CRITERIA

There are an array of expertly curated criteria for each categories up for grabs at the PCR Awards.

RETAILER CATEGORY

The Retailer Awards recognise excellence in consumer-facing organisations, whether they are bricks and mortar stores or online businesses. The winners of these awards will be those organisations that have best represented the UK technology industry to the outside world and achieved outstanding sales success in the process.

GAMING RETAILER OF THE YEAR
The Gaming Retailer of the Year Award is open to any company that retails anything involved in the gaming industry.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year. Suggested metrics include numbers of new customers, revenue growth, and/or expansion of the business in terms of staff and assets.
– Details of key performance indicators for measuring success
– Details of sales performance across three top product ranges
– Details of multi-platform marketing campaign focusing on local areas and community engagement

INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to any bricks and mortar computer retailer, or organisation involved in the support and repair of PCs, with five stores or fewer. If the organisation builds its own-brand systems and sells them national or internationally, it should enter the System Builder category.

ONLINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR
This award is for any computer or technology retailer who conducts their business solely online.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year. Suggested metrics include numbers of new customers, revenue growth, and/or expansion of the business in terms of staff and assets.
– Details of sales performance across three top product ranges
– Details of multi-platform national marketing campaign – this can include both print and digital exposure
– Details of key performance indicators for measuring success

SYSTEM BUILDER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to any national system builder that makes custom PCs/laptops, whether channel-focused or shipping direct to consumer.

RESELLER CATEGORY

The Reseller Awards recognise the B2B side of technology sales across hardware, services, integration or software. These awards recognise achievements across the spectrum, from servicing small businesses right up to the enterprise level.

VAR OF THE YEAR
The VAR award is open to any UK-based Value-Added Reseller.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year. Suggested metrics include numbers of new customers, revenue growth, and/or expansion of the business in terms of staff and assets.
– Evidence of targeted multi-platform campaigns/strategies that have had a proven impact upon your target market, resulting in increased awareness of your business and services.
– Details of solutions and products you have developed that have been successful, based on technical knowledge and adaptability to particular client needs.

MSP SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
The MSP Specialist award is open to any UK reseller specialising in providing Managed Services to its clients.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year. This can include numbers of new customers, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff and assets.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increased client base.
– Details of specific managed services solutions and products you have developed that have been successful, based on technical knowledge of the sector and how that has been adaptable to clients’ particular needs.

SECURITY SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
This award is open to any UK reseller specialising in providing security products and/or services to its clients.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year. This can include numbers of new customers, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff and assets.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increased client base.
– Details of specific security solutions and products you have developed that have been successful, based on technical knowledge of the sector and how that has been adaptable to clients’ particular needs.

B2B RESELLER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to any UK reseller focused upon selling to businesses.

Entries should include:
– Clear evidence of commercial success and growth over the year, and strategy for growth in the coming years.
– Up to three case studies involving key clients that demonstrate the use of innovation and expertise to meet the needs and requirements of clients.
– Evidence of outstanding value provided to clients over the year – what makes you stand out from your competition?
– Evidence of year-on-year client retention and key account growth.

CHANNEL SUPPORT SERVICES CATEGORY

This category aims to recognise the industry’s best dealer services providers, PR agencies and buying groups.

MARKETING AND PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR
The Marketing & PR Agency Award is for any agency that provides marketing and/or PR to clients operating in the UK IT Channel.

Entries should include:
– Empirical evidence of up to three successful marketing or PR campaigns, including detail of client objectives and how these were met/exceeded.
– Up to three testimonials from key clients demonstrating a high level of customer service and strong relationships in the channel.

RECRUITMENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR
The Recruitment Agency Award is for any agency that provides recruitment services to clients operating in the UK IT Channel.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of how your organisation is supporting the commercial and strategic needs of retailers and resellers.
– Evidence of how the services offered in your organisation makes you stand out from the crowd. How are you differentiating your services from that of your competitors and how is that impacting the resellers and retailers who use your services for the better?
– Evidence of sustained growth in customers using your service, including strategic detail regarding future growth.

TECHNICAL/SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
The Technical/Support Services Provider Award is open to any technical or support services provider who operates within the UK and provides services to retailers and resellers operating in the UK IT Channel.

VOTED BY THE PCR TEAM

SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

PERSON OF THE YEAR

COMPANY OF THE YEAR

DISTRIBUTION CATEGORY

The distribution awards are designed to acknowledge the hard work put in by those companies that act as a vital cog in the technology channel, linking vendors with people on the frontline – retailers and resellers.

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Consumer Electronics Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has large consumer electronics offering – for example smartphones, tablets, wearables and smart home products.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new consumer electronic vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Details of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.

GAMING DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Gaming Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has a large gaming product offering including monitors and peripherals.

HARDWARE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Hardware Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has a large hardware offering – this includes components (graphics cards, processors, motherboards) full PCs (desktops, laptops) or peripherals (mice, keyboards and headsets).

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Details of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.

NETWORKING/COMMS DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Networking/Comms Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has a large networking and communications offering.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Details of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.

SOFTWARE/CLOUD SERVICES DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Software/Cloud Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has an extensive software or cloud-based offering. This can include straight software product distribution, Software-as-a-Service, and the support structures to assist resellers and retailers in selling these.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new software vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Explanation of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.

SECURITY DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Security Distributor Award is open to any distributor that specialises in or has an extensive security product and/or service offering.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new software vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Explanation of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.

SPECIALIST DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
The Specialist Distributor Award is open to any distributor that has a distinct specialist area within the IT Channel.

Entries should include:
– Evidence of specific sales achievements over the past year, this can include numbers product shipping figures, revenue growth or expansion of the business in terms of staff or assets.
– Details of the breadth of the product ranges carried, and details of any expansion of this – or any new software vendors you have taken on in the past 12 months.
– Explanation of any new dealer programmes or support structures you have designed to support resellers and retailers in their sales effort to end-users. This can include customer portals, POS, or excellent customer service.

VENDOR CATEGORY

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Consumer Electronics Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces products specifically for the consumer including smart home products.

Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.

GAMING VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Gaming Vendor Award is open to organisations that produces gaming products.

HARDWARE VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Hardware Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces hardware products or components.

Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, quality of build and design flair.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.

NETWORKING/COMMS VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Networking/Comms Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces networking or communications hardware.

Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through technical superiority, compatibility or generally pushing the computer market forward in terms of technical advancement.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.

SECURITY VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Security Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces security products and/or services.

Entries should include:
– Explanation of how the products you produce are market leading – either through innovative features, effective and timely updates and ingenuity in solving a problem for customers.
– Evidence of campaigns/strategies that have made an impact, raised awareness of your business and resulted in an increase in business for you or your partners, whether through channel marketing, mainstream advertising or direct marketing.
– Evidence of specific sales successes for a product or line of products over the past 12 months.

SOFTWARE/CLOUD VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Software/Cloud Vendor Award is open to any organisation that produces software or cloud-based offerings.

EMERGING VENDOR OF THE YEAR
The Emerging Vendor Award is open to any vendor organisation in the IT Channel that has been in business for no more than four years.