Winning an APAC Search Award – all the way from Sydney

Read what Andrea Atzori, Director of Ambire has to say about Winning an APAC Search Award.

In what was exciting news for the whole team, Ambire took home the 2021 APAC Search Award for the ‘Best Low Budget Campaign’. 

We’d put together a campaign for our client Value Flowers which we entitled ‘Blooming for Everyone’, and it was one I, and the team, were incredibly proud of even before the win. 

Afterwards, well, what can I say?

The energy and excitement in the office was palpable and we all approached our work with a renewed focus and drive to do more.

We wanted to take the opportunity to showcase a campaign which truly received results that we thought were extraordinary. 

The Campaign

Initially, we’d decided to enter the APAC Search Awards with this particular campaign because we wanted to take the opportunity to showcase a campaign which truly received results that we thought were extraordinary. 

Having worked with a small budget, I for one was keen to show off just how hard all of the team had worked. 

Everyone had been really creative throughout to achieve results on a ‘shoestring’ and we were all super proud. 

Unlike other Awards, the entry allowed us to dig down and go into detail.

The process 

Once we’d made the decision to apply, everything went smoothly from there. 

I found the application process Itself for the APAC Search Awards to be quite unique. 

Unlike other entries, the entry allowed us to dig down and go into detail about each element of the campaign from ideation to strategy to results.

We had to provide details like the budget and the targeting, which allowed us to fully explain ourselves and demonstrate each step of the process. 

Sometimes, I find entry forms can force you to be so succinct you can’t fully paint the picture – the APAC Search Awards process was different, and I’m really grateful for that.

It can be difficult to explain why your own work is award-worthy, I tell you!

Getting the external validation this kind of award entails really boosted all of our morale.

The team’s reaction 

When we found out we won, we were all ecstatic. 

Our self-esteem was definitely boosted and we felt as though our good work had been recognised and certified. 

Getting the external validation this kind of award entails really boosted all of our morale, and it’s been fantastic to be able to show our clients (and future clients) just what we can do for them.

The APAC awards are also quite a big deal for us, given they are internationally renowned, and so it was great for a boutique, independent agency all the way in Sydney, Australia, to be recognised on the international scale!

A highlight (aside from winning, of course) was when the actual award arrived in the mail – all the way from the UK. 

I’ll be the first to admit that there was an extra bit of swagger!

Celebration time

Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and association lockdowns as well as working from home periods, participating in virtual events and awards ceremonies such as the APAC one last year has kept our team spirit strong.

While there is an I in winning, there’s no I in team, and we all cherished the moment of celebration. 

I’ll be the first to admit that there was an extra bit of swagger and excitement happening in the office that week, but it was all in good spirits!

Once you’ve had one bite of the cake, you only want more, and I’m excited to see where the future takes us. 

Of course, a bit of healthy desire and drive to top our successes this year never hurt any good team, either … 

Hopefully we will have our work recognised many more times in the future – onwards and upwards!