Seeking shining start-up for inaugural award

Singapore - Marketing magazine will launch a new category in its annual Agency of the Year special rankings this year, called The Next Big Thing Award.

The award for The Next Big Thing will go to the one new agency the magazine decides has the potential to accomplish "big things" and has already made an indelible impact in the Singapore market.

According to Marketing editor Debbie Cai, the category was created to encourage up-and-coming agencies to produce top-class work for Singapore and the world and to encourage the overall development of the agencies in Singapore.

The award is sponsored by TNBT Worldwide, an integrated communications agency with six companies, Crush Advertising, Bang Public Relations, Boom Events Management, Reap Interactive, Rage Branding and Cult-Out-Of-Home Media.

‘Starting out is never easy, especially in our business. We were fortunate when we started out with Crush. We were recognised instantly by the industry and that certainly helped us establish our success over the last seven years. Sadly, many start-ups do not enjoy the same privilege," Palani Pillai, CEO, TNBT, said.

"Without support and recognition, many bright start-ups would never get a chance to achieve their full potential. By sponsoring this award, we hope to unearth at least one bright spark every year that can go on to become the next Crush, 10AM or Kinetic of the Singapore communications scene."

While there are no fixed rules on which agencies may be considered for the award, Marketing will look at (but will not limit to) agencies across categories such as creative, media, direct marketing, public relations, interactive, events, branding and market research, which are the eight established categories in its Agency of the Year special annual edition.

This new award announcement coincides with the magazine taking the results of its Agency of the Year special edition onto the physical stage for the first time ever, with a grand event to be held on Wednesday, 3 September 2008 at the Singapore Marriott Hotel, Grand Ballroom to celebrate the winners of this year's Marketing magazine Agency of the Year accolades.

Note from the editor:

There will not be any call for entries for the category as the winner will be decided mainly by its reputation amongst clients and fellow agencies through word-of-mouth, but should an agency wish to bring itself to our attention or nominate another player, concise emails to the editor, Debbie Cai, are welcome.

If you would like to book tables or sponsor the 2008 Agency of the Year Awards Ceremony, you may contact regional events director Michelle Crawford.