The Shop! Awards have long been celebrated internationally, having run for 65 years; however, 2023 marks the debut of South Africa's involvement, allowing brands and agencies in the nation to shine, says the awards.

The awards acknowledge creativity, innovation and excellence — whether in-store, online or as a part of a broader shopper experience. With its focus on campaigns and programmes that transform shopper behaviour and yield tangible results, the awards are considered a benchmark for success.

The Point Group says that its nominations at the awards are a testament to its expertise. Iconic Collective's 'Voice of Makro' and 'Makro Birthday Trolley Dash' were both nominated in the Digital Campaign category.

Its 'Makro Black Friday' campaign was nominated in the Grocery and Shopper Marketing Campaign category. Point Group's 'Nestle Dairy Ramadan' was also nominated in the Grocery and Shopper Marketing Campaign category.

According to the group, these nominations reflect the consistent calibre of work produced by Point Group and Iconic Collective teams.

Carla Gontier, strategy director at Point Group, was invited to serve on the jury for the Digital Campaign category at the awards.

Gontier says, "It is an honour to be recognised not only for our agency's work but also to participate in the evaluation of digital innovations in shopper marketing. The campaign nominations underscore our teams' dedication and innovation, and I am delighted to represent Point Group in this esteemed judging panel."

According to the 2023 awards, the judging process for the awards involves a multi-stage assessment where entries are evaluated blindly without the entrant's knowledge. This ensures the utmost transparency and integrity in the selection process.

The Point Group concludes that it is filled with anticipation and gratitude as the awards approach, with the finalists being announced on Wednesday, 1 November. These nominations affirm the agency's hard work, innovation and dedication to shopper marketing excellence.

For more information, visit www.pointgroup.biz. You can also follow the Point Group on Facebook, X or on Instagram.