WHY ENTER THE AWARDS
“For me, competitions grounded in the consumer, like the People’s Choice Drinks Awards, can only become more important as shoppers ‘geek up’ and channel their enthusiasm into learning more. After all, they’re the ones voting with their spend.”
Rachel McCarton-Jones, Crate PR
FOR PRODUCERS OR SUPPLIERS
The People’s Choice Spirits Awards competition is a golden opportunity to learn what consumers and professionals really think about your spirits. Our consumer-friendly categories attract submissions from all over the world, in all packaging formats and at any price point. The competition is exciting, inclusive and relevant for today’s drinks business.
CONSUMERS INVOLVED ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL JUDGES AND WSET STUDENTS
Including consumers in the judging process, alongside respected industry professionals, means that they are at the heart of the process, rather than being disengaged from it. The terminology and categories focus on ‘drinking moments’ and are, therefore, more meaningful to the average drinker. This helps them make better buying decisions and helps retailers understand what their customer wants and ultimately, sell more spirits.
We also involve WSET qualified students, at all levels, to take part in the panels. Around 80% of non-trade judges have some form of drinks qualification, taken as a hobby or to contribute towards a career within the drinks industry.
Hand-picked, enthusiastic spirits consumers are chosen via an application process and are invited to judge alongside respected drinks buyers, journalists, qualified sommeliers, retailers and importers. See the core professional panel here.
WHY SUBMIT? THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SPIRITS IN THE PUBLIC EYE
The competition is open to many sources:
- Independent spirits merchants
- Individual distillers/producers – large or small
- Supermarkets/large multiples
- Restaurants and bars
- On-trade suppliers
- Online suppliers
- Importers
The PCSA is able to offer you sales and promotional opportunities by entering the competition. Here are just some of the ways in which the PCSA works with entrants to promote their spirits (all free and included within the submission fee):
- ON/OFF TRADE PROMOTION: In addition to the finalist and winning spirits being profiled by The Buyer, our official trade media partner, there are opportunities to be included in topical editorial content, written by Janet Harrison, founder of the PCDA and journalists on our professional panel.
- JUDGES FEEDBACK: Detailed feedback on each spirit entered to the competition, with valuable insights into the scores allocated that can be used to help secure listings and provide valuable consumer and professional judges comments.
- FREE PR SUPPORT: A unique package of support from our partnership with Crate Communication provides a free 30 min consultation and inclusion of winnng drinks in Crate’s pose-Awards media relation campaign – ask for further details.
- WEBSITE LISTING: Finalist, Gold Commended and winning spirits are profiled on the PCSA website.
- MEDALS AND ARTWORK: Free access to unique artwork to promote your shortlist or win, to boost sales and raise awareness. Artwork for stickers is also free to use.
- TASTINGS AT SPONSORS’ EVENTS: We can feature your winning spirits at events with corresponding sponsor companies (case studies available on request).
- PCDA YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Our YouTube channel features all the interviews from the awards.
- DISCOUNT WITH THE BUYER: Exclusive 20% discount with The Buyer from their Supplier Partner Package (for companies not already working with The Buyer) and online advertising.
- TRADE NEWSLETTERS: Opportunities to provide topical content for the monthly newsletters to our trade database.
“It’s a fantastic amount of support you are offering, so much appreciated.” Jo Thompson, Belleville Marketing.