worldwide, won a Gold Stevie Award for its multifaceted and interactive training program for Saks Fifth Avenue Stores. This training focused on SAKSFIRST, Saks Fifth Avenue's exclusive loyalty program, and the Saks Fifth Avenue World Elite MasterCard® card, a premier co-branded credit card offering tied in with Saks Fifth Avenue's loyalty program.

"We are honored to receive this award and celebrate our success with Saks Fifth Avenue and MasterCard, two preeminent brands in their industries and valued partners," stated Rebecca Johns, Vice President at MarketBridge when she and the team were in Las Vegas in February 2012 to collect the trophy.

Background Story
In 2006, MasterCard partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue to launch the Saks Fifth Avenue World Elite MasterCard, with features and benefits designed for the more affluent consumer, in all Saks Fifth Avenue Stores nationwide.

MarketBridge was engaged to build a sales training and coaching program for this co-brand card which would primarily help drive new cardmember acquisitions, but also solve key issues that arose during initial product roll-
out.

Flexible Approach
This training program was delivered to all Saks Fifth Avenue stores through a variety of coverage approaches, including in-store classroom trainings, on-the-job simulations, and long distance support. This flexible training and coaching model allowed for modified versions of the program to fit the unique needs of individual stores, departments, and store associates. 

1. Territory Support:
The first coverage model type, “Territory Support,” included regularly scheduled visits from an Account Executive to train, coach, and incent the store management and employees.

2. Accelerator Support:
Next, “Accelerator Support” involved a 1-2 day credit event that included training, strategic credit planning, one-on-one sales coaching, and incentives
for top performers.

3. Air Cover Support:
Finally, the third coverage model was “Air Cover Support”, which did not feature any regular Account Executive visits, but rather on-going support through distance learning, mailed materials, and interactive online tools.

Making Training Fun
Through its in-store visits, MarketBridge conducted fun and interactive training classes, during which the store associates were taught about credit, helped to achieve objectives, and encouraged to promote the co-brand to their customers.

Changing Behavior
Post-training—regardless of module used, additional training tools and reinforcement materials such as takeaways, quick tips, fun facts, and games— helped to ensure that the learning process was effective, that the information was retained, and, above all, that behavior changed.

Positive Results
In the first three fiscal months of 2011 MarketBridge was able to improve credit performance year-over-year, while reenergizing Associates and increasing program participation.

In an industry clouded by the current economic downturn, these results were substantial. Furthermore, from a qualitative perspective, overall program feedback from store associates and management alike was highly positive.

About the MarketBridge Team

Becky Johns, Vice President, Marketing Services Practice
Becky Johns works with clients to improve marketing and sales productivity by developing and executing integrated data-driven marketing and sales strategies. At MarketBridge her experience centers primarily on building brand loyalty through customer acquisition, engagement, and retention programs and developing online and social media communities. In addition, she has expertise in enabling sales teams through innovative training and sales readiness and enablement programs. In her 7 years with MarketBridge, she has managed accounts and initiatives across the healthcare, retail, financial services and high tech industries. Most recently, Becky led her teams to win a Gold Stevie Award for 2012 Sales Training Program of the Year, and the 2011 Marketing Innovation Award for Customer Retention and Loyalty held by Merkle and the CMO Council.

Prior to MarketBridge, Becky’s background in marketing and advertising included client and agency positions working in both B2B and B2C engagements.

Courtney Milliken, Program Manager
Courtney is a Program Manager with MarketBridge. Most prominently, she is responsible for leading the deployment and measurement of sales enablement and digital customer relationship programs for clients.

About MarketBridge:
MarketBridge is a leading global provider of technology-enabled sales and marketing solutions for Fortune 1000 and emerging-growth companies. The firm offers three core methodologies: MarketBlueprint™ for go-to-market strategy and resource planning, RevenueEngines™ for demand generation and sales enablement and DemandAnalytics™ for sales and marketing reporting and analytics.  For over 20 years and 1,000 client engagements, MarketBridge has helped CEOs and senior Marketing and Sales leadership create scalable revenue growth.  Find us on the web at www.market-bridge.comand on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MarketBridge.

There are nine sales awards categories specifically for teams in the 2013 (7th annual) Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the world's top business awards for contact center, customer service, business development, and sales professionals. (All organizations and individuals worldwide are eligible to submit entries for sales awards and customer service awards. The early-bird entry deadline, with discounted entry fees, is October 10; request your entry kit here.)

Our sales award categories specifically for teams include:

1. Global Sales Team of the Year
   Recognizing sales teams whose industry, client, or other focus has a global scope.
2. National Sales Team of the Year
   Recognizing sales teams whose industry, client, or other focus has a national scope.
3. Government Sales Team of the Year
   Recognizing sales teams whose charge is selling to government clients.
4. Field Sales Team of the Year
   Recognizing sales teams that obtain the majority of their business out of the office at face to face meetings with clients.
5. Telesales Team of the Year
   Recognizing sales teams that obtain the majority of their business by telephone.
6. Online Sales Team of the Year
   Recognizing sales teams that obtain the majority of their business via online and social media.
7. Sales Support Team of the Year
   Recognizing teams that provide administrative, logistical, or resource support to sales organizations.
8. Sales Operations Team of the Year
   Recognizing teams that help sales organizations to run effectively, efficiently and in support of business strategies and objectives.
9. Sales Management Team of the Year
   Recognizing the leadership teams of sales organizations for their achievements.

Information required for entries in these categories include:

1. An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee’s accomplishments since July 1, 2011. 
2. A brief biography (up to 100 words) of the nominee.
3. Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.

2013 honorees will be celebrated at the 7th annual awards banquet at Paris Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on February 25.

Submit your entries by October 10 and receive discounted entry fees! All sales and customer service entries are submitted directly online through your account. You can begin by registering here.

There are eight sales awards categories specifically for individuals in the 2013 (7th annual) Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the world's top business awards for contact center, customer service, business development, and sales professionals. (All organizations and individuals worldwide are eligible to submit entries for sales awards and customer service awards. The early-bird entry deadline, with discounted entry fees, is October 10; request your entry kit here.)

Our sales award categories specifically for individuals include:

1. Senior Sales Executive of the Year
   Recognizing senior sales executives with titles such as Chief Sales Officer.  This category may also be used to recognize senior corporate executives for their role in driving sales achievements.
2. Worldwide Sales Executive of the Year
   Recognizing sales executives with responsibility for sales performance on a global level.
3. National Sales Executive of the Year
   Recognizing sales executives with responsibility for sales performance on a national level.
4. Sales Director of the Year
   Recognizing the achievements of sales directors at organizations of any size, of any type.
5. Sales Manager of the Year
   Recognizing the achievements of sales managers and sales professionals with a managerial role at organizations of any size, of any type.
6. Sales Operations Professional of the Year
   Recognizing sales executives and sales professionals with a managerial role for their achievements in managing sales organizations that run effectively, efficiently and in support of business strategies and objectives.
7. Sales Training or Education Professional of the Year
   Recognizing sales executives and sales professionals with a managerial role who manage, design, or deliver sales training or education in any aspect of work life.
8. Sales Representative of the Year
   Recognizing individual sales representatives for their personal contributions to organizations’ sales results.

Information required for entries in these categories include:

1. An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee’s accomplishments since July 1, 2011. 
2. A brief biography (up to 100 words) of the nominee.
3. Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.

The 2012 Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service were celebrated in Las Vegas, NV, USA. 2011 honorees included: Adam Bain, Chief Revenue Officer, Jim Farley, Group VP for Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Weiming Soh, Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand sales in China and the ASEAN region, Rob Jeppsen, SVP Commercial Sales, Zions Bank, Marina Totalca, Channel Sales Executive, Allan Rubin, Area Sales Engineering Leader, Avaya Southeast, and Mitsue Lincicum, Waikiki International Frontline Sales Agent.

2013 honorees will be celebrated at the 7th annual awards banquet at Paris Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on February 25.

Not sure where to start? All sales and customer service entries are submitted directly online through your account. You can begin by registering here.

MarketBridge won the Gold Stevie® Award for Sales Training or Coaching Program of the Year in the 2012 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the world's top honors for sales, call center, and customer service professionals. Here we look at how the sales awards winner's training efforts directly led to higher employee performance.

In 2010, sales award winner, MarketBridge, was tasked with building a sales training and coaching program by MasterCard and Saks Fifth Avenue to help promote their joint card, the Saks Fifth  Avenue World Elite MasterCard. Offered in all Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide, the card is complete with features and benefits designed for the upper-affluent consumer market segment.

MarketBridge was primarily charged with helping to drive new card member acquisitions, but also to solve key issues that arose during initial product roll-out including: an unbalanced and incomplete card launch, knowledge gaps among store associates as well as limited, complicated, and non-actionable training materials.

Using best sales practices, MarketBridge developed a flexible training and coaching model that allowed for modified versions of their program to fit the unique needs of regions, individual stores, departments, and store associates. MarketBridge had three training modules:

1. Territory Support, which included regularly scheduled visits from an Account Executive to train, coach and, incent the store management and employees. 
2. Accelerator Support, which involved a 1-2 day credit event that included training, strategic credit planning, one-on-one sales coaching and, incentives, like vacations for top performers.
3. Air Cover Support, which did not feature any regular Account Executive visits, but rather on-going support through distance learning and mailed materials.

Through in-store visits, MarketBridge conducted fun and interactive training classes, during which associates:

• Were taught about credit,
• Helped to overcome objectives, and
• Learned about ways to promote the co-brand to their customers. 

Post-training, regardless of module, incorporated additional training tools and reinforcement materials such as takeaways, quick tips, fun facts, and games, to help ensure that learning was affective and information was retained.

In the first 3 fiscal months of 2011, the sales excellence focused module led to improved credit performance year-over-year, while reenergizing associates and increasing program participation. Three major achievements include:

1. In terms of total card applications, the stores in the regions being supported by the MarketBridge program consistently outperformed the total company performance, with up to a 62 percentage point increased improvement year over year. 
2. A 65% training penetration in stores for 2011 contributed to higher performance and associate participation in credit.
3. MarketBridge incentive initiatives alone increased private label card performance by 24%, and co-brand performance by 62%, when compared to pre-program performance.

About MarketBridge
MarketBridge is a leading global provider of technology-enabled sales and marketing solutions and services for Fortune 1000 companies, delivering client results based on an empirical approach to designing, building, and managing programs. Through their understanding of connected sales and marketing, MarketBridge helps clients make investments in brand development and demand generation to measurably drive sales productivity in both direct and indirect sales channels. MarketBridge delivers solutions via three core methodologies, MarketBlueprint, RevenueEngines, and DemandAnalytics, which are customized to fit each client’s unique business objectives. To learn more about MarketBridge, visit www.market-bridge.com.

We have added three new sales awards categories to The 2012 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service to honor organizations for their sales excellence. Showcase your organization's best sales practices and submit your entries today. (The last day to submit entries for The 2012 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service is this Wednesday, January 18; download your entry kit here.)

Our new sales awards for achievement are:

• Sales Turnaround of the Year
  Recognizing sales organizations for improvements since July 1, 2010, over the prior year.  Improvements in revenue, operations, and training will be considered in this category.
• Outbound Marketing Program of the Year
  Recognizing marketing programs that use advertising, promotions, public relations and sales.
• Inbound Marketing Program of the Year
  Recognizing marketing programs that rely on content generation, lead development, and prospect cultivation.

Benefits of submitting entries to our sales achievement awards include:

• Improve employee morale.  
  Applying for The Stevie® Awards is a simple and affordable way to recognize your organization and employees.
• Company size equality.  
  You don't have to be a big company to win a Stevie!  Small organizations have an equal opportunity to win Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevies.
• Access to your industry's leaders.  
  Many of the world's top business leaders will review your nominations during the judging process.

The following information should be included in your sales awards submissions:

• An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee’s accomplishments since July 1, 2010 in the area covered by the category;
• A brief biography (up to 100 words) of the leader of the nominated team or department; and
• Links to online news stories, videos, photographs, press releases, etc. that support your nomination (optional).

Preliminary judging is now underway. More than 200 professionals worldwide will participate in the 2012 judging process and all Finalists will be notified on January 25. Starting in 2012, all Finalists will be recognized as Gold, Silver or Bronze Stevie Award winners.  Results will be announced at the sixth annual awards banquet on Monday, February 27 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

How will you honor your organization's sales achievements in The 2012 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service?

Bill Binch won the Stevie® Award for Worldwide VP of Sales of the Year in the 2011 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the world's top honors for sales, call center, and customer service professionals.  Bill will chair the committee for final judging of the Sales Individual categories in the 2012 edition of the awards.  Entries for the 2012 awards are open through January 18 - submit yours now.

What are your top 3 tips on how to make your mark in sales?

1)    Prioritize your day or someone else will

I was taught early in my sales career to make a list before leaving work of the first 5 things I’m going to do the next day. I still do it. If you don’t set your priorities, a customer, a partner, or a colleague will do it for you.  This means you set the agenda for what it will take to be successful.

2)    There are no traffic jams in the extra mile

This is a fancy way of saying: Differentiate yourself.  For example, think about an interview for a sales job. Most of the candidates are going to tell a similar story to you, meaning you’re all talking about the same stuff.  So tell the story of why you’re unique and find the reason you’re compellingly different.  This applies in sales as well: Many of the products that you’ll sell in a career are similar to another product, so you need to find the edge on why your offering is different.

3) Establish a point of view

People who make a mark have an opinion, so have a point of view.  I respect individuals who can craft a compelling and passionate argument.  Even if I disagree with their opinion, I respect those who show up with their own thoughts.  That means they will likely be creative and not get boxed in.

What item of news recently caught your eye and why?

SAP’s purchase of SuccessFactors.  It is their first true entry into Cloud computing and sends a pretty big signal that I think companies like Salesforce and Oracle will need to respond to.  Also, the price they paid was incredible and creates a new standard for how Cloud-based companies are valued.

What is your favorite sport or hobby?

I enjoy golf, wine tasting, and spending time with my family and friends.

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?

I’d be in the music business.  Music and technology are colliding right now with digital rights, new distribution methods, etc.  I have the technology experience combined with a love of music, so think it would be exciting to be at the forefront of figuring out how people will get and pay for their music going forward.

What quality or qualities do you most value in your business associates?

Self-awareness is a top trait that I admire—people who are confident enough in their skills to know what they’re NOT good at. 

As someone at the top of your profession, what keeps you inspired or makes you hit the ground running in the morning?

I’ve worked for 18 years dreaming of being in a position like the one I’m in right now.  As a young sales professional, I visualized being the head of sales for a hot, fast-growing company.  Now that I’m part of one, it inspires me to develop the next set of future leaders.  Watching them grow, gain their voice, and make money are the best compliments I can get.  Knowing that you are helping people mature their business skills is tremendously rewarding. 

About Bill Binch
As Senior Vice President of Sales, Bill leads all of Marketo’s sales activities and is a key architect in Marketo’s rapid sales growth. Prior to joining Marketo, Bill was Vice President and General Manager, Distribution, at AVOLENT, where he managed the team focused on the distribution market, small and medium businesses, and install-base customers. Prior to AVOLENT, he developed his sales and operational experience at Oracle, PeopleSoft, and BEA Systems, where he built and managed direct, inside, and channel organizations and ran business units ranging from mid-market business customers to strategic accounts.

Bill graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

About Marketo
Marketo is the global leader in Revenue Performance Management. Marketo’s easy-to-use marketing automation and sales effectiveness solutions transform how marketing and sales teams of all sizes work—and work together—to drive dramatically increased revenue performance and fuel business growth. The company’s proven technology, comprehensive services, and expert guidance are helping more than 1,400 enterprise and mid-market companies around the world to turn marketing from a cost center to a business-building revenue driver. Marketo also offers Spark by Marketo™, a new brand of marketing automation tailored specifically for small businesses—the fastest-growing and largest segment of today’s economy. For more information visit www.marketo.com, or subscribe to Marketo’s award-winning blogs at blog.marketo.com.

We invite you to apply to be a preliminary-round judge for the 6th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Interested?  Apply here.

How does preliminary-round judging work?

• All sales award and customer service award judging take place in November 2011 - January 2012.
• All judging is done online so judges will be able to review nominations on their own time and at their own pace.
• Judges will be assigned categories based on their experience, function, and industry.
• There is no limit to how many (or how few) nominations judges can review.

What are the benefits of being a Stevie Awards judge?

• Judges get an inside look at how other organizations and individuals are achieving success and confronting challenges. 
• All active judges will receive a certificate of appreciation, suitable for framing.
• All judges will have a chance to win two free tickets to the February 2012 awards banquet in Las Vegas.

Need more information?

• Get the application form.
• Learn more about the judging and awards process.
• Meet the 2011 preliminary-round judges.
• Contact us at help@stevieawards.com.

Apply to be a judge and be a part of a worldwide coalition of business heroes.

What's your favorite reason for applying to be a 2012 Sales & Customer Service judge?

As the November 18 deadline for The Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service approaches, we encourage everyone to submit their entries for the 2012 awards as soon as possible- get your entry kit here.

Here are the top 10 reasons why you should enter:

1. Great staff recognition. Applying for the Stevie Awards is a simple (and affordable) way to recognize your employees' sales excellence and customer service excellence.

2. Free publicity. Stevie Awards winners are not only recognized in an awards ceremony but receive acknowledgment globally via press coverage and our radio cast and Internet streaming. 

3. Company size equality. You don't have to be a big company to win a Stevie. Small organizations have just as much chance to win sales awards and customer service awards as big companies do. 

4. Flexible categories. There are dozens of categories for customer service, call center, contact center, and sales professionals, teams, and departments.  And there are a range of categories to recognize products and services and solution providers.

5. Networking opportunities. Stevie Award winners will be recognized during a gala awards dinner attended by executives from around the world.

6. Low entry fees. The entry fees are nominal compared to the publicity boon your firm can reap when you become a Stevie winner.

7. Earn industry status. The Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service is a great way to benchmark your achievements against competitors in your industry.

8. Oscar-like trophies. The Stevie Award trophies are magnificent - among the most coveted prizes in the world and produced by the same company that the Oscars use.

9. Great PR for your company. Stevie winners can get extra copies of their awards to share with employees, executives, and clients.

10. The Stevie Awards are the world's premier business awards - and you know you and your team deserve that kind of positive recognition.

What's your number one reason for applying for the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service?

We've published a 13 minute video called How to Enter the 2012 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.

The video covers the steps you should follow if you're at all interested in winning the top sales award on the planet.

Entries are now being accepted for the 6th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  You'll find the entry kit online, here.

If you have questions about how to submit nominations after watching the video, write to us at help@stevieawards.com.  We're here for you!