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Date:24 April 2012

IMRG Announce Categories for the e-Commerce Awards for Excellence 2012

IMRG have announced the full list of categories for the e-Commerce Awards for Excellence 2012, the most prestigious industry awards scheme in the event calendar.

The e-Commerce Awards, now in their fourth year, were established to recognise the e-commerce businesses that have performed best in a range of areas over the last year.

There are 15 separate awards available that e-businesses can put themselves forward for this year, with a further two to be decided by the Awards’ Judges: the Online Gold Award (OLGA) and Outstanding Contribution to e-Commerce.

The submission process is now open and will run until 8th June. The shortlisted entries will then be announced in mid-July, with the ceremony to announce the winners taking place in London on Tuesday 3rd October.

The e-Commerce Awards for Excellence 2012 are hosted by IMRG in association with the e-Commerce Expo, which is held in October of each year. These online awards represent an outstanding opportunity for e-businesses to get themselves recognised as leaders in a variety of areas.

To submit your business into one of the Awards categories, CLICK HERE. IMRG members are eligible for a 25% discount on the entering fee; email press@imrg.org for the code.

If you are interested in attending the Awards ceremony, contact Matthew Papworth +44 (0)20 7921 8186 / Matthew.Papworth@ubm.com.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Rebecca Slater +44 (0) 20 7921 8596, Rebecca.Slater@ubm.com.


1 Best Multi-Channel Retailer of the Year
Who can enter?
Retailers:
Open to all retailers with an online and offline multi-channel proposition*. This award will recognise the retailer that can demonstrate the best integration of its channels within its overall retail brand to deliver a seamless customer experience across multiple touch-points.

*Multi-channel is classed as a functioning multiple platforms like website, mobile and social, and include Stores, Call Centres or Catalogues that are available to the public, in the UK.
 
What do the judges want to see?
A retailer using multiple channels through which it can engage with the consumer, with  options available to improve the experience such as click and collect, text notifications for delivery, in-store kiosks where the consumer can order online if the store is out of stock. A full integration of the on-line and in-store customer journeys to create cross-sell and upsell between the channels.

2 International e-Retailer of the Year
Who can enter?
Retailers:
Any retailer that has expanded internationally, with a reasonable proportion of business now coming from overseas /or demonstrating strong growth in that area. This means trading actively, receiving orders and sending products outside of the UK.

What do the judges want to see?
Clear evidence of increased sales in overseas markets and implementation of a multi-lingual/currency website providing a rich localized consumer experience. This should include excellent delivery options and clear returns and customer service policies.

3 Large e-Retailer of the Year
Who can enter?
Retailers:
Open to online and catalogue retailers with a turnover of over £10m (defined as running an online store, this can include catalogue as a channel as long as over 50% of business is traded   online). This award will recognise the retailer that provides the best direct online retail experience for the consumer and offline support will not be taken into account
 
What do the judges want to see?
Excellent choice, user experience and strong sales will be a given but judges will also be looking for evidence that this is a retailer who is committed to online retail demonstrating true innovation and market leadership.

4 Small e-Retailer of the Year
Who can enter?
Retailers:
Open to online and catalogue retailers with a turnover of under £10m (defined as running an online store, this can include catalogue as a channel as long as over 50% of business is done online). This award will recognise the retailer that provides the best direct online retail experience for the consumer and offline support will not be taken into account

What do the judges want to see?
Excellent choice, user experience and strong sales will be a given but judges will also be looking for evidence that this is a retailer who is committed to online retail demonstrating true innovation and market leadership.

5 m-Commerce Strategy of the Year 
Who can enter?
Retailers:
Any retailer with a serious mobile strategy including mobile-enabled site and/or a mobile application that compliments and enhances the primary business and is part of an overall strategy to increase profit and brand awareness. 

What the judges want to see?
The judges are looking for a company that has embraced the mobile channel and realises its importance to the future of retail. Bringing the retailer’s brand into the pocket of the consumer and demonstrating a clear strategy to increase sales by driving offers and ideas to aid the consumer’s purchase decision.

6 Best Use of Rich Content Online
Who can enter?
Retailers:
This award is open to all retailers.

What do the judges want to see?
The Judges are looking for the most imaginative use of rich media content to enhance the customer experience. We need to see beyond a variety of images, editorial content, informative product descriptions, and innovative and appropriate use of technology along with any other relevant factors. Crucially, we need to see evidence that this audio and visual engagement has led to increased business and a more positive experience for the customer.

7 The e-Commerce Innovation Award
Who can enter?
Retailers & Technology Suppliers:
All retailers and suppliers are eligible to enter.

What do the judges want to see?
The judges are looking for the most imaginative development for e-retailers this year. What retail idea has pushed the boundaries and utilizes available hardware or software to create something visionary? This innovation must have a tracked ROI, but can be based on the ground or in the cloud and truly have a “wow” factor for anyone using it.
 
8 Re-design/Re-launch of the Year
Who can enter?
Retailers:
Open to all who have had a major makeover or just a “wash and brush up” since 1st July 2011.

What do the judges want to see?
Screenshots of the old website will need to be provided to compare with your new one, allowing the judges to assess both content and overall look and feel. Did the project run on time, run to budget, and can prove it achieved it target. Judges will also need evidence that the changes have led to increased business for the retailer and a more positive experience for the customer.

9 Best Customer Service Award
Who can enter?
Retailers:
This award is open to all e-retailers. 

What do the judges want to see?
The winning retailer will have to demonstrate that they have gone the “extra mile” to really help their customers. There must be clear evidence/testimonials that your customer service processes, proactive management and customer service team are the best in e-commerce, making the experience of buying and completing a sale through their channel of choice on the site an enjoyable and easy one. Plus evidence of actively responding to and remedying faults highlighted by customers through social media channels.

10 Best e-Retailer Delivery Award
Who can enter?
Retailers:
This award is open to e-retailers that recognize the importance of Delivery as part of the consumers overall online shopping experience and which have gone that ‘extra mile’ to achieve 1st time / on time delivery.

What do the judges want to see?
This award will acknowledge and applaud the retailer that can demonstrate a full understanding of how its customers want to receive its products by using appropriate delivery solutions. It will recognize that the e-retailer provides all the relevant information throughout the buying process in order help the customer make an informed choice to allow a successful 1st time delivery and will want to see evidence of innovation in delivery and the impact this has had in improving service levels, producing better business results and higher levels of consumer satisfaction.

11 Best e-Commerce Marketing Campaign
Who can enter?
Retailers & Agencies:
This award is open to all retailers and agencies working online and offline.

What do the judges want to see?
This award will recognise the company that demonstrates, either through continual or one-off marketing activity, that it knows how to drive traffic and, more crucially, sales on its website. Online, offline or physical event activities, or a combination of all three, will be considered. The results of success in this area must be measurable.

12 Best Social Media Engagement Award
Who can enter?
Retailers: 
This award is open to all retailers who use various social media sites to actively engage with the consumer.

What do the judges want to see?
Judges want to see social media employed to demonstrate business benefit, preferably in an innovative way. Good PR is hard to come by and positive PR from social media sites is pure gold. Active conversations on Twitter, use of Facebook and blogs are becoming standard; what sets your social media engagment apart from the rest of the pack?

13 Green e-Retailer - The Consumer Choice Award 
Who can enter?
Retailers: 
This award is open to all retailers fully committed to reducing damage to the environment.

What the judges want to see?
A business that has strong green credentials and a proven track record in reducing packing, pollution and business spend

How it works:
You must demonstrate that you have a Green Business programme and consumers who rate your company head and shoulders above the rest. Any e-retailer can apply, with a shortlist to be announced on the XXX, giving you 4 weeks to promote to your customers and get them to vote in support of you. The votes will be counted up, and the winner will be revealed on the night of the Awards.

14 The Online Gold Award (the OLGA)
Who can enter?
The winner is selected by the judges from all entries into the awards.

What the judges want to see?
This will be the Best of the Best. The judges will look for the retailer who has made the biggest impact in e-retail in the last 12 months, through a combination of online marketing, site innovation and the implementation of a clear customer-engagement strategy including social media and mobile technology.

15 The Outstanding Contribution to e-Commerce Award
Who can enter?
The shortlist for this award is selected by the judges and the winner will be UK-based.

What the judges will look for?
This will go to the person who the judges feel has done the most for e-commerce over the last year. They will speak with authority on industry issues, their ideas turn to gold, and they will have provided value and innovation in every company they work for.

16 New e-Retailer of the Year
Who can enter?
Retailers new to e-commerce:
Open to retailers who have started trading online in the last 12 months. The brand would be new to market and be providing a fresh and innovative experience for the consumer and has a joined-up strategy covering all relevant touch-points of the business.
 
What do the judges want to see?
Excellent engagement and user experience combined with strong sales growth will be a given, but judges will also be looking for evidence that this is a retailer who is committed to online retail demonstrating true innovation and market presence in the short time they have been online.

17 Best Payment Innovation in e-Commerce
Who can enter?
Retailers & Suppliers:
Open to all retailers and payment system suppliers.  

What do the judges want to see?
The judges will look for evidence that the company has thought about payments not only from the aspect of the business but the wider innovation available via new technologies and mobile devices. Thumb printing, facial recognition and use of camera enabled devices could all be winners.