Recognizing Marketing’s Finest
Here we present all of this year’s winning submissions, highlighting a different category each week.
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Atlantic Coast Electric Supply (ACES)
Vehicle Wraps
To significantly increase brand visibility and recognition across both established and expansion markets, ACES transformed much of its fleet into a mobile advertising network by implementing a cohesive vehicle wrap strategy.
Targeting North Carolina and South Carolina, the ACES team identified priority routes in high-traffic corridors, wrapping 26 vehicles in bold, bright, high-contrast wraps engineered for readability at highway speeds and strong brand recall.
Using a data-driven approach, ACES transformed its delivery and transfer network into a high-impact, always-on advertising channel—delivering continuous brand visibility across key markets throughout the Southeast with an estimated 20-million-plus annual impressions.
“The wrap design is bold, bright, and high-contrast, ensuring readability even at highway speeds and delivering a clear, unified message across all markets,” said the judges. “By leveraging existing routes, the initiative created a cost-effective, always-on presence that outperforms traditional static ads, demonstrating excellent value-added impact for the target audience.”
Warshauer Electric Supply
Testimonials
This testimonial-based initiative showcased authentic client experiences and highlighted how Warshauer’s expert lighting design and electrical solutions elevated high-end residential, light commercial, boutique retail, and restaurant projects.
Customer testimonials were featured in several prestigious publications, with most expressing how Warshauer’s services exceeded expectations and delivered exceptional results for their unique project needs.
The campaign uniquely transformed advertising into advocacy—turning satisfied customers into brand ambassadors and reinforcing Warshauer’s reputation as the go-to partner for innovative lighting design and electrical solutions.
Calling the copy “straightforward, benefit-focused, and easy to read” and the design “clean and organized,” the judges added that they “particularly liked how Warshauer turned real client voices into a compelling print narrative that reinforces the brand’s expertise and trustworthiness.”
Codale Electric Supply
Milwaukee Campaign
After identifying a strong opportunity to capitalize on growing demand for specialized, professional-grade electrical tools across the Intermountain West, Codale focused this campaign on four key labor-saving innovations to position itself as the go-to regional partner for efficiency-driven contractors seeking advanced solutions.
Leveraging high-intent audience data, the campaign reached professionals during their workday when purchase decisions are most relevant. A key differentiator was the integration of a Foot Traffic Study, enabling Codale to move beyond traditional digital KPIs and directly measure the offline impact of online advertising.
The highly targeted display campaign reached 69,224 unique professionals, generated 307,139 impressions, and achieved an outstanding 30.46% engagement rate.
“Codale’s entry demonstrates a strong, data-driven approach that clearly reinforces its brand and drives measurable store traffic,” said the judges. “The campaign’s goal is crystal clear and the content laser-focused on the target audience.”
DSG
Automation Trailer
Acknowledging that the exterior wrap for the DSG Industrial Automation Trailer was worn and used outdated messaging and branding, the industrial automation team enlisted the marketing team to create a new on-brand wrap design that visually communicates innovation, expertise, and partnership while acting as a billboard at events.
They researched trailer designs both within the industry and outside of it and followed design guidelines for a clean, easily readable layout. They also worked with the wrap vendor for door/lock placement on the trailer to ensure pertinent information wasn’t interrupted by the physical elements of the trailer.
The refreshed design increased visibility and recognition at events and on the road, functioning as a mobile billboard that reinforces DSG’s industrial automation capabilities and partner relationships over time.
“DSG’s trailer rewrap turns a worn vehicle into a striking moving billboard that clearly reinforces its brand and showcases its automation expertise,” said the judges. “Overall, the rewrap delivers a unified, focused message that aligns with DSG’s brand strategy.”
Keystone Technologies
tED Takeover
Despite significant portfolio expansion, Keystone recognized that market perception often lagged behind the company’s actual capabilities, with many customers still associating it with a narrower legacy footprint.
By aligning advertising creative with editorial thought leadership, this winning campaign moved beyond product promotion to industry positioning and strengthened Keystone’s image as a strategic manufacturing partner rather than simply a product supplier.
Anchored by the theme “More Than You Expect,” the campaign included a wrap cover, eight coordinated print advertisements, and two distributor-focused editorial features developed from Keystone story concepts that amplified the campaign’s core message through third-party distributor voices.
The issue was released ahead of LightFair to maximize visibility in the industry.
“Keystone’s print takeover shines as a masterclass in unified brand storytelling, turning ordinary product ads into memorable, value-driven narratives that speak directly to distributors and their customers,” said the judges, adding, “The timing of the issue ahead of LightFair maximizes industry visibility, while the campaign’s execution demonstrates high production quality and a unified message.
Cooper Lighting Solutions
CLS Americus Billboard Campaign
When traditional HR initiatives were not generating a sufficient pool of qualified applicants, an HR recruitment billboard campaign was designed to capture the attention of a “nonstationary” audience within seven seconds. Two outdoor illuminated digital billboards were strategically chosen based on location and audience reach.
The creative design included a clear call to action directing applicants on where to apply, and a group photo featuring workers standing arm in arm was used to emphasize the facility’s team-oriented atmosphere.
The recruitment campaign successfully filled the open positions with qualified applicants, prompting the Cooper Lighting Americus (Ga.) manufacturing management team to expand the initiative into an awareness and loyalty campaign. As a result, the billboard advertising contract was extended to one year, with refreshed creative designs introduced every three months to maintain engagement and visibility.
“Cooper Lighting Solutions’s billboard campaign delivers a sharp, customer-focused print ad that captures attention quickly and drives measurable hiring results,” said the judges, who also praised the “strong headlines, cohesiveness of the campaign, strategic placement, and clear calls to action.”
WEBSITE – Honorable Mention
Atkore
PVC Conduit Hub
Tagged with awards, Best of the Best, marketing