GEC NEWS WIRELine-up includes new Customer Promotion of the Year and Product Launch of the Year categories for the first time in 2014
The Middle East Retail Academy (MERA) 2014 awards will include four submission-based categories, including two brand new awards. All entries will be assessed by a VIP Jury of retail channel experts, with the overall winner in each category announced at the ‘MERA: 2014 Awards’ Gala Dinner held in Abu Dhabi in conjunction with DISTREE Middle East on 21st May 2014.
Retailers, distributors and vendors active in the Middle East technology and consumer electronics retail channel are all eligible to participate, with a submission deadline of Sunday 11th May to enter the awards. The four submission-based awards for 2014 are:
In-Store Experience of the Year
Customer Promotion of the Year
Product Launch of the Year
Marketing Initiative of the Year
Farouk Hemraj, CEO at DISTREE Events, organisers of the MERA Awards, said, “The quality of entries for the MERA submission-based awards has always been exceptionally high. The addition of two new categories – Customer Promotion of the Year and Product Launch of the Year – gives even more opportunity for retailers, distributors and vendors to showcase their achievements in the region.”
“Each award is based on individual applications and supporting material provided by retailers, vendors or distributors. This will be the seventh annual MERA Awards, which have firmly established themselves as the regional benchmark for retail channel excellence. We are delighted to host the ‘MERA: 2014 Awards’ and Gala Dinner as part of DISTREE Middle East 2014,” he added.
Last year’s In-Store Experience of the Year Award went to CompuMe (now rebranded as Tecbuy) with UAE retailer Jacky’s highly commended for its entry. Last year’s Marketing Initiative of the Year Award winner was Alghanim (X-cite) from Kuwait, with entries from both Emax and Sharaf DG highly commended by the VIP Jury.
“The Middle East retail channel continues to evolve and introduce new ideas and retail concepts. These awards highlight and showcase the companies that are trailblazers in the market, leading the way and implementing new ideas that deliver real results. We encourage all eligible companies to view the criteria for each award and submit their entries by May 11th,” Hemraj added.
More than 70 retail brands are set to participate at DISTREE Middle East, presenting their latest products and holding pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with leading retailers. DISTREE Middle East takes place from May 20th to 22nd in the luxurious surroundings of the Fairmont Abu Dhabi
