Rewarding the best at the Channel Expo
The highly-anticipated Channel Expo Awards are drawing ever closer and this week the select channel players lucky enough to make the short list are revealed. Sara Driscoll unveils the firms that are poised to win big at Birmingham's NEC on 28 March
After some serious reading, deliberating and final judges agreements, the short lists for the glittering Channel Expo Awards are out.
This is the first year the awards have taken this format, following the revamp and relaunch of the channel’s only dedicated exhibition, Channel Expo, to mark its 10th anniversary.
With the show running on 28 and 29 March at the NEC in Birmingham, the Channel Expo Awards night – on 28 March at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham – is bound to prove welcome relaxation for some, not least of all the judges, who according to Simon Meredith, had some tough decisions to make.
“There were a lot of very good entries – particularly in the Networking and Unified Comms products categories and the overall Best to Sell categories and coming up with the short lists here was quite a challenge,” Meredith said.
“The overall number of entries was impressive, especially considering this is the first year for these awards. Even so, I know that there are many more companies that could have put a very good case for their products to win and I would urge vendors and their marketing people to make certain that they put their hats in the ring next time round. Being short-listed or winning an award is bound to give your team a real boost.”
Steve Reid, IT and imaging senior account manager at analyst firm GfK and fellow judge, said: “Deciding on a shortlist was a demanding process and deciding a winner was tight in many categories. This underpins a number of things; the quality of products and service providers in the market, their commitment to the channel and the value of channel accreditation, the market diversity and its opportunities for the future.”
The Awards attracted more than 70 entries, an amazing feat considering this is its first run.
Although the judges had intended to produce a short list of four for each category, the standard was so high in some categories that the short list had to be extended.
Keith Warburton, Awards judge and chief executive of the PCA, which is running the awards in association with Channel Expo, said: “Trying to narrow down the short lists was a tough job. Some of the entries were very well thought-out and really showed how various products can help channel partners to develop their business.
“With the Channel Expo awards we are attempting to reward product excellence and reward those products that allow VARs to add value and differentiate.”
Ann Keefe, sales director UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, which is short-listed in both the Storage and Component product categories, said being short-listed was proof that channel schemes and incentives were working.
“It is fantastic to be short-listed for an award and to know that our contribution to the channel has been recognised,” she said.
“We are looking forward to attending the exhibition and the awards dinner as many of our channel partners will be there and it will be a good opportunity to catch up with all our old friends. It would be great to win an award because it confirms that our programmes are bringing the channel what they are looking for.”
Karin Jones, sales and marketing director at VIP, said: “VIP is delighted to have two product partner nominations in the Channel Expo Awards shortlist, in the Audiovisual and Storage product categories.
“PEAK, in particular, is an exclusive brand to VIP that produces good margins for our customers. We would welcome the chance to receive a reward on behalf of PEAK to recognise product excellence and market opportunity.”
Jon Atherton, group vice-president, commercial at Enta Technologies, said: “Being short-listed is fantastic, it is a real morale booster for any company and especially for everyone associated with Entatech. It shows Entatech is once again moving onwards and upwards.”
Andrew Lawton, director Northern Europe at Internet Security Systems, an IBM company, said: “We are delighted to be short-listed for this year’s Channel Expo Awards. The channel is imperative to our company's success and we are committed to building a network of partners and to providing them with the tools and technology they need to grow their businesses and to help their customers stay ahead of the threat.”
In addition to the awards covered by this short list (see box), the Best Stand at Show Award will be decided by a panel of judges to be selected from pre-registered visitors to the show (readers can register to attend by visiting www.channelexpo.co.uk). In addition, the PCA Honorary Fellowship, marking individual achievement, will be announced on the night.