The Direct Marketing Association is accepting nominations for the Echo Awards to be presented Oct. 20 at its 85th annual conference and exhibition in San Francisco.
U.S. and international direct marketing campaigns produced, completed and evaluated between Jan. 1, 2001 and March 31, 2002 are eligible as entries.
In its 73rd year, the Echo awards measure response, marketing strategy and creativity. Last year, 63 campaigns out of the 1,122 entries won the awards.
“As the advertising community has more budgetary cutbacks, results-based awards like this tend to assume more importance, so we expect more entries this year because of that,” said Christina Duffney, spokesman of the DMA.
Entries for this year have to fall under 12 primary business categories: automotive, business services, communications/utilities, consumer services, direct response sales, financial products and services, information technologies, manufacturing and distribution, nonprofit fundraising, packaged goods, publishing and retailing.
There are 10 advertising media. They are flat mail, dimensional mail, catalog, print, television/radio commercial, infomercial, Internet/interactive media, telephone, alternative media, and multimedia/integrated media.
All submissions must be postmarked by April 15. Entrants can only use the electronic form available at www.dma-echo.org. Creative should include an English translation of the copy.
DMW, Wayne, PA, has been named to handle marketing and creative responsibilities for this year’s awards. The campaign includes direct mail, e-mail and the Echo subsite creative. Last year, London agency DP&A handled those responsibilities.
