With a record number of entries (726) entries, the 26th annual Australasian Catalogue Awards is going to be a stand-out event this year for the catalogue and letterbox marketing sector.

This year, judges evaluated the awards based on the effectiveness of the printed piece, including the ability to communicate and engage with the target audience, customer demographic and to achieve the campaign objective.

Judges commented on the breadth, effectiveness and strong retail marketing results across all categories.

The awards continue to expand, this year adding a new Direct Mail category and including the loyalty program catalogues and addressed mail catalogue retailers.

Despite being a new category, it was well-received with close to 50 entries in its first year.

The category sitting at the most competitive is Chain Department Stores and Specialty Retailers, who for the second year in a row have received the most entries of all the award categories.

The 2017 awards celebration has moved from Crown Melbourne to accommodate the growing number of attendees to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 25 August, with Aussie broadcaster Libbi Gorr to MC the event.

Kellie Northwood, CEO of the Australasian Catalogue Association, said: “The awards are a wonderful time for the association and the broader industry, a night when we all come together as one industry – retailers, agencies and suppliers – to celebrate how effective the channel is and how hard we work together to achieve these results.

“Retailers, agencies and the industry have been bubbling with excitement since the finalist lists were released, and we look forward to our big night.”

To secure your ticket to the 2017 Australasian Catalogue Awards, click here.