Anthill Cool Company Awards 2008 Needs Web Companies

July 9, 2008 5:36 pm Kim Heras

 

Time is almost up (a couple of weeks left) for nominations to the Anthill magazine Cool Company Awards for 2008. They’re running a little short on nominees for the Online Business award, so if you think you, or someone you know, should be nominated, then head over to the awards information page.

The inaugural Cool Company Awards were launched in February 2006 as a way for Anthill Magazine to celebrate Australian organisations that are doing things differently or defying convention to bring about positive change.

So, what does this mean?
Cool Companies manage to stay one step ahead of the rest. They breed leaders who are rule-makers and rule-breakers. They are organisations that aspire to be admired. They are trend-setters in attitude and action. Quite simply, they are cool.

Anthill has been really supportive of the tech startup industry in Australia so this would definitely be a good award to put in your portfolio.

Let us know if you nominate someone (even if it’s yourself) so we can keep track of how they go.

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5 Responses

  1. Mick Liubinskas Says:
    July 9th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    Why do they charge? To keep out tire kickers…?

  2. Kim Heras Says:
    July 10th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    I’ve invited the Anthill awards rep to let us know why they charge.

    I look forward to their response.

  3. Kim Heras Says:
    July 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    Anthill founder James Tuckerman has taken the time to give us this response (Thanks, James): -

    Hi Kim,

    It’s a good question and there are a couple reasons.

    Firstly, we run on the smell of an oily rag ourselves, despite external appearances. The awards themselves cost us a bomb. The trophies alone set us back $1,500 a pop (full-size surfboards). We have 10 awards. That’s $15k just for trophies. We often engage in exercises like this, with high benefit to readers (and the culture of business in Australia more broadly), and we do try to make a buck. But not in this case sadly. We’ll be happy to cover our costs (I wish we were more mercenary).

    Secondly, we believe that we’re providing a valuable service, even for companies that don’t win. We’ve spent a lot of time and thought building up the application process so that it forces entrants to analyse their own companies and self reflect. Companies can go see a management consultant or a marketing guru or they can fill out our form. It’s a real eye-opener. And that’s what Anthill is all about, educating and supporting growing companies.

    Thirdly, and most importantly, we need a way to separate the real contenders from the also-rans. This is the real crux of the matter and it sounds harsh, but if a company can’t afford $49 (less than two reams of paper), then it should be spending more time on its core business and less time entering awards (the company is clearly not ready for the awards). That’s largely what it boils down to. We don’t want to waste our time or the time of entrants. Call it tough love. ;-)

    I hope that answers your questions Mick. It’s a matter of fiscal prudence, offering a valuable service and tough love.

    Yours faithfully
    James Tuckerman
    Anthill Magazine

  4. Kathryn Walton Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    hi
    ndso3j24f9zkehf7
    good luck

  5. Vanessa Keith Says:
    January 11th, 2009 at 1:10 am

    hi
    ndso3j24f9zkehf7
    good luck

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