Frequently Asked Questions

How are the products that are part of the program selected?

Ever year, we open the Best New Product Awards to all manufacturers to enter their new food, health and beauty, and household care products. We work to ensure we include categories most relevant to current consumer trends and attitudes. In the 2010 program, we have 47 categories representing a total of 147 products and involving over 60 manufacturers.

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How do the products win? Who votes? How are the categories set?

Real consumers from across the country are invited to vote on the products via an online survey. Over 25,000 consumers are involved in the BrandSpark Canadian Shopping Study. We conduct an extensive screening to ensure the voters are the principal shoppers for their homes and purchase products in the category they are voting on.

We have developed a proprietary scoring system that is based on real shoppers who have actually purchased the product and are prepared to repurchase it again – a very high standard. Each product receives a score, a percentage of which is based on the repurchase intent of those consumers who have tried the product and the other percentage is based on how appealing shoppers find the product to be. Each product is part of a category which consists of a minimum of three products from at least two different manufacturers; this ensures no one company can buy a win.

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Are there costs to participate?

Each manufacturer pays $3,000 registration fee for each product they choose to enter. There is an early bird deal, where companies can enter before June 30 and receive 20% off, for a fee of $2,400.

Every winner must pay a winner’s fee of $10,500. This includes:

• Guaranteed National Coverage Print and online with Canadian Living and Coup de Pouce
  • Each winning product will be guaranteed a 1/9 page in the Winners Advertorial in April 2011 issues of Canadian Living/Coup de Pouce (value of approximately $8,000)
  • Full page in March 2011 issues of Canadian Living/Coup de Pouce featuring winners group product shot and promoting Best New Product Awards contest with call-out to check out the full list of winning products on both microsites to 4 million readers
  • Cover Line on April 2011 Canadian Living issue and mention in Editor-in-Chief’s column of the Best New Product Awards
  • Winning products to be called out with Best New Product Awards logo when they appear in future Canadian Living/Coup de Pouce issues
  • E-newsletter announcing winning products sent to Canadian Living/Coup de Pouce database
• Best New Product Awards Logo License
  • For use in all communication efforts (including on-pack and in advertising, etc.) as long as desired, provided year of win is included.
• Participation in the Best New Product Awards media PR tour
  • BNPA winners highlighted in relevant editorial throughout the year
• National Exposure in Metro daily News and MetroNews.ca online
  • Newspaper & web activity starting February, 2011

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What is the BrandSpark Canadian Shopper Study and how is it connected to the Best New Product Awards?

As part of the survey that determines the winning products, consumers are also asked a series of questions regarding their attitudes towards new products, family life, health issues, the environment, food and much more. They are also asked about their attitudes towards the current economy and how this has and will affect their shopping habits. We also track how consumers are adopting new media. This makes it one of the largest surveys available on the Principal Shopper which is simultaneously conducted in the USA allowing us to track key differences and similarities between Canadians and Americans. We also have global trends that allow us to see trends and insights from a global perspective. We share the results of this valuable study with participating companies and well respected media outlets.

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Who conducts the Best New Product Awards survey and the BrandSpark Canadian Shopper Study?

The Best New Product Awards program was developed and is managed by BrandSpark International, an independent market research company based in Toronto with an office in New York. IMI International, an independent market research firm is responsible for the scoring and final assessment of winners. BrandSpark is also responsible for the development and analysis of the BrandSpark Canadian Shopper Study.

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Summed up – How would you describe your program as being different from all other award programs?

• 100% Consumer voted
• Backed by Canada’s #1 magazines Canadian Living and Coup de Pouce
• Largest awards show among CPG companies
• 60 companies participated in 2010
• Backed by leading research companies BrandSpark International and IMI International