Last week, Forbes, in partnership with Canon MAXIFY printers, announced the final winners for its Main Street Awards as part of the “Mastering Main Street” campaign.
In a first move for both Forbes and Canon USA powered by MAXIFY printers, the media title and brand partnered for an editorial content and contest program geared toward empowering small business owners called, “Mastering Main Street.”
The Mastering Main Street partnership came to life in a Forbes owned custom feature that curated editorial content tailored to small business interests. Designed to reward small business owners who have made significant impact both with their businesses and communities, the first-ever Forbes Main Street awards ran from July 17,2017 to August 17,2017.
The editorially-driven contest encouraged entrants to submit their success stories to four different categories: Brick-and-Mortar Adoption of E-Commerce, Community Engagement, Paid Marketing, and Social Media. Winners were selected within each category by the Forbes editorial team with an additional “Audience Choice” winner selected by fans and readers. These individuals will be featured on Forbes.com and in the upcoming issue of Forbes 30 Under 30 magazine. They will also receive a MAXIFY prize pack.
Congratulations to the 2017 Main Street Award recipients:
1. Best Brick-and-Mortar Adoption of E-Commerce: Missouri Star Quilt Company
Location: Hamilton, MO
About the Company: When the Doan family opened the Missouri Star Quilt Company in 2008, they soon realized they couldn’t produce enough revenue in a town of only 1500 people. Utilizing YouTube and e-commerce as a creative platform, the small-town Missouri shop has become the quilting destination attracting quilters from all over the world.
2. Best Community Engagement: Dynamic Discs
Location: Emporia, KS
About the Company: Started as a college based eBay Hobby, Dynamic Discs has transitioned into the second largest disc golf manufacturer. The Kansas based company engages with the community through hosting events such as the Glass Blown Open, the world’s biggest disc golf event.
3. Best Paid Marketing: Rusty Rose
Location: Plainview, TX
About the Company: Nominated as one of the 10 best Instagram boutiques in Texas to follow, Rusty Rose provides a fun, personable approach to paid marketing. Through flash sales, special discounts, and exclusive items only shared through social media accounts, the women’s boutique shares that they have an 80% sale rate on items posted.
4. Best Social Media: Watermark Corners
Location: Moline, IL
About the Company: Watermark Corners, a family owned gift and stationary store in Illinois, discovered a unique and engaging ways to connect with its followers on social media. Their weekly giveaway program chooses winners based a random number generator system.
5. Audience Choice Award: LogicPrep
Location: Armonk, NY
About the Company: At LogicPrep Education, the team encourages and supports students in their academic endeavors. The test-prep scholarship program to increase educational access for low-income, first-generation and undocumented students earned LogicPrep as a favor of readers.
Though the Main Street Awards were a vital component of the “Mastering Main Street” campaign, Canon also reached their audience through the relevant editorial content and messaging that surrounded it. A custom feature on Forbes.com was built to curate inspiring stories from members of the small business community. Canon and Forbes hoped that visitors will learn from like-minded entrepreneurs and apply relevant strategies to their own ventures.
The decision to reach Canon’s audience in ways beyond traditional advertising stemmed from a keen understanding of the small business owner mindset. This group of individuals greatly values anyone who can provide them with exposure and education.
Luckily Canon, with a little help from 360i and Forbes, was able to authentically do both.
Want to read more small business success stories and follow updates to the Main Street Awards? Visit the Mastering Main Street editorial page here.
