Editor’s Note: PPAI’s annual Pyramid Awards, sponsored by Pacesetter Awards Co., honor creative excellence in the promotional products industry and the outstanding promotions, creative campaigns and exceptional craftsmanship of Association members. The 2023 Pyramid Awards are now accepting submissions.
PPB Newslink is sharing the stories of several 2022 Pyramid Award winners to highlight their accomplishments and to learn more about what it means to secure a PPAI Pyramid win. This issue spotlights the 2022 Silver Pyramid Award won in the Technology: eCommerce Website category by supplier Showdown Displays (PPAI 254687, S11). Submissions for the 2023 Pyramid Awards are open through May 14.
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota-headquartered Showdown Displays has won many Pyramid Awards over the years. Kevin Walsh, president of Showdown Displays, recommends brands considering what to submit to the Pyramid Awards competition to apply an “internal filter” to their recent projects that objectively assesses the innovation of what is to be submitted.
“Our internal threshold is whether what we’ve achieved/produced is innovative or ground-breaking advancement for our brand in the industry,” Walsh says. “In the most recent case this was Showdown Displays Virtual showroom. Showdown Displays produces scores of marketing materials to help our distributors grow their business. Our team internally assesses the relevance of the piece to establish whether it delivers a truly innovative experience.”
In the 2022 competition, Showdown Displays took home a Silver in the Pyramid Awards competition for its Virtual Showroom. The Virtual Showroom provides an immersive and interactive product experience for distributor partners and their clients.
Initially conceived as a method to address the transportation and presentation of physically large and cumbersome products, the initiative was accelerated by the challenges of remote presentations created by the pandemic. The Virtual Showroom platform unites multiple aspects of Showdown Displays’ branding, innovation and educational efforts into a single reference point allowing users swift and easy access. Additionally, all points within the environment were conceived as “end user” friendly to make it easier for distributors to share it with their clients.
A Pyramid Award win emphasizes and reinforces recipients’ creativity and professionalism. Showcasing the award win in their marketing and sales efforts is the natural and common choice.
“Showdown Displays socializes and promotes all of our industry achievements in our marketing communications and on our website,” Walsh says. “This helps to establish a third-party validation of our messaging related to industry leadership.”
The 2023 Pyramid Award competition is accepting entries through May 14. For more information and to enter the competition, go to www.ppai.org/pyramid. If you need assistance or have additional questions email awards@ppai.org.