Marble Institute of America: Press Room

New MIA Competition to Pick Stone Industry's Best Advertising Efforts

March 18, 2005 , CLEVELAND, OH — The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has announced The First Annual MIA Advertising Awards Competition, a members-only contest designed to select the best advertising, collateral materials, broadcast productions and promotions in the natural stone industry during 2003 and 2004.

Entries are due by July 30, 2005 and winners will be announced at MIA's annual meeting, held in conjunction with StonExpo, October 19-22, in Las Vegas.

"The purpose of the competition is simply to honor superior efforts by MIA companies, their advertising agencies, design studios, broadcast producers and other professionals," said Scott Lardner, president of MIA, which has more than 1200 members around the world.

"We have beautiful natural stone products and we want to highlight those companies whose advertising efforts do justice to the uniqueness and stunning beauty of stone," Lardner said.

The awards competition will be open to all MIA members around the world.

So that every entering company – regardless of size – has a fair chance, the judging will be done in two financial categories - companies with annual sales volume up to two million and those above that figure.

Awards will be given for excellence in print advertising (black and white), print advertising (color), direct mail collateral materials (posters, brochures, point-of-sale), radio spots, TV spots, website homepages, billboards and special promotions. "Best of show" awards will be made in each of the sales volume categories.

MIA is working on a special award, called a "Rocky," which will be given to category winners.

Judging will be done by a panel of advertising experts with no connection to MIA or the natural stone industry.

For more information, including procedures and entry forms, contact MIA at 440-250-9222, or visit www.marble-institute.com. The deadline for entries is June 30, 2005.

About the Marble Institute of America
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2004, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) is the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world.

For more information, contact MIA at (440) 250-9222, e-mail MIAinfo@marble-institute.com, or visit www.marble-institute.com.