As Australia’s largest consumer-voted awards for innovation, Product of the Year has become an invaluable marketing tool that helps winners set themselves apart from their competition.
Entries are now open for the 2017 awards. For a product to be eligible, it must have been launched between January 2015 and August 2016 and be either a completely new type of product or represent a new and innovative twist to an existing product or brand, such as one with a new ingredient, redesigned shape or size, new formula, or new packaging.
Product of the Year Director Sarah Connelly says the awards have grown every year in both the number of entries and categories and that this trend is expected to continue.
Early-bird entries close on June 17, 2016 with final entries closing on July 22, 2016. The 2017 categories will be finalised after jury preview in late August, 2016.
All entrants will be judged and vetted by industry experts representing retailers, media, consumer researchers and journalists. They will determine whether each entrant meets the key criteria of the program and can be submitted for judging in the survey by 14,000 consumers.
The winners will be announced in a gala ceremony in Sydney in February, 2017.
“Previous award winners in Australia have reported sales increases of over 40 per cent after using the Product of the Year logo on their packaging, promotions and advertising, which winners are able to do for 12 months following their win,” Ms Connelly said.