SACSC 2019 Footprint Marketing Awards entries now open

Shopping centre owners, mall marketing departments and agencies take note: The South African Council of Shopping Centres’ (SACSC) has opened entries for its prestigious 2019 SACSC Footprint Marketing Awards.

Entries for the awards opened on 29 April and closes on 24 June 2019. Award winners will be announced at the SACSC’s 23rd Annual Congress, which is set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 16-18 October 2019.

“The SACSC Footprint Marketing Awards is South Africa’s top recognition platform for exceptional shopping centre marketing, innovation and creative achievements, together with economic success and customer service excellence,” says Amanda Stops, Chief Executive Officer of the SACSC.

“We call on shopping centre owners and marketing companies to make their mark and enter the awards, which not only recognises the very best in shopping centre marketing, but offers valuable publicity for the winners. Furthermore, the overall SACSC Footprint Marketing Award winner (Spectrum Award) for 2019 will be automatically entered into the International Council of Shopping Centres’ (ICSC) VIVA Awards in 2020, which celebrates the best of the best around the world. The VIVA Awards takes place at the ICSC’s ReCon event in Las Vegas,” she adds.

Footprint Awards categories include Centre Productivity; Retailer Productivity; Sales Promotion and Events; Public Relations; Advertising; Leasing Support; Grand Opening, Expansion and/or Renovations; Community Relations; Alternate Revenue; Category Integration; Visual Merchandising; and, Digital Marketing.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards are presented for winning work and campaigns, while a “Spectrum Award” is presented to an overall winner. Last year’s Spectrum Award winner was Boulders Shopping Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, for its 3 Hours Uncapped Free WIFI initiative in the Digital Marketing category. The centre, owned by JSE-listed Redefine Properties, saw shopper dwell time increase by 35 minutes due to the campaign.

The SACSC received over 100 entries for the Footprint Marketing Awards last year, which saw stiff competition amongst South Africa’s shopping centres and marketing agencies.

Stops remarks: “South Africa has a world-class shopping centre and retail industry. This is not only reflected in the scale and economic contribution of our industry, but the calibre of entries we see in our Footprint Marketing Awards each year. The calibre of South African entries is always commended by the international judges who judge our Awards”

She adds: “It is becoming more challenging to judge the Footprint Awards as each year the quality of entries continue to impress. We are looking forward to seeing the very best shopping centre marketing in the entries we receive this year. We urge the industry to enter, so as to receive the recognition they deserve for their great work in shopping centre marketing.”