RequirementsforALL2020SABEXAwardsThe SABEX Awards are Saskatoon’s Premier Business Awards. SABEX honours businesses in ourcommunitythatexemplifyhighperformance,qualityandachievement.The2020SABEXAwardsGalamarks our 25th annual celebration of business in the Greater Saskatoon region. A business orentrepreneurmayapplyinanycategory,notjusttheone(s)youwerenominatedin.Applicantsareevaluatedusingapointsystem.Pleaseensureyouanswereachquestion.Allapplicationsareheldinthestrictestofconfidence.Applicationsmustbesubmittedonlineandproofedforaccuracy.Judges are volunteers so pleasemake it as easy as possible for them bywriting concisely and onlyincludingrelevantlettersofsupport(i.e.financials,companyreports,mediapieces,etc.)Youmayapplyinuptotwo(2)awardcategories.TheSABEXAwardsgalawillbeheldonFriday,April24,2020atTCUPlace.Allfinalistsmustattendthegalaandpurchaseatleast1ticketperfinalcategory.Finalistsareencouragedtobringalongtheirstaff,family,friendsandcustomers.Ticketsareavailableatwww.saskatoonchamber.comafterDecember15,2019.ApplicationDeadline: ThursdayDecember5,2019,5:00pmCST LateapplicationswillnotbeacceptedInadditiontotherequiredAwardcategorydeliverables,eachSABEXawardapplicantmustprovide:

• Contactinformation.• NumberofyearsinoperationasofOctober1,2019.• Originaldateyourproductand/orservicewasavailabletothemarket.• Numberofemployees.• Businessdescription.(100wordmaximum)• Businessdescriptionusedforfinalistvideo.(40wordmaximum)• Highresolutionbusinesslogo.• Environmental SustainabilityActivities beyond the standard (for example paperless, recycling

bottles,etc.)andrequiredwithinyourindustry.(100wordmaximum)• PercentageofTotalSales/Revenueforeachproductorserviceoffered.• PercentageofSalesandServicessoldoutsideofSaskatoon(ifapplicable).• Two(2)lettersofreferencesuchasyouraccountant,amajorsupplieroramajorcustomerwho

isfamiliarwithyourbusiness.

• FinancialStatements(balancesheetandincomestatements)arerequiredforthepastthree(3)yearsfor:

• BusinessoftheYearAward• Growth&ExpansionAward• MarketingAwardincludeuptothree(3)graphicalexampleofyourcampaign.• SaskatooningAward includeupto three(3)supportingdocuments(articles,examples,etc.) to

demonstrateyourapplication,ifapplicable.

SABEXBusinessoftheYearAwardOpentoanyfor-profitorganizationwiththeheadofficeinthegreaterSaskatoonregionthathasbeeninoperationformorethanfive(5)yearsasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• Describe your target market(s) and what your business offers to these markets. (150 wordmaximum)

• Whatinnovativemarketingstrategiesdoyouemploytopromoteyourofferingstothismarket?Havetheybeensuccessful?(300wordmaximum)

• Whoareyourprimarycompetitorsandhowhaveyousuccessfullydifferentiatedyourselffromthem?(150wordmaximum)

• What ischanging inyourmarketplacethat impactsyourprofitabilityorcompetitiveness?(Forexample:Changing tastes?Legislation?NewCompetition?New technologies?)What strategiesareinplacetoaddresstheseshifts.(300wordmaximum)

• Describehowyourcustomerserviceexcellencestrategyhasaffectedyourbusiness’success.(ie.employeeretention,repeatbusiness,salesand/orprofitability,etc.).(300wordmaximum)

• Demonstrate your business’ level of community involvement and impact on the SaskatoonCommunity.Includespecificstrategiesandoutcomesachieved.(300wordmaximum)

• Describe your past growth including strategies employed to support the growth experienced.(150wordmaximum)

• Describeyourplansandstrategyforgrowthinthefuture.(150wordmaximum)• Hasthebusinessengaged inmentoringprogramsofanykind?Howdoes itshare itsexpertise

withotherbusinesses,entrepreneurs,etc.(150wordmaximum)• Doesyourbusinesshaveanyprogramsinplacetorecognizethecontributionsofstaff?Howdoes

the business demonstrate the importance of the employees to the business? (200 wordmaximum)

• What programs and strategies are in place to support employee development? (150 wordmaximum)

• Describe any extraordinary fact(s), strategy(ies) or achievement(s), not already noted above,whichmaybeattributedtothebusiness’successthatmeritsyourcompanybeingawardedthebusinessoftheyear.(200wordmaximum)

CommunityInvolvementOpentoanyfor-profitorganizationwiththeheadofficeinthegreaterSaskatoonregionthathasbeeninoperationformorethanone(1)yearasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• BrieflydescribeyourcorporatestrategyorobjectivesurroundingCommunityInvolvement.(350wordmaximum)

• Pleaseselectthearea(s)yourbusinessengagesincommunityinvolvement.o Describe your firm’s involvement over the past year in the area of Arts and Culture (if

applicable).(300wordmaximum)o Describeyourfirm’s involvementoverthepastyear intheareaofSportandRecreation(if

applicable).(300wordmaximum)o Describeyourfirm’sinvolvementoverthepastyearintheareaofEducation(ifapplicable).

(300wordmaximum)o Describe your firm’s involvement over the past year in the area of Volunteer Community

Groups.(300wordmaximum)o Describeyour firm’s involvementover thepastyear in theareaofHealthandWellness (if

applicable).(300wordmaximum)• What percentage of employees/management staff are able to volunteer for community based

initiativesduringpaidworkinghours?• Whatareyourplansforfuturecommunityinvolvementorinitiatives?(350wordmaximum)• Estimatedcontributionsandin-kinddonations(excludingpaidemployeetime)asapercentage

ofgrossannualrevenue.• Estimateddollarvalueofpaidemployeetimeasapercentageofgrossannualrevenue.

CustomerServiceOpentoanyfor-profitorganizationlocatedinthegreaterSaskatoonregionthathasbeeninoperationformorethanthree(3)yearsasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• Doesthecompanyhaveadefinedcorporateobjectiveintheareaofcustomerservice?Describebriefly.(350wordmaximum)

• Pleasedescribeyourhistoryofcustomerserviceexcellence.(350wordmaximum)• Whatmakes your customer servicedistinct and excellent?Provide examples of demonstrated

serviceexcellence.(500wordmaximum)• Please describe the specific activities undertaken to develop and implement your service

excellenceprogramandensureconsistentexcellence.Please includeanddescribeanytrainingprograms,employeeincentives,useofcustomerfeedback,etc.(700wordmaximum)

• Describehowyourcustomerserviceexcellencestrategyhasaffectedyourbusiness’success.(ie.employeeretention,repeatbusiness,salesand/orprofitability,etc.)(500wordmaximum)

• Pleasedescribehowyouintendtomaintainyourcommitmenttoexcellentcustomerserviceinthefutureintermsofyourmandatesandresources.(500wordmaximum)

EntrepreneuroftheYearOpen to any entrepreneur operating in the greater Saskatoon region that has been in operating abusinessformorethanthree(3)yearsasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• Provideabriefbiographyoftheapplicant.(100wordmaximum)• Describewhytheentrepreneurshouldbeconsideredforthisaward.(100wordmaximum)• Whatistheentrepreneur’sroleinthebusiness?(50wordmaximum)• Whatistheentrepreneur’sinterestinthebusiness?(ie.decisionmaking,problemsolving,hiring

authority)(50wordmaximum)• Describethereasonsforestablishingorexpandingthebusiness.(100wordmaximum)• Whatwerethebusiness’objectivesatinceptionorexpansion?(300wordmaximum)• Todate,howmanyof theseobjectiveshavebeenachieved? Includeabriefdescriptionofhow

theywereachieved.(500wordmaximum)• Provide two specific examples of how the Entrepreneur's leadership skills have resulted in

successforthebusiness.(200wordmaximum)• Whatchallengesandriskshavebeenencounteredintheneworexpandedbusiness?Indicatethe

entrepreneur’s role inhow thesechallengeswereovercome(consider thesourceof financing,market research, building a business plan and/ormarketing plan, aswell as other challengesthatmayhavepresentedthemselves).(300wordmaximum)

• Describe your vision for the future of your business. Include strategies that would apply inachievingthisvision.(300wordmaximum)

• Describe any involvement in your local business community that has contributed to buildingyour business network. (ie.memberships in business organizations, other associations ororganizationsyourbusiness isactive in,orcharitableworkoreventsyourbusinesssupports)(100wordmaximum)

• Provide any extraordinary fact or strategy linked to the entrepreneur’s success not alreadynotedabove?(50wordmaximum)

GrowthandExpansionOpentoanyfor-profitorganizationwiththeheadofficeinthegreaterSaskatoonregionthathasbeeninoperationformorethanthree(3)yearsasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• HowisGrowthandExpansiondescribedinyourcorporateobjectivesandintegratedwithinyourstrategy?(300wordmaximum)

• Describe your growth strategy over the past year. What activities precipitated growth? Howhaveyoumanagedgrowth?(300wordmaximum)

• Describe the economic impact on your business as a result of your strategy. (300 wordmaximum)

• DescribetheeconomicimpactonSaskatoonanddistrictasaresultofyourstrategy.(300wordmaximum)

• Whatwastheincreaseinjobs,asapercentage,thatwerecreatedasaresultofyourmostrecentexpansion?Howsustainablearethesejobs?(300wordmaximum)

• Pleasesubmittheamountof jobscreatedasaresultofGrowthandExpansionfor2017,2018,2019andprojectedin2020.

• Pleasesubmitthesalesgrowthfrom2017,2018,2019andprojectedfor2020.• Describehoweachspecificgrowthinitiativeimpactedyoursales.(300wordmaximum)• What type of fundingwas required to finance the growth in your firm? (Equity, government

grants,bankorotherloans,etc.)(150wordmaximum)• What is your future growth plan? Do you have adequate funding to support this continued

growth?(150wordmaximum)

MarketingOpentoanynon-profitorfor-profitorganizationwiththeheadofficeinthegreaterSaskatoonregionthathasbeeninoperationformorethanone(1)yearasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• Whatisthecompany’scurrentmarketingstrategy?(ie.objectives,targetmarket,products,price,promotionanddistributiondecisions)(500 word maximum)

• Whatisuniqueaboutyourmarketingstrategy?(150 word maximum)• Foreachrecentmarketinginitiativeprovide:adescription,specificobjectivesandwhetherthese

objectiveswereachievedandhow.(500 word maximum)• Foreachoftheaboveinitiatives,describehowthecompanyhasmeasureditsmarketingefforts

todeterminethelevelofsuccess.(250 word maximum)• Estimateddollarvalueofmarketing/advertisingcostasapercentageofgrossannualrevenue.• Describetheplanforlong-termsustainabilityofyourmarketingstrategy.(300 word maximum)

NewBusinessVentureOpentoanyfor-profitorganizationwiththeheadofficeinthegreaterSaskatoonregionthathasbeeninoperationforthree(3)yearsorlessasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• Isthebusinessafranchise?• Whatwastheoriginofthebusinessideaandwhatmakesitunique?(500wordmaximum)• Whatskillsdothemanagementteam(s)possesstogrowthebusiness?(300wordmaximum)• Whatplanisinplacetomanagechangetoensurelong-termsustainability(sincenewventures

oftenhavetoshiftwithgrowth)?(300wordmaximum)• What evidence do you have demonstrating strategic success (achieving your mission and

vision)?(300wordmaximum)• Whatwerethenewventure’soriginalobjectives,includingsales?(300wordmaximum)• Howmanyoftheseobjectiveshavebeenachievedandhow?(500wordmaximum)• What are the significant risk factors for yourbusiness andwhatplando youhave inplace to

managethem?(300wordmaximum)• Whatwere the sales growth rates for the last three (3) years andwhat are the sales growth

projectionsforthenexttwo(2)years(percentages)?• Describewhatrelevantfinancialinvestmentshavebeenmadeduringthethree(3)yearsorsince

the formation of the company? (ie., machinery, buildings, research and development, debt,equity,etc.)(300wordmaximum)

• Describeyourlong-termvisionforthecompanyandhowitcontributestofuturesuccess?(300wordmaximum)

SaskatooningOpentoanynon-profitorfor-profitorganizationwiththeheadofficeinthegreaterSaskatoonregionthathasbeeninoperationformorethanone(1)yearasofOctober1,2019.SUBMISSIONQUESTIONS:

• Describeyourmainbusinessandyouroperations.(300wordmaximum)• What’suniqueaboutyourbusinessthatdrawsvisitorstothecity?(300wordmaximum)• WhatdoesyourbusinessdotoembodythespiritoflivinginSaskatoonand“Saskatooning”init’s

daytodayoperations?(300wordmaximum)• How does your business enhance quality of life for residents of Saskatoon? (300 word

maximum)• How does “Saskatooning” fit into your overall business or marketing strategy? (300 word

maximum)

GREATERSASKATOONCHAMBEROFCOMMERCE110-3454thAvenueSouth,Saskatoon,SKS7K1N3Phone:306-244-2151 Email:chamber@saskatoonchamber.comWebsite:www.saskatoonchambercom