SAMMYs Class of 2004: Marketing School Is in Session
It was standing room only. Calls were made and more chairs were brought in, but most of those who attended Security Sales & Integration‘s 9th annual Sales and Marketing (SAMMY) Awards didn’t notice: With an anticipatory buzz in the air, they were too busy mingling over hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, meeting their peers and swapping marketing secrets to worry about finding seats.
After all, months of waiting would soon end when SSI announced the winners in 12 categories: Best Residential Sales Brochure, Commercial Sales Brochure, Direct Mail Sales Brochure, Business Card Design, Yellow Page Ad Design, Company Newsletter, Promotional Item, TV/Radio Ad, Company Logo/Vehicle Design, Company Web Site Design, Integrated Commercial/Industrial Installation of the Year and Integrated Residential Installation of the Year.
For the most part, these 12 categories are subject to similar criteria: Materials must be clear, attractive and cost-effective. A company can enter as many categories as it wants, and the only requirement is that SSI must receive an entry form and actual marketing materials by Dec. 1.
It’s really not much work considering the vast benefits participants enjoy. A laureate joins an elite group of installers and integrators, as the SAMMYs program is the only one of its kind in the security industry. No other program measures marketing and integration expertise or provides the networking and brainstorming possibilities like the SAMMYs do.
While a SAMMYs win can mean kudos to a company’s marketing team, congratulations are in order for the entire company that makes day-to-day business success possible. And when a company pushes itself toward marketing, installation and customer service excellence, the entire industry only stands to benefit.
The coveted SAMMY awards gleamed on the stage as manufacturer representatives met the integrators who rely on their products. Association officials met the people who attend their meetings. Fifteen security industry legends, present for a simultaneous induction into the SSI Hall of Fame, met the people who might one day also hold such a distinction. The March 30 SAMMYs, which unofficially kicked of the International Security Conference (ISC) in Las Vegas, was truly a meeting of the minds.
Laughter roared and history was made as industry legend Ron Spiller – an inductee himself – emceed the SSI Hall of Fame presentation. Industry leaders like NAPCO’s Dick Soloway and Honeywell Fire Solutions Group’s Mark Levy shared the stage and a handshake with Spiller, who presented them with a marble plaque and a light comic roasting.
Although Spiller was a tough act to follow, SSI Publisher Mike Zawinski segued into the moment everyone had been waiting for: the SAMMY Awards presentation. One by one, 12 SAMMYs were handed out to innovative integrators displaying the best marketing ideas and installation expertise. Applause ensued as the winners crossed the stage, shook hands with Zawinski and a representative of one of many SAMMY-sponsoring manufacturers, and cradled their hard-earned SAMMY award in their arms.
With winners’ and finalists’ submissions projected onto a giant screen, the SAMMYs ceremony was larger than life. Attendees would have been wise to take notes because this year’s competition was stiff: Innovative television commercials induced a collective audience guffaw; professional sales brochures undoubtedly sparked internal musings (Why didn’t I think of that?); and bright yellow fleet vehicles burned into the audience’s memory.
If you missed this year’s SAMMY Awards ceremony, held at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, fear not: Those marketing secrets won’t stay in Vegas. Fresh off their SAMMY wins, these integrators and marketing whizzes are eager to spread the good news and let their peers know what works – and what doesn’t – in security-industry marketing.
Who knows – maybe their tips will get your company an award next year. SSI is already accepting entries for the 2005 SAMMYs. The competition is fierce, but the rewards grand. Just ask the following 10 companies with additions to their trophy cabinets.
Here are the 2004 SAMMY winners!:
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Residential Installation of the Year –
Sponsored by DSC:
Greater Alarm, Irvine,Calif.
Business Card Design –
Sponsored by ISC EXPO:
All-Guard Systems, Hayward, Calif.
Commerical Sales Brochure –
Sponsored by Reed Exposistions:
All-Guard Systems,Hayward, Calif.
TV/Radio Advertisement –
Sponsored by Alarm Capital Alliance:
Guardian ProtectionServices, Pittsburgh
Yellow Page Ad Design –
Sponsored by NBFAA:
Guardian ProtectionServices, Pittsburgh
Residential Sales Brochure –
Sponsored by NAPCO:
Ackerman Security Systems, Atlanta
Direct Mail Sales Brochure –
Sponsored by Honeywell:
Alarm Detection Systems,Aurora, Ill.
Promotional Item –
Sponsored by Nascom:
Custom Alarm, Rochester, Minn.
Company Logo/Vehicle Design –
Sponsored by Altronix:
Peak Alarm, Salt Lake City
Company Web Site Design –
Sponsored by LeadTracker:
Vision Southeast, Birmingham,Ala.
Congratulations to All the 2004 SAMMYs Finalists!
Commercial/Industrial Installation of the Year Finalists
Residential Installation of the Year Finalists
Business Card Design Finalists
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