TTJ Awards 2008 – voting and entry rules

The TTJ Awards recognise excellent service across the timber industry, and TTJ's reader's pick the winners.

• The Venue – Park Lane Hotel, London
• The date - 18 September, 2008
• The speaker – TBA
• To reserve your seats – contact Natasha Denney on 020 8269 7833
• Gold Sponsor – Weinig Group

Who will you vote for?
• Softwood Trader of the Year - sponsored by Arch Timber Protection
• Hardwood Trader of the Year - sponsored by Progressive Solutions
• Panels Trader of the Year - sponsored by Coillte Panel Products
• Plywood Trader of the Year - sponsored by W Howard Ltd
• Small Timber Business of the Year - sponsored to be confirmed

The "Timber Trader of the Year" - sponsored by Weinig Group, goes to the company receiving most votes overall.

Why vote?
The TTJ Industry Awards are an important part of the timber industry's year. It is a time when we take a look at our market and recognise those companies who have excelled in the products and services they provide us.

Now is the time for you to have your say in who should win these prestigious awards. Over the next couple of months you will be contacted by DUO Marketing Services, who will ask for your votes.

The voting process is easy. Take a look at the awards listed above and decide which company you think should win each.

You may vote for any company supplying you with timber or wood products, based in the UK or Ireland. However, you can only vote for a company once. This means you cannot vote for the same company in more than one category.

Think about which companies provide you with the best in terms of:
• Market knowledge
• New product information
• Advertising & marketing support
• Complaint handling
• Well-trained staff
• Prompt financial settlement
• Action on the environment
• Competitive pricing
• Stockholding

Remember, when you cast your all important votes, you will be entered into a free prize draw for the chance to win two tickets to the Awards, plus overnight accommodation in London, worth £500!

Important voting information
As always we make a conscious effort to canvass more votes from downstream businesses. Companies qualifying to vote will include our core readership involved in the onward sale of timber and panel products, such as timber merchants and builders merchants. We will also be asking for votes from a wider representation of consumers from the truss rafter, timber frame, fencing, pallet and wood packaging, and furniture sectors and other timber and panel products users. Voting is strictly limited to one vote per company. Your vote is guaranteed to be totally confidential and the information you give will not be revealed to any other party, even to the organisers.

How to vote
There are two ways in which you can cast your vote. Both methods are simple and secure. The first is via our mailing and the second is by telephone.

• Via the mailing...
Qualifying companies will be mailed a form to complete and return. Each form will be personalised and include a unique reference number. Simple instructions will guide you through the process.

• Via phone...
Also throughout May our telephone canvassers will be contacting qualifying companies. They will be asking you to vote, taking your nominations over the phone.

For security reasons you cannot call us, we call you. We will attempt to contact everybody by the end of May, but if you are unavailable when we call, we will leave a message.

When you vote by mail your name is automatically removed from the telephone canvass list.

Some do's and don'ts
• Only one vote per qualifying company.
• You can only vote for a company ONCE. You cannot, for example, vote for the same company in several categories. Either vote for another company, or abstain from voting in that category.
• No block voting allowed.
• No voting for your company or any company in the same group.
• No voting for any of the sponsors.
• When voting, include the location or the branch of the company you nominate (not the head office or billing address).
• Be prepared for the phone call and have your nominations ready.

How will you know who's won?
TTJ will publish a special Awards supplement with the September 13th issue. The actual winners will be announced in the September 27 issue of TTJ.

Who is conducting the voting on behalf of TTJ?
DUO Marketing Services a specialist organisation which is very familiar with the timber industry having worked on various timber related projects over the years including the TTJ Address Book & Buyer's Guide. DUO is an independent marketing services company – www.duomarketing.co.uk; 01892 783017; enquiries@duomarketing.co.uk

The Awards judged by independent panels are:
• UCM Timber plc sponsors the Environmental Achievement Award
• Combilift Ltd sponsors the Excellence in Marketing Award
• SCA Timber Supply Ltd sponsors the Career Development Award
• TRADA sponsors the Best Technical Information Support Award
• Osmose sponsors the Achievement in Engineered Wood
• Finnforest sponsors the Champagne Reception