Best Product Award 2015 launched

The search is on to find which new product, introduced to the UK market between 1 January 2014 and 31 August 2015, our readers feel has contributed the most to their working lives.
So, if there’s something you’ve been impressed with then why not put it forward for the Pest Best Product Award 2015 – the UK pest management industry’s product Oscars!

The Award recognises the new product that readers feel has made the greatest improvement to their lives and/or working practices. It has become a firm favourite with pest professionals, distributors and manufacturers since it was first introduced in 2010.

Don’t worry if you are unsure about when the product you would like to nominate was launched. We will check that out for you. And remember, there’s no limit on the number of products you can nominate so, you can always put forward another if something else catches your eye later in the year.

Pest associate editor, Helen Riby, explains: “Now in its sixth year, we have already had some fantastic winners. All products introduced commercially during the 20 month qualifying period, that’s between 1 January last year (2014) and 31 August this year, can be put forward, with one exception. Products which have already achieved a first, second or third place cannot be nominated again.

“So, for 2015 you cannot nominate the 2014 winners, which were Muskil whole wheat bait from Barrettine, Bird Free gel presented in magnetic dishes from Killgerm and the Mini Flex flexible hose from Lance Lab. Other than these you can put forward any new product and if you come across something else fabulous the year progresses, you can add to your nominations.”

Did any new products launched at PPC Live last May or PestTech last November catch your eye? Have you tried them out? Of course, with PestEx 2015 in early April it’s likely manufacturers and distributors alike will have plenty more great new products to introduce.

As always Pestreaders are in the driving seat. Throughout the year, we will update you on progress and provide opportunities for product nominations, before, finally giving you the chance to vote for the product you feel has been the most innovative – the product which has made the greatest improvement to your life and/or your working practices.

Pest award logo

You can nominate products by downloading our online PDF form, or by using the nomination form in Issue 37, the February & March 2015 edition of Pest magazine. Feel free to photocopy the form if you don’t want to deface your copy of the magazine.

Alternatively you can email the editor. Please type Best Product Award in the subject line and be sure to include:

Your name;
Your company/organisation’s name;
The products you would like to nominate.

Nominations will close at midnight on 31 August 2015 and a shortlist will be drawn up. We will then invite you to vote for the product you feel has been the most innovative – the product which has made the greatest improvement to your life and/or your working practices.

The mechanics are quite simple

13 February 2015 – Pest Best Product Award announced
13 February to 31 August 2015 – Pest readers nominate their selected products
1 September 2015 – product shortlist drawn-up from nominations sent in
1 September to 30 October 2015 – readers vote to establish the winner
2 November 2015- all votes counted
4 November 2015 – award presented during PestTech.

Qualifying period
Any product launched between 1 January 2014 and 31 August 2015 can be nominated.

Rules of engagement
We’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible but there are some rules to follow.

Only commercial pest control products can be nominated. Services, promotional schemes, special offers and the like are excluded;
Products nominated must have been launched after 1 January 2014 and before midnight on 31 August 2015;
Products which have previously achieved 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in an earlier year cannot be re-nominated.
Products must have been fully commercially available during the time period shown in 2 above. Products supplied free for trials purposes cannot be entered;
Only products sold in the UK are eligible;
Entries must be made via an official printed nomination form as supplied by Pest or by using the online form accessible via this website or emailing the editor as detailed above;
Readers can nominate as many products as they want;
Readers may vote for their top two products, but may only submit one voting form. Second choices will be taken into account in the event of a tie;
Entries submitted after midnight on 30 October 2015 will not be counted.

Nominations now open
So, nominations for the Pest Best Product Award 2015 are now open!

The Legal stuff

In the event of a tie then reader’s second choices will be taken into account. If there is still a tie, all the products with the same score will receive the award;
The count will be conducted by Pest publications and the decision made by Pest will be final. No correspondence will be entered into;
The results will be announced at PestTech and on the Pest website and in Pest magazine;
Pest takes no responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt;
Pest will only use your personal details for the purposes of administering this award and will not publish them or provide them to anyone else without your permission.