The 2013 winners of the North American Office Products Awards (NAOPA) were revealed during SP Richards' Advantage Business Conference (ABC).
Differently to previous years, the product award winners were announced during the ABC's office products expo, while the People's Choice Award and inaugural dealer recognition awards were revealed during the gala dinner.
The winners of the Product of the Year awards are:
- Core Office Product: Victor Technology, All-In-One Monitor Riser
- Cleaning and Breakroom: Mind Reader, The Breakroom
- Technology: LOGITECH, Logitech Washable Keyboard K310
- Furniture: Safco Products, Zenergy Ball Chair
- Product Innovation: Kensington, Proximo Starter Kit
This year a record number of entries to each product category were received.
Janet Bell, Director at OPI – which organises the NAOPA in collaboration with SP Richards – said: "The quality of the nominees this year was outstanding and the judges really had their work cut out to choose the finalists. However, the winners really stood out above the competition and are really the best in class.”
Bell continued: “This year’s ABC expo was truly outstanding and the perfect place to present the winners of the NAOPA with their trophies. It was great to give the dealers the opportunity to interact with the winning products and to discuss them with the vendors. I am sure we will see the products selling well for dealers over the coming year.”
Safco's Zenergy Ball Chair also took home the People's Choice Award, which made its successful debut in 2012. OPI readers voted for the category during the month leading up to the ABC, and conference attendees selected the final winner in a live vote during the gala dinner.
Two dealer awards were launched at the 2013 ABC. The Industry Achievement Award went to Chip Hummel of Hummel Office Plus, who unfortunately couldn't be present to accept the trophy due to severe flooding in New York. His son Harrison Hummel IV received the award on his behalf and said that his father was extremely honoured to be recognised.
Wendy Pike of Twist Office Products received the Professional of the Year Award to a standing ovation.
Notes to editors
About Kensington
Kensington is a leading provider of desktop and mobile device accessories, trusted by IT, educators, business and home office professionals around the world for more than 35 years. Kensington products empower people to dynamically interact with content, creating a better working experience for productive performance. In both office and mobile environments, Kensington’s extensive portfolio of award-winning products provides trusted security, desktop productivity innovations, and ergonomic well-being. Our core competencies in engineering, industrial design, product quality and responsive customer support make Kensington The Professionals’ Choice™.
Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Kensington operates as the technology division of ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO), one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded business, academic and consumer products, sold in more than 100 countries across the globe.
Kensington is the inventor and worldwide leader in laptop security locks, the acknowledged leader of Trackball innovation and offers a broad range of premium-branded desktop productivity solutions.