Specialist marketing agency, EXP South Africa, added three new awards to its trophy cabinet when it was announced as the Sport Agency of the Year for the second year in a row at the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards at Emperor’s Place on 23 February.
In addition to Sport Agency of the Year, EXP SA also scooped the award for Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign for the second time running, this time for its work on Sasol’s sponsorship of Banyana Banyana, as well as the Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition award, for their work on the Absa Premiership. The company’s work was also recognised through the nomination of MTN8 Wafa Wafa and NBA, both for Best Use of PR in a Sport campaign, while MTN8 got a further nomination in the Best Sponsorship Event or Competition category.
“We are delighted to be recognised by the sports industry for the dedication and passion we showcase for the work we do for our various clients,” says Sandile Ndzekeli, Chief Executive Officer of EXP SA. “We are a people-centric company driven by results and dedicate this award to the formidable team that takes care of the EXP clientele. It’s the 24/7 commitment and non-stop creativity they continue to deliver by raising the bar, that affords us this recognition by the sports marketing industry.”
The Virgin Atlantic Sport Industry Awards celebrate the best in the South African sports market, from sponsorship, PR, marketing and new media, to publishing, advertising and design.
”Winning the Best PR Award for a second consecutive year is testament to our approach to sports PR,” says Yolanda Arendse, PR Director of EXP SA. “The PR efforts behind Sasol’s sponsorship of the national women’s football team Banyana Banyana, is at the back of an intensive campaign to stimulate the same support for women’s football as the men’s game receives which resulted in increased ticket sales, match attendance and television ratings in the team’s road to qualify for the London Olympics.”
EXP SA’s work on the Absa Premiership together with client Absa, saw a seamless transition to a new market. Amongst other notable achievements through the Absa Premiership sponsorship, Absa bank increased the number of unique visitors to its absapremiership.com website by 193% and saw a tangible increase in business worth millions of rands via Cash Send transactions over the period of the sponsorship.
“We would like to congratulate our clients SASOL and Absa for the awards as well, and thank them for entrusting us with the work on their brands,” adds Ndzekeli. “The sports industry should view the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards as inspiration to produce quality work that will elevate our country’s sporting fraternity and brands that support sport across all codes.”
To view the event, visit http://www.sportindustry.co.za/awards/