CRITERIA
There are an array of expertly curated criteria for each categories up for grabs at the PCR Awards.
RETAILER CATEGORY
The Retailer Awards recognise excellence in consumer-facing organisations, whether they are bricks and mortar stores or online businesses. The winners of these awards will be those organisations that have best represented the UK technology industry to the outside world and achieved outstanding sales success in the process.
GAMING RETAILER OF THE YEAR
The Gaming Retailer of the Year Award is open to any company that retails anything involved in the gaming industry.
Entries should include:
– Overall sales figures indicative of retail success over the past 12 months
– Details of key performance indicators for measuring success
– Details of sales performance across three top product ranges
– Details of multi-platform marketing campaign focusing on local areas and community engagement
SYSTEM BUILDER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to any national system builder that makes custom PCs/laptops, whether channel-focused or shipping direct to consumer.
Entries should include:
– Overall sales figures over the past 12 months
– Details of key performance indicators for measuring success
– Details of sales performance across three top product ranges
– Details of multi-platform marketing campaign
INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to any bricks and mortar computer retailer, or organisation involved in the support and repair of PCs, with five stores or fewer. If the organisation builds its own-brand systems and sells them national or internationally, it should enter the System Builder category.
Entries should include:
– Overall sales figures indicative of retail success over the past 12 months
– Details of key performance indicators for measuring success
– Details of sales performance across three top product ranges
– Details of multi-platform marketing campaign focusing on local areas and community engagement
ONLINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR
This award is for any computer or technology retailer who conducts their business solely online.
Entries should include:
– Overall sales figures indicative of retail success over the past 12 months
– Details of sales performance across three top product ranges
– Details of multi-platform national marketing campaign – this can include both print and digital exposure
– Details of key performance indicators for measuring success
RESELLER CATEGORY
The Reseller Awards recognise the B2B side of technology sales across hardware, services, integration or software. These awards recognise achievements across the spectrum, from servicing small businesses right up to the enterprise level.
CORPORATE VAR OF THE YEAR
The Corporate VAR award is open to any UK-based Value-Added Reseller selling into medium to enterprise sized businesses (defined as over 250 employees).
Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year. Suggested metrics include numbers of new customers, revenue growth, and/or expansion of the business in terms of staff and assets.
– Evidence of targeted multi-platform campaigns/strategies that have had a proven impact upon your target market, resulting in increased awareness of your business and services.
– Details of solutions and products you have developed that have been successful, based on technical knowledge and adaptability to particular client needs.
MSP SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
The MSP Specialist award is open to any UK reseller specialising in providing Managed Services to its clients.
Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year. This can include numbers of new customers, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff and assets.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increased client base.
– Details of specific managed services solutions and products you have developed hat have been successful, based on technical knowledge of the sector and how that has been adaptable to clients’ particular needs.
SMB RESELLER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to any UK reseller focused upon selling to small to medium sized businesses (under 250 employees).
Entries should include:
– Clear evidence of commercial success and growth over the year, and strategy for growth in the coming years.
– Up to 3 case studies involving key clients that demonstrate the use of innovation and expertise to meet the needs and requirements of clients.
– Evidence of outstanding value provided to SMB clients over the year – what makes you stand out from your competition?
– Evidence of year-on-year client retention and key account growth.
CHANNEL SERVICES CATEGORY
This category aims to recognise the industry’s best dealer services providers, PR agencies and buying groups.
DEALER SERVICES PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
The Dealer Services Provider Award is open to any IT dealer services provider who operates within the UK and provides services to retailers and resellers.
Entries should include:
– Evidence of how your organisation is supporting the commercial and strategic needs of retailers and resellers.
– Evidence of how the services offered in your organisation makes you stand out from the crowd. How are you differentiating your services from that of your competitors and how is that impacting the resellers and retailers who use your services for the better?
– Evidence of sustained growth in customers using your service, including strategic detail regarding future growth.
MARKETING AND PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR
The Marketing & PR Award is for any agency that provides marketing and/or PR to clients operating in the UK IT Channel.
Entries should include:
– Empirical evidence of up to 3 successful marketing or PR campaigns, including detail of client objectives and how these were met/exceeded.
– Up to 3 testimonials from key clients demonstrating a high level of customer service and strong relationships in the channel.
NEW CATEGORIES 2022
TECH GURU OF THE YEAR
This award will go to the most highly acclaimed tech personality in the industry. Someone deeply embedded in the IT and Tech channel, who is both influential and well known for their business acumen and industry expertise. Nominees should be someone who is an industry stalwart or veteran who is highly respected and a specialist in their field.
Entries to Include
– Explanation of why this person is an acclaimed personality
– How long they may have worked in the industry and any major achievements
– Any case studies are welcome
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
With the current spotlight on reducing our carbon footprint many are doing their bit to make a change from large multinational corporations right down to single individuals. PCR’s Suitability of the Year award will commend the most committed and effective sustainability initiative within the tech channel from realigning business practices within an organisation to initiatives such as recycling and reusing tech. If achieving carbon neutral is high on your agenda or you are involved in anything like a tech recycling programme then this award category is a must for you to enter.
Entries should include
– How your initiatives have done their bit for sustainability
– Clear evidence and case studies to back up your entry
COMMUNITY FOCUS AWARD
This award will commend the most outstanding community project, which may include education and training, charity project, tech development that supports the local community. Over the past year we have seen some fantastic initiatives taking place to help local communities such as donating tech equipment to local hospitals and schools to providing funding for youths and younger generations to get involved in local training programmes such as esports. If you are involved in a focused community, IT and Tech project then this is a must enter category for you.
Entries should include
– How your projects and initiatives have helped a community or multiple communities
– Clear evidence and case studies to back up your entry
VOTED BY THE PCR TEAM – NO SUBMISSIONS REQUIRED
PCR COMPANY OF THE YEAR
RISING STAR
DISTRIBUTION CATEGORY
The distribution awards are designed to acknowledge the hard work put in by those companies that act as a vital cog in the technology channel, linking vendors with people on the frontline – retailers and resellers.
SOFTWARE AND SERVICES DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Software and Services Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has an extensive software offering. This can include straight software product distribution, Software-as-as-Service, and the support structures to assist resellers and retailers in selling these.
Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new software vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Explanation of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.
HARDWARE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Hardware Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has a large hardware offering – this includes components (graphics cards, processors, motherboards) full PCs (desktops, laptops) or peripherals (mice, keyboards and headsets).
Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Details of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Consumer Electronics Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has large consumer electronics offering – for example smartphones, tablets, wearables and smart home products.
Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new consumer electronic vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Details of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.
GAMING VENDOR CATEGORY
GAMING MONITORS
The Gaming Monitors Award is open to organisations that produces gaming monitors.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
GAMING PERIPHERALS
The gaming Peripherals award is open to organisations that produces gaming peripherals.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
VENDOR CATEGORY
BUSINESS MONITORS VENDOR
The Business Monitors Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces monitors specifically for the business market.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
BUSINESS PERIPHERALS VENDOR
The Business Peripherals Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces peripherals specifically for the business market.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
NETWORKING VENDOR
The Networking Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces networking hardware such as NAS drives and routers.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through technical superiority, compatibility or generally pushing the computer market forward in terms of technical advancement.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
PC VENDOR
The PC Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces desktop computers, laptops and hybrids.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
SECURITY HARDWARE VENDOR
The Security Hardware Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces hardware security products.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and ingenuity in solving a problem for customers.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
SECURITY SOFTWARE VENDOR
The Security Software Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces software security products.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and ingenuity in solving a problem for customers.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.
SMART HOME VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Smart Home Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces products for the smart home.
Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.