Every year the SMP Strategic Mail Performance Awards provide a platform to celebrate the creativity, brilliance and ingenuity of our incredible industry – demonstrating and promoting its hard work and innovation. They are also a showcase for young professionals in the industry and support the next generation of emerging talent.
If you are a mailing house, printer, print manager or agency, then you are eligible to enter 2024’s awards scheme for free – the winners of which will be announced at an evening full of fun, laughter and entertainment on September 26th at The Steel Yard, London.
The deadline for entries is August 30th, so head to the following link to find out more and submit your stories of ingenuity and excellence: thestrategicmailingpartnership.co.uk/smp-mail-performance-awards-2024
The awards evening will be hosted by celebrated UK comedian and international star of the stage and screen Ellie Taylor. Having lit up the dance floor on Strictly and now the host of Bake Off: The Professionals, Ellie will be presenting the coveted Golden and Platinum Envelope Awards in between entertaining guests.
Investing in a bright future
UK Mail is the headline sponsor for 2024, with a fantastic cross section of 14 print technology developers, media suppliers and mail service providers all supporting the Awards to amplify the SMP’s work to advocate for the industry.
“I am particularly excited about the SMP Bright Futures Award, as we are able to showcase the next generation of amazing talent coming through our industry and provide a platform to celebrate their endeavour and excellence,” says Jon Wilkins, Director of DSA Mail, UK Mail.
He adds: “It is specifically designed to recognise emerging talent in the UK print industry and give us the chance to highlight individuals who show amazing promise in any discipline and at any level.”
Open to entrants under the age of 30, the winner of the SMP Bright Futures Award will receive £1,500 of IDM learning credits to spend on DMA learning products – including masterclasses and qualifications to support their development. In addition to publicity and recognition across the SMP’s media channels, the top 3 runner-up winners will also receive £450 of learning credits to spend on a DMA masterclass of their choice.
The additional returning categories for 2024 are the SMP Performance Award and the Sustainable Campaign Award, which have both seen a record number of impressive entries.
Lucy Swanston, SMP Chair and the Managing Director of Nutshell Creative – who is a judge for the awards
“The Sustainable Campaign Award recognises the positive effect that a mail producer’s production strategy has made both internally, and also across the entire value chain. This includes areas such as client involvement, raw materials, transportation and delivery, broader public engagement and behaviour change – as well as the end-of-life phase of the campaign.”
Backing the industry’s success
With a host of talented and highly-respected professionals from across the mailing industry making up the judging panel, the Awards are free to enter and are open to all SMP members – if a business is not already a member, they can sign up to become one for free and submit an entry.
“The Strategic Mail Performance Awards not only aim to celebrate exceptional work within our industry. They also shine a bright light on the excellence of our sector’s products, services and creative solutions direct to brands and the wider marketing industry,” emphasises Lucy, who adds: “The awards generate a wealth of rich case studies that the SMP use as inspirational examples that prove the effectiveness and value of mail as marketing and communications channel.”
Entries can cover business mail, advertising mail, door drop or partially addressed mailings and can be business-to-business or business-to-consumer focused.
Examples of entries include where mail producers have:
- Reduced campaign costs or improved performance by changing a pack design
- Delivered a better ROI for the client by enhancing the use of data or targeting
- Ensured a client could enhance their customer journey by redesigning a campaign
- Helped a client introduce mail into their marketing automation platforms – providing enhanced targeting, segmentation and speed to market
- Delivered measurable results on improving the sustainability of a mailing campaign
Significantly improved a client’s marketing reach and brand awareness while exceeding their campaign goals
