DPHA Product of the Year Awards - Here’s What Everyone Should Know
Everyone loves to win - and none more so than our members who work long and hard to design and create new products every year. DPHA’s Product of the Year award has announced hundreds of winners over the years and we take as much pride in announcing the winners as you do in receiving the award! Our categories are robust because we continue to expand them based on new and innovative products being brought to market.
Because we have new members and new member brands, we thought we should give everyone a more in-depth explanation of how these awards work. We work very hard to remain completely neutral - as your trade association representatives, we cannot favor any one brand or product over another.
Here is how the process works:
The Submission Process
It’s a relatively easy submission form, and we encourage you to take time to write about why you feel your product is worthy of the award. You and your team know the value of your product and what makes it stand head and shoulders above the competition. Was someone inspired by a piece of art, architecture, a color found in nature? The judges will appreciate knowing the story - don’t be shy about explaining!
Presentation matters - the judges are viewing these submissions digitally, so the better the images - the better your odds at catching the judge's eye(s).
If you are confused about which category - we encourage you to reach out to us. With the categories expanding year after year we know your product will find the right space for its chance at winning the exclusive honor. In 2023, DPHA created 9 categories for products ranging from the newest in furniture, down to tech and engineering trailblazers!
The Judges
None of the judges are affiliated with DPHA - they are the true definition of independent.
The DPHA committee chairs are not allowed to weigh in on any submissions or nominations so even if someone from DPHA encouraged you to enter (and if they are someone you know or have worked with) - that does NOT give anyone ANY advantage.
The committee strives to choose judges from across the country and from various segments. This year our esteemed panel of judges are designers, editors, and a radio/TV host who is also a contractor. The judges understand that they too must remain neutral; if they’ve worked with a brand previously, we ask that they use their best judgment when looking at all the products in any given category.
The Judging Process
We cannot divulge too much about the judging process, but because we want everyone to feel comfortable and confident about how it all transpires, here is a peek behind the scene:
Weeks prior to the voting call in September, the DPHA judges are given nominee packets for each category. They use this time to proof, rank and more importantly research how the new products are being used. They utilize the marketing imagery and all the written materials to help with their decisions.
Keep in mind that the products are nominated by DPHA showroom associates, reps, manufacturers and trade associates who see something special in these products. The judges are asked to bring their top 3 products to the September call and in that call they discuss why they’ve made their choices.
Voting is done in a weighted point system format with discussions to finalize votes should the votes be too close to call (which does happen.) The judge’s call is one of the most anticipated days of the year for the DPHA staff!
DPHA committee chairs join staff on the call as a welcome committee to our judges and to extend gratitude for the judge’s time, and that is the only input from the committee. DPHA staff runs the call and waits to see who they will crown victorious in each category. It’s always exciting to hear the varying point of views and reasoning behind the selection of the winners.
All those present are sworn to secrecy until the Annual Conference and a survey is sent to the judges for feedback on ways to improve the process. This year’s category expansion was a result of the 2022 survey where tech and engineering both stood out and needed their own space, as well as separating the kitchen mixers from all bathroom faucetry.
We hope this gives everyone a sense of how seriously we and the judges take this process. DPHA is excited to see who the winners are again in 2023. Submissions are due July 15th on the DPHA website.