Submissions are now being accepted for the 2021 Smart Home Division Mark of Excellence Awards program, presented by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Submissions are collected September – November and are judged in December. The winners will be recognized in a digital profile on CTA.tech that will be amplified to audiences across social media, newsletters and more.
The awards recognize some of the best residential and commercial custom installation projects performed by integrators, as well as top consumer technology products and services that are primarily targeted at the custom installation channel. Each year, manufacturers, distributors and systems integrators enter to compete for the coveted awards.
There are 19 different product categories manufacturers may submit for, including emerging technologies/IoT, automation device of the year, and networking product of the year, among others.
Meanwhile, custom installers can select from 6 categories to submit projects ranging from lighting control, health and wellness, and home theater.
Nominations are also accepted for Integrator of the Year.
Remember, if you enter a product submission, the product must have been released within 12 months prior to the award announcement date (September 28, 2020) or planned to be released within the next six months after the awards announcement date.Â
Each category has a judging team of systems integrators, manufacturers, members of the trade press or industry consultants. Each entry is given a numeric score. The top-scoring entries in each category will be named finalists.
Entry Info
All entries receive:
- Coverage in the March 2021 print edition of CE Pro magazine
- Exposure on the official CTA website, CTA.tech
- Coverage on cepro.com
In addition to the above benefits, all winners receive:
- Recognition in a digital profile on CTA.tech that will be amplified to audiences across social media, newsletters and more
- A Mark of Excellence Award trophy
- A toolkit with a special winner logo and opportunities for showcasing their win
- Industry-wide recognition and media attention through a CE Pro press release
2021 Mark of Excellence Deadlines:
- September 24, 2020Â – Submissions Open
- October 23, 2020Â – Early Bird Pricing Ends
- November 13, 2020Â – Deadline for Submissions
2021 Mark of Excellence Fees:
CTA members receive discounted pricing. Not a member? Join today to receive special member benefits that help grow every facet of your business, including research, events and exclusive networking opportunities.
Project Submission
The project must have been completed within 12 months before the awards program announcement date (Sept. 24, 2020).
| Submission Type | Early Bird | Regular Submission |
|---|---|---|
| CTA Member | $125 | $150 |
| Non-Member | $225 | $250 |
| CTA Member – Add’l Entry | $100 | $125 |
| Non-Member – Add’l Entry | $200 | $225 |
Product Submissions
The product must have been released within 12 months before the award announcement date (Sept. 24, 2020), or planned to be released within 6 months after the awards program announcement date (March 24, 2021).
| Submission Type | Early Bird | Regular Submission |
|---|---|---|
| CTA Member | $275 | $375 |
| Non-Member | $400 | $450 |
| CTA Member – Add’l Entry | $175 | $200 |
| Non-Member – Add’l Entry | $250 | $275 |
Pay First!
There is a lot that goes into each submission and not much time to enter, so we’ve made this year’s program application easier with “pay first.” Pay to enter now (without completing the whole submission process) then come back at any time before the deadline to finalize your entry!
