Call for Entries

The 2021 DSA Awards will open for submissions later this spring, but you can start preparing your entry today! See the categories below to get started, and check back for more information on when submissions will be accepted. Awards finalists and winners will be announced later this year when we are again able to safely meet in person.

Once again this year, voting will be open to US based executives from all DSA Direct Selling and Supplier Member companies.

See last year’s winners: CSR Vision for Tomorrow, Excellence in Business, Marketing & Sales Campaigns, Partnership, Product Innovation, Technology Innovation, and Vision for Tomorrow.

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Awards Categories & Sample Submissions

Technology Innovation
Successful entries in this category will demonstrate excellence in the innovative use of technology.
- Illustrate the salesforce benefits of the program or tool through specific examples.
- Clearly describe the objective or need for the technology.
- Describe the development process involved in creating the concept.
- Outline the goals and outcomes related to the program or tool.
- Show that the technology is novel or unique or improves upon an existing technology.
- Illustrate how the elements of the program demonstrate a creative approach to the issue, situation or problem addressed.
- Describe the metrics for success, as well as the process used to evaluate success.
- Provide data regarding how this program impacted the company’s sales, recruiting and/or reputation.
- Show that the results of the program support the objective or need.
Excellence in Business
Successful entries in this category will describe a specific program or tool that enhanced the training that allows their salesforce and staff to succeed.
- Describe the program or tool and illustrate its impact on the salesforce and/or the specific business outcome
- Clearly state objective of the program.
- Clearly describe the business need that prompted creation of the program or tool and outline the development and implementation processes.
- Illustrate the innovative and creative approach to achieving the stated objectives.
- Describe and illustrate the intended benefits of the program for the individual sellers.
- Describe the desired outcomes, and how the outcomes are quantifiable. Clearly illustrate the mechanisms for evaluating success.
- Show that the results support the objectives of the program.
Product Innovation
Successful entries will showcase a new product or service introduced to the marketplace in the previous year that sets a high standard of excellence and innovation.
- Describe the new product or service and illustrate how it is a category "game changer."
- Provide a detailed description of how this product or service fits in to and/or enhances your company's existing product mix.
- Describe how the new product leverages leading edge technologies.
- Illustrate that the new product has clear value added features and benefits.
- Show that the product has the potential to result in significant customer acquisition and/or market penetration.
Vision for Tomorrow
Successful entries will illustrate how a specific project or program made an impact beyond the bottom line. Has your company helped to increase awareness of the direct selling industry, best business practices, consumer protection, or high standards of ethics in business? Has your company worked to improve the lives of those in its community - whether it's a local community or one on the other side of the globe?
- Describe the project or program, with a specific emphasis on the audience or demographic that will be reached or otherwise impacted
- Address the anticipated long-term impact.
- Provide information about future or ongoing efforts related to the project or program
- Illustrate that your company invests monetary resources in the program.
- Illustrate that your company invests human resources in the program.
- Provide specific data regarding the level of involvement from your corporate executives and/or the salesforce.
- Clearly identify and describe the impact on the target community.
Marketing/Sales Campaigns
Successful entries will demonstrate excellence, creativity and innovation in effective outreach to key audiences. Entrants are encouraged to highlight ways in which the program addresses the needs of diverse populations, be they ethnic, motivational, generational, etc.
- Describe the specific project or campaign, including the initial goals and objectives.
- Illustrate original thinking in creative idea generation and execution.
- Show that strategic thinking with relation to the business need, target audience and/or business environment was used.
- Evaluate the success of the project or campaign in terms of the initial goals and objectives.
- Provide quantifiable results that illustrate the success of the project or campaign.
- Describe how quality pre- and post-launch work was completed.
Partnership
The DSA Partnership Award recognizes Supplier companies that provide a product or service that has had a measurable impact on the growth or development of a direct selling member company or increases the profitability of a member. The judges are looking for a sustained relationship between the supplier community and active members.

Winning companies will:
- Have at least 5 years tenure as a Supplier Partner of the DSA.
- Not have won the Partnership Award in the past 10 years
- Show how your company has established an ongoing relationship with one or more DSA Direct Selling Member companies.
- If the project or program represents a short-term project or crisis support, describe the planning and execution of the project. Include how the goals of the project were defined and achieved, and what short- and long-term benefit the company realized, and if the relationship continued beyond the specific project.
- Entrants must be nominated by three DSA member companies. The nominations should describe the nature of the partnership and provide specific examples of the contributions and results provided by the supplier partner company.
The Partnership Award Entry Process:
- Complete the Entry Form and submit a 3-page PDF.
- Be nominated by three direct selling member companies. Nominating companies must be members of the DSA.