Entries Will Be Accepted Starting July 17, 2017 Through August 17, 2017 Where 5 Winners Will Be Featured on Forbes.com and In An Upcoming Issue of Forbes Magazine
NEW YORK (July 17, 2017) – Forbes, in partnership with Canon U.S.A. Inc. powered by MAXIFY printers announced today a call for entries for the first-ever Forbes Main Street Awards, where five winners will be selected and featured on Forbes.com and Forbes magazine at the end of 2017. From small-town storefronts to pioneering new startups, the Forbes Main Street Awards are designed to champion the positive impact of small businesses that are leading the way forward by taking big steps for both their businesses and their communities.
“For nearly 100 years, the Forbes brand has been synonymous with business success and championing entrepreneurship. It is through this lens that Forbes presents the Main Street Awards, an editorial content and contest program for small businesses that drive positive change for their businesses and the communities they serve,” said Forbes Small Business Editor Loren Feldman. “Forbes is excited to partner with Canon U.S.A., Inc. to uncover the compelling and inspiring stories of these companies—all of which are true small business owners—in its first annual editorially driven awards program.”
“Canon MAXIFY printers are built on a proud tradition of quality, reliability and technological innovation small businesses can count on,” said Michael Duffett, VP and GM of Canon U.S.A.’s consumer printer marketing and marketing services departments. “Supporting small businesses through awards such as the first-ever Forbes Main Street Awards allows us to continue sharing that tradition, enabling even more small businesses to succeed.”
The Main Street Awards are open to for-profit U.S.-based eligible small business owners. All entries, which will be accepted beginning on July 17, 2017 through August 17, 2017 at 11:59:59 pm ET, must be submitted online at https://mainstreetawards.forbes.com/ . Five winners will be selected – one winner will be selected for each category by the Forbes editorial team and the fifth winner is selected through audience choice. Official Rules, submission guidelines for the competition and detailed descriptions of the four categories can be found here https://mainstreetawards.forbes.com/.
Entries will be accepted in four categories:
- Best Brick-and-Mortar Adoption of E-Commerce: Awarding a small business that has embraced the web. Entries should highlight how the small business has expanded its traditional Main Street business online. Entrants should share information about their web strategy, digital platforms and marketing efforts.
- Best Community Engagement: Awarding a small business that is making a difference in their community, beyond writing a check or sponsoring philanthropic activities. Entries should highlight how the small business engaged with its community and contributed both in time and money. It should also share the impact on the company and its employees.
- Best Paid Marketing: Awarding a small business that has done something smart, different and effective in marketing. Entries should highlight the platforms used, content, engagement metrics and overall results.
- Best Social Media: Awarding a small business that has done something smart, different and effective in social media. Entries should highlight platforms used, content, social media strategy, engagement and overall results.
Entrants will be required to complete a brief questionnaire about their business and the category or categories to which they are applying. Entrants are also encouraged, but not required, to upload a 1 minute or less video “elevator pitch” for consideration with their questionnaire. Video submissions are not required.
The winners will be announced the week of September 25th and will be featured on Forbes.com and in the December 12, 2017 issue of Forbes magazine. Each winner will also receive an engraved award and a Canon MAXIFY MB5420 Wireless Small Office All-in-One printer.
About Forbes Media
Forbes Media is a global media, branding and technology company, with a focus on news and information about business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and affluent lifestyles. The company publishes Forbes and Forbes Asia magazines as well as Forbes.com. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 80 million people worldwide with its business message each month through its magazines and 39 licensed local editions around the globe, websites, TV, conferences, research, social and mobile platforms. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include conferences, real estate, education, financial services, and technology license agreements.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $29 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2016.† Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes in the United States. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact pr@cusa.canon.com.
†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Media Contacts
Forbes, Laura Daunis, 212-367-4874, ldaunis@forbes.com
Canon U.S.A., Angelique Ferrante, 631,330,5112, aferrante@cusa.canon.com
