MCEI Awards

VICTORIA SOUNDLY BEATEN BY OTHER STATES

IN MCEI MARKETING AWARDS 2007

Victoria is proud of the diverse range of quality businesses that spring up in their state. However, entrants in the 2007 inaugural Marketing Communications Executive International (MCEI) Awards were beaten in every category by interstate entrants.

Jodie Ensor of Mud Drums Australia, from South Australia, won the Micro Business category and was the overall winner, receiving the coveted Australian ‘Marketer of the Year’ trophy and over $4,000 worth of prizes.

This fantastic business is truly ‘drumming up a storm’ and will now be judged by an international panel against similar winners from such countries as Taipei, Japan and Switzerland for the world ‘Marketing Excellence’ award.

Jodie makes ceramic and goats skin drums that are used by drummers around the world, who appreciate the unique sound coupled with the artistic design. Her marketing strategies have been enormously successful and very impressive as she has built a strong brand, supported the community and extensively used the media – all on a shoestring budget.

At the award presentation on 30^th October, Drum Fire set the historic Metropole Conference Centre ‘on fire’ (previously a fire station in the days when the wagon was drawn by horses) as the capacity crowd participated with their own mini mud drums and shaker balls. An exciting presentation was assured as everyone was ‘red hot’ and rearing to go, after such an interactive display!

John Kirkhope, designer of the Diana Ferrari shoe label, was the Keynote speaker and presenter. John compared business to the display everyone had just witnessed of Skye Gellmann balancing his rola-bola cylinders and platforms in a breathtaking and awesome circus performance. John pointed out that as long as there was a sound and stable foundation to a business you could balance the remaining, ever shifting platforms, with patience and perseverance, just like Skye did!

Annette Sym of Symply Too Good, from Queensland, won the Home Based Business Category. Judges were impressed with her marketing strategies that have resulted in over 2 million of her health recipe books being sold.

Linda Vining of Education Expo, from NSW took out the Small Business Category, in what judges recognised was a difficult and complex area to break into, with Samea Maakrun (also from NSW) taking out the Ethnic award for the marketing of her aromatherapy product.

Bev Ryan of Honestly Women, from Queensland, won the Women sub category. To market her new magazine, Bev used it, in turn, to promote the Redkite Charity for children with cancer. She organised a team of women to take part in the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race – and they won the cruising division! This was a real win/win situation for the charity, the magazine and women in general!

Barbara Gabogrecan (current President of MCEI Melbourne) and previous winner of many awards, said:-
“I am very aware of the importance the small business sector place on marketing. It is a business skill that they do not always feel comfortable with, yet many businesses are extremely creative and innovative with the cost effective marketing strategies they employ. MCEI wanted to recognise and reward them for their efforts.”

Finalists
Major Winners
Highly Commended
Special Recognition
What Attendees thought about the Presentation

Watch this space for information on the 2008 MCEI Marketing Awards!