Frequently Asked Questions

How are the products that are part of the program selected?

Every year, we open the Best New Product Awards to all manufacturers to enter their new food, health and beauty, and household care products. We also work with Better Homes and Gardens to ensure we include categories most relevant to current consumer trends and attitudes. In the 2010 program, have 42 categories representing a total of 135 products and involving 55 manufacturers.

How do the products win? Who votes? How are the categories set?

Real consumers from across the country are invited to vote on the products via an online survey. Over 50,000 consumers are involved in the BrandSpark American Shopper Study. We conduct an extensive screening to ensure the voters are the principal shoppers for their home and purchase products in the category they are voting on.

We have developed a proprietary scoring system that is based on real shoppers who have actually purchased the product and are prepared to purchase it again - a very high standard. Each product receives a score, a percentage of which is based on the repurchase intent of those consumers who have tried the product and the other percentage is based on how appealing shoppers find the product to be. Each product is part of a category, which consists of a minimum of three products from at least two different manufacturers; this ensures no one company can buy a win.

Are there costs to participate?

Each manufacturer pays a nominal $1,000 administration processing fee for each product they choose to enter. The low participation fee ensures that we have the broadest representation of both large and small manufacturers participating in the program. This year we had 135 brands and 55 manufacturers involved in the program. There are no additional costs required as part of this program.

What is Better Homes and Gardens' level of involvement?

Better Homes and Gardens is the exclusive consumer media partner of the Best New Product Awards. They provide editorial support for the program, including an invitation to their readers in the editor's letter to take part in the survey. They publish the results in the magazine and online in a special page on the BHG.com web site. They also run a sweepstakes across America offering 10 people the chance to win all of the Best New Products. In addition, they provide guidance in the development of the annual BrandSpark American Shopper Study to ensure that we are tracking the latest consumer and media trends.

What is the BrandSpark American Shopper Study and how is it connected to the Best New Product Awards?

As part of the survey that determines the winning products, consumers are also asked a series of questions regarding their attitudes towards new products, family life, health issues, the environment, food and much more. They are also asked about their attitudes towards the current economy and how this has and will affect their shopping habits. We also track how consumers are adopting new media. This makes it one of the largest surveys available on the Principal Shopper which is simultaneously conducted in Canada allowing us to track key differences and similarities between Americans and Canadians. We share the results of this valuable study with participating companies and well respected media outlets.

Who conducts the Best New Product Awards survey and the BrandSpark American Shopper Study?

The Best New Product Awards program was developed and is managed by BrandSpark International, an independent market research company based in Toronto, Canada with a presence in New York. IMI International, an independent market research firm, is responsible for the scoring and final assessment of winners. BrandSpark is also responsible for the development and analysis of the BrandSpark American Shopper Study.

Summed up – How would you describe your program as being different from all other award programs?

• The People’s Choice Awards for consumer products that are purchased every day
• The Best New Product Awards aspires to be the most credible, 100% consumer voted awards program – the American shopper’s seal of approval