New CMA Award Honours Innovative Statements Created by Canadian Businesses

Canada Post has teamed up with the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) to create an award honouring innovation and creativity in Lettermail communications. The Lettermail Award will be presented for the first time at the CMA Awards Gala to be held on November 16, 2007 and will become a permanent award category in the annual CMA Awards.

What is the Lettermail Award?
The Lettermail Award recognizes Canadian organizations that have made a significant commitment to improving their customer communications through the redesign of their customer statement, bill or invoice. Sample outcomes of this effort will include:

• Reduced billing/payment cycles resulting in improved cash flow
• Reduced call volume to call centres as a result of incorporating helpful directives
• Increased customer loyalty through enhanced customer experience
• Realized incremental revenue through relevant cross-promotional messages
• Increased brand awareness and loyalty

Why was it created?
Canada Post and the CMA created this award to capture the attention of marketers to promote the value of leveraging bills, invoices, notices and statements as communication tools to reach their customers.  It reflects a shift in the mindset of marketers that Lettermail is an efficient, reliable, cost-effective communications vehicle that should be included in an organization’s integrated marketing mix – rather than simply a cost of doing business.

Why enter?
An award recognizes excellence and generates an opportunity for both businesses and their design partners to promote their award-winning project, and to be recognized as leaders in the eyes of their peers, partners, and prospective customers.

Who is eligible?
Any Canadian business that sends bills, invoices or statements to their customers, and has undertaken the redesign of any of these business documents within the last 18 months (since December 1, 2005) is eligible for consideration. To be eligible for this award, the redesign project must have been conducted by a Canadian agency for a Canadian client.

How can I submit a great statement from my business?
Please refer to the CMA website for complete details including entry fees, submission instructions and deadlines.

When will the winner be announced? When will the award be presented?
The CMA will announce the winner – and present the award – at the annual CMA Awards Gala on November 16, 2007 in Toronto.