Be the best: The countdown to the Product of the Year Awards has begun!
The annual Product of the Year Awards, organised by DIY Week and Housewares magazine, are the UK's only awards for the whole spectrum of home improvement and home enhancement.

Formerly known as the Industry Awards, the Product of the Year Awards have been established for 22 years and recognise the industry's innovation, imagination and creativity, both in developing new ideas and re-inventing old ones. From a craft knife to a coffee maker, a mousetrap to a mower, the Product of the Year Awards are open to them all!

The awards lunch in London is the biggest social gathering in Britain for the DIY, housewares, hardware and garden industry. Hundreds of top buyers and executives will gather at the luxurious Sheraton Park Lane Hotel on Friday, May 14 for a day of networking, fine dining and entertainment - with the winning products in the spotlight.

"Over the past 22 years we have given awards to hundreds of products, many of which have gone on to become best sellers," said DIY Week publisher Colin Petty. "2010 should see a bumper entry, as the economy moves out of recession and the industry renews its investment in new product development. And of course a Product of the Year endorsement can be a powerful addition to a marketing plan - another reason to enter as many products as possible."

Entry is incredibly easy, and can all be done online at www.productoftheyear.biz. Simply fill in the details and submit them (or print a hard copy entry form and post it to us) send us the product and we'll make sure it is in front of our independent panel of retail judges when they convene in March.

There is also the option of donating your product, once submitted, to our annual charity sale in aid of the Rainy Day Trust.
So, make sure you're in with a chance of being awarded Product of the Year 2010 and get your entries in. All product samples should be sent to Elanor Sayers, Faversham House, 232a Addington Road, Selsdon, Surrey, RH1 6DE. An address label can be printed off from the website. Entry deadline is March 5.

Previous winner Robert Milliken told DIY Week: "It was fantastic to win Gold at last year's awards, even if it did have the side effect of giving me a bad head the next day due to the celebrations.

"It also benefited us considerably business-wise, as it lead to increased advertising, and editorials in the press, giving the G9 Adaptor even more exposure. The lasting effect was to increase sales considerably, and being able to use the award to push dithering customers into giving the product a chance.

"Overall a fantastic event which I look forward to attending again this year."