Since 1990, the SDM Securing America Awards have highlighted the industry’s top suppliers, who help dealers and integrators more successfully sell electronic security solutions to America’s homeowners and businesspeople.

Over the course of time, the mission has remained the same: to sustain industry awareness and recognition of imaginative and high-quality marketing tools, which best present dealers, integrators, and the industry to end users.

This year, the 14th annual SDM Securing America Awards continues to honor suppliers who provide the best sales literature, manuals, marketing materials, community outreach programs, direct mail, target marketing, online services, and resources aimed at residential and non-residential customers.

Online voting also continues this year, whereby SDM readers can make their choices from among SDM Securing America entries. Review the following pages of 2004 SDM Securing America Awards, and VOTE on SDM ONLINE by clicking on the Securing America Award logo.

To retrieve additional information on any entered program directly from the vendor, read the following pages and call the vendor, go to the vendor’s web site, or circle the corresponding number of the reader service card included in this issue of SDM.

If you are at ISC West in Las Vegas in late March/early April, stop by the SDM booth and check out the Securing America display.

SDM magazine editors will collect your votes and report on the results in a future issue of SDM as well as on this web site.

Vote Online for the Best in Each Category:

· Best resources aimed at architects, engineers, and specifiers, which support dealer/integrator sales

· Best direct-mail, target marketing, or marketing support materials aimed at end users, which support dealer/integrator sales

· Best end user sales literature for residential prospects

· Best end user sales literature for non-residential prospects

· Best outreach materials aimed at end users (newsletters, community-assistance programs, industry events), which support dealer/integrator sales

· Most effective false alarm reduction action or program, which supports dealers and integrators

· Best manual or online training material for residential end users

· Best manual or online training material for non-residential end users

· Best overall online resources for end users, which support dealer/integrator sales

· Best online product demonstrations, which support dealer/integrator sales

· Best online product introductions that support dealer/integrator sales

Category: Best end user sales literature for non-residential prospects

From GE Security GE Security Pro opens doors to commercial sales with a powerful new campaign brochure: “Security Is A Company Benefit.” The dynamic, customizable marketing innovation is more than paper and ink – it demonstrates Pros’ commitment to a safe workplace for all. A wealth of homeland security ideas make everyone at work part of the security solution. Building on the residential success of Security Is A Family Matter, “Security Is A Company Benefit” sets GE Security Pros apart by stressing security as benefit for the entire workplace. The companion web site at www.ge-securityisacompanybenefit.com delivers workplace and homeland security information of the first order. GE Security More information: call (800) 777-5484, or visit http://GE-Security.com.

Category: Best end user sales literature for non-residential prospects

From Honeywell Security, the Customizable Commercial End-User Vertical Marketing Folder, “Protect what you value most…the security of your business,” is a rich-looking combination pocket folder/ image brochure created to support dealers in selling Honeywell’s full range of security solutions to their commercial customers. Individual sell sheets cater to the business owner’s unique concerns by addressing how Honeywell’s flexible, upgradable, and integration-ready systems meet their security needs precisely – whether they own or operate establishments ranging from a retail business, medical office, jewelry store, manufacturing plant, bank or educational facility. The clever, die-cut slits – which contain corresponding removable inserts for burglary, fire, access control, video surveillance, and alarm monitoring products – let dealers easily tailor their presentation to specific target markets. Honeywell Security: call (800) 645-7568, or visit www.ademco.com.

Category: Best End-User Sales Literaure for Non-Residential Prospects

From Honeywell Security, “We’ve Got You Covered.” This appealing, attractively designed piece was designed to support dealers in presenting the benefit of Honeywell’s AlarmNet products. Easy-to-understand diagrams and concisely written copy provide an excellent overview of how the full suite of AlarmNet products – including AlarmNet M, Control Channel Cellular and AlarmNet-i Internet monitoring – provide the best security communications solutions for commercial burglary, commercial fire and residential applications. The brochure also conveys the company’s longstanding commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. Honeywell Security: call (800) 645-7568, or visit www.ademco.com.

Category: Best outreach materials aimed at end users (newsletters, community-

assistance programs, industry events), which support dealer/integrator sales

From GE Security now in its third successful year, Security Is A Family Matter (SFM) puts GE Security Pro dealers on top with the only outreach program aimed at securing whole communities. SFM dealers support agencies that help build strong families with measures that improve children’s academic success and psychological adjustment, and lower their rates of alcohol and drug use. GE Security Pros, like John Whitehead of True Steel Security, gain valuable local TV and radio attention as a direct result of Security Is A Family Matter. Exhaustive program benefits include custom brochures, web features, ads, and media relations support. GE Security More information: call (800) 777-5484, or visit www.securityisafamilymatter.com

Category: Best outreach materials aimed at end-users (newsletters, community- assistance programs, industry events), which support dealer/integrator sales

From First Alert Professional, the Literature XPress Service lets First Alert Professional and Honeywell authorized security dealers create customized newsletters so they can keep the lines of communication open with their customers. The types of newsletters offered include burglary safety, carbon monoxide safety, fire safety, poison safety, holiday safety, and back to school safety. Dealers simply log on to the support web site and start the customization process. The newsletters can be customized with a company name and a company message. Once the newsletter is developed, a PDF file is automatically created that can be printed at the dealer’s office, brought to a local printer, or ordered through the approved online printer. By making the process as simple as possible, dealers can keep communicating with their customers as often as they wish. First Alert Professional: call (800) 793-5949, or visit http://www.firstalertprofessional.com.

Category: Best outreach materials aimed at end-users (newsletters, community- assistance programs, industry events), which support dealer/integrator sales

From First Alert Professional, Citizen Observer is a unique program that will create goodwill between dealers, law enforcement, and the business community. It is a web-based neighborhood crime alert system used by 120 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Law enforcement can post information about bad checks being written, robberies, burglaries, and other business-related crimes. Through this service, crime alerts can be sent to registered businesses by fax, e-mail, or pager. Dealers have the unique opportunity to financially sponsor the service in their area so they can provide this valuable tool to their law enforcement agencies, local businesses and citizens at no charge. By being a supporter of Citizen Observer, First Alert Professional is demonstrating a commitment to crime prevention. First Alert Professional: call (800) 793-5949, or visit http://www.firstalertprofessional.com.

Category: Most effective false alarm reduction action or program, which supports dealers and integrators

From GE Security most false alarms are caused by users who do not understand how to operate their security system. The “Rest Easy With Simon” end user brochure outlines Simon’s intuitive user interface and other false alarm reduction features. An easy-to-understand diagram illustrates all the peripherals that are compatible with the award-winning Simon security system. GE Security More information: call (800) 777-5484, or visit http://GE-Security.com.

Category: Best manual or online training material for residential end-users

From First Alert Professional, to help dealers reduce the amount of service calls to replace batteries in wireless products, First Alert Professional developed its Battery Replacement Guide. The guide includes frequently asked questions about battery replacement. It gives step-by-step directions on replacing the batteries in wireless remotes, smoke/heat detectors, glassbreak detectors, motion detectors, door/window transmitters, and panic buttons. By providing this guide, dealers can educate end users about performing these simple tasks that will save the end user the time and expense of a service call. Dealers benefit since the guide improves their operations by eliminating unnecessary service calls. First Alert Professional: call (800) 793-5949, or visit http://www.firstalertprofessional.com.

Category: Best overall online resources for end users, which support dealer/integrator sales

From Cross Point Industries, Voice Alert System-6 takes annunicators to a new level. Voice Alert is an affordable wireless monitoring system for homes and businesses. It installs in minutes and provides a more fully featured product when compared to other annunciators on the market. For these reasons, Cross Point Industries designed a web site aimed at both dealers and end users that demonstrates the product’s unique voice recording capabilities as well as the many applications. Dealers and end users can find an instructional video, PDF files for data sheets and operating instructions, and resource information to become a dealer or find one. Cross Point Industries More information: call (760) 633-3737, or visit http://www.voicealert.com.

Category: Best online product demonstrations, which support dealer/integrator sales

From Honeywell Security, this year witnessed the introduction of an exciting new online service providing security dealers with video scenes of ADEMCO products in action. This library of broadcast quality stock footage, commonly known as “B-Roll”, helps dealers create their own television commercials or promotional videos. This online “B-Roll” video collection is a first for the security industry and another innovative example of Honeywell’s commitment to dealer support. The “B-Roll” collection is available at www.ademco.com/dealer_support/ videos/bRoll_5800.htm. Honeywell Security: call (800) 645-7568, or visit www.ademco.com.

Category: Best online product introductions that support dealer/integrator sales

From GE Security security industry leaders have continually asked for ways to efficiently review new products, compare system features, and ensure that their installation staff is efficient and current in their training. GE Security’s web-based training programs provide online and CD-based courses that outline product features and benefits, and provide a complete certification test for technicians. This unique set of courses enables companies to not only evaluate new products more efficiently, but also allows dealers to more efficiently manage changes in their installation staff. GE Security More information: call (800) 777-5484, or visit http://GE-Security.com.

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