Export Awards Judging Criteria

The State, Territory and National judging panels are drawn from the private and public sectors comprising persons with international business experience.  All information will be treated as strictly commercial-in-confidence.

Areas of focus include:

• The degree of innovation in the marketing strategy
•  Export growth achieved and the ability to sustain that growth
• Evidence of sustainable competitive advantage
• Value and contribution of exporting to business expansion
• The overall company commitment to international business  

General:

• Market your organisation in your application by highlighting your strengths, illustrating how innovative and distinctive your achievements have been.
• Identify the key factors that you consider made your organisation a successful exporter.
• If you have been exporting for several years, make sure your application demonstrates what you have done differently to consolidate and grow your position in the past year (e.g. new markets, new technologies, focused marketing strategy etc.)   

The judging criteria are as follows:

About the Company and its products/services [Score weighting 10%]

• The judges will assess the viability of your company, its product/service and how successful your company’s exports/international business activities have been this year. 
• Make sure you clearly state what your export/international successes have been for the current year.
• Indicate what the competitive edge of your product/service is in the marketplace.

Quality of your international marketing strategy – How do you stand out from the crowd? [Score weighting 30%]

• The judges will be looking at the quality of your international marketing strategy and how you maximise your international competitive advantage.
  • In your key markets, what did you do to secure international contracts and market acceptance? What actions did you take? - e.g. product adaptation to meet customer preferences, building relationships with distributors and buyers, addressing cultural issues in marketing materials and products, attending trade events, techniques to overcoming buyer resistance.   
  • Explain your company's strategy in gaining a secure foothold in any new markets or how you enhanced brand in established markets.
  • Clearly state your key results.
• The judges are also looking for demonstration of innovative techniques and use of technology.
• For applicants of the online sales category, judges will be looking for innovations in tools used, online marketing strategy, customer engagement and fulfillment.
• The judges will assess the level and sustainability of international sales considering
  • As a proportion of total sales revenue
  • In terms of value, and year-to-year percentage change in value, over the last three years or since the applicant commenced exporting
  • Total export earnings from major overseas markets

Business Operations and Human Resources [Score weighting 25%]

• The judges will be looking at the structure of your export/international operations and systems to effectively respond to export/international sales as well as whether your company is appropriately resourced for export expansion.
• The judges will be looking for evidence of sustainable business practices.

International Business Planning and Direction [Score weighting 10%]

• The judges will be looking for evidence of your company’s commitment to international business. What are your export plans for the coming year (e.g. new markets, additional staff, different marketing strategies).  

Financial Strategy and Data [Score weighting 25%]

• Judges will be looking for clear statements that indicate the soundness of your company's financial strategy for international business.
• Judges will be looking for examples of a sound capital base (substantial net profit) and sufficient capital (cash & resources) to support export activity. 

*If a business has been successful in the Australian Export Awards previously, it is important that they clearly detail what has been achieved since their most recent success in the Awards, i.e. new marketing strategies, entering new markets, introduction of new technology, new products etc.