2011 MCM Awards: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I’m a small marketer, and only the big guys become finalists and win.
A: We have broken out three of the largest categories by sales so that smaller companies can better compete! Plus, small marketers have Been big winners in recent years. CenturyNovelty.com, Chasing Fireflies and Wild Pure Delicious by Vital Choice are just a few of the smaller merchants to take home 2010 MCM Awards.

Q: The same companies win every year.
A: It’s true that many merchants consistently achieve excellence, but first-time entrants and new companies take home Gold and Silver awards each year. For a second year in a row, we are limiting the number of entries to four per company to help level the playing field. It seemed to work last year, as 10 winners were first-time entrants.

Q: It’s a beauty contest.
A: Each entry is judged on multiple, equally weighted criteria, including cover/home page, merchandising, copy, design and production/navigation and usability, and customer service and ordering. Judges are continually reminded to weigh the marketing success and other factors included in the evaluation just as heavily as graphic appeal.

Q: If I submit my financial results on the entry form, the judges might discuss our numbers with competitors.
A: Entry form data is confidential – members of the judging panel sign a contract in which they promise not to share the information provided on the forms. And in the 26-year history of the Awards, there has never been a breach of confidentiality.

Q: The judges may be biased toward their own catalogs or websites, or those of their clients.
A: Judges are prohibited from reviewing any catalog, or website, with which they have or have had an affiliation as well as those of competitors. Judges who work for merchants are also not allowed to judge within the category they compete in, whether or not their company has entered the MCM Awards.

Q: It’s not worth the time and expense to enter.
A: Even if you don’t make it through to the finalist round, all entries receive feedback from the prescreening judging panel. In fact, this year we plan to enhance the feedback provided by the panelists. So just by entering, you’ll receive a mini-critique from an industry expert – well worth the price of entry!

Q: What if I want to enter online but pay the entry fee by check?
A: Use the coupon code “Check” (the “C” must be capitalized), click “apply coupon,” and mail your check along with any other required collateral to:

Tim Parry
c/o Multichannel Merchant
11 River Bend Dr. S.
P.O. Box 4949
Stamford, CT 06907

You will be asked to enter credit card information for verification purposes, but your card will not be charged. Please make your check out to Penton Media and include MCM Awards in the memo.

Q: I have a question that hasn’t been answered. What should I do?
A: Click here to email MCM Awards director Tim Parry.