By Allison Burdine

The International CES^® Innovations Design and Engineering Awards program began 34 years ago and has grown into one of the leading design and engineering awards programs in the consumer electronics industry.

With the Innovations 2009 call for entries opening on August 18, I reached out to two companies who have been involved in the Innovations program for over 10 years: Polk Audio and Audiovox’s public relations company, Melvin Clapman Public Relations.

Being true Innovations and industry veterans they – Al Baron of Polk Audio and Melvin Clapman of Melvin Clapman Public Relations – offered some great advice for companies who might be considering entering product(s) this year.

What drives your decision to enter your product(s) for the awards program?

Al Baron: The Innovations Awards have developed into a well respected accolade that confers a high level of respect to the product and the brand. You know you’re in the company of some compelling products and designs when you earn this award.

How do you prepare for the Innovations Design and Engineering Call for Entries?

Melvin Clapman: Once we receive the “Call for Entries” notification, we contact Audiovox’s product managers to request their products that best fit into the Innovations Awards program categories. After their recommendations are approved by Audiovox management, we process the products onto the forms provided by CEA and submit them.

Al Baron: The application process requires that we distill the key attributes, consumer benefits and unique characteristics of the product. This is a valuable exercise. The outcome is the basis for marketing materials, consumer messaging and sales training.

  What advice would you share with companies entering the awards program for the first time?

Al Baron: Most companies have more innovative products than they realize, because sometimes they’re too close to it. Don’t be shy about entering!

Melvin Clapman: Use the informative website that CEA has specifically for the Innovations Awards to get a complete understanding of what the product categories cover, what information must be included for each product submitted, rules requiring use of product photos, and deadlines.

Do you feel that being an Honoree has increased sales of the winning product? How about your other products?

Melvin Clapman: Audiovox has used the “Honorees” logo in ads that communicate their winning products. This reflects “third-party” recognition of a company marketing a high-quality product. We have no way of tracking sales of Audiovox products.

Al Baron: This is always difficult to measure. However, we know that customers are looking for third party opinions when making product purchases, particularly consumer electronics, which can be perceived as very technical. So using the award logo with marketing materials should give consumers greater confidence in your product.

Does your company exhibit in New York at the International CES Press Preview or in Las Vegas during CES Unveiled, the Official Press Event for the International CES? If yes, did you find the experience rewarding?

Melvin Clapman: For the past three years, Audiovox has exhibited their award-winning products at CES Unveiled in NY. Because of the large turnout by the trade and consumer press in all venues – print, radio and television – we believe that the coverage Audiovox receives at this event goes a long way in giving them and their products major awareness to the trade (retailers) and consumers.

Learn more about the Innovations Design and Engineering Awards at: www.CESweb.org/Innovations or e-mail Innovations@CE.org.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 11:36 am and is filed under CEA Events, CES. Reply to this post, or trackback from your own site. Follow responses to this entry through the comments RSS feed.