The winners of the inaugural automotive CitNOW Video Awards have been announced this afternoon, with dealer group Sytner taking the top honour.
An expert judging panel presided over by CitNOW chairman and founder Andrew Howells, analysed some 50 shortlisted entries in seven categories.
CitNOW counts 90 of the AM100 dealer groups in the UK among its clients and works with 24 major OEMs in Europe. The awards have been set up to showcase the best practitioners in the business. They were held at a ceremony at the home of BAFTA in central London.
Sytner Audi Nottingham won the Best Overall CitNOW Award, as well as the Best CitNOW Sales Video Award, for a video taken by Lee Wright.
Sepi Arani, used car development executive at Audi UK, said on the winning submission from Sytner Audi Nottingham: “It is brilliant to see Audi i-Sight, the tailored video solution and training package we’ve created alongside CitNOW, showcasing the fantastic mix of personality and expertise we have in our network. Lee has done tremendously well at embracing video as a modern form of communication, whilst most importantly adding his own personal touch.”
Ridgeway was awarded the Best CitNOW Workshop Video and also picked up a highly commended in the Best CitNOW Sales Video category.
Howells said: “I was very proud to see so many entries for the inaugural CitNOW Video Awards. The standard was fantastic, especially considering that these are personal responses created using an ‘easy to use’ video application.
“No lights, no make-up and few, if any, retakes; personal presentations to help customers make the right decision. This is exactly what CitNOW is about, enabling the automotive industry to over deliver to their customers with simple, personal and powerful video presentations.”
The CitNOW Awards aim to recognise companies and professionals who have embraced the use of video technology and make the most of the opportunities and benefits it offers, as well as showcasing best practice.
Entrants were judged on a number of criteria including attention to detail, their overall approach and how helpful their video would have been to the viewer.
On Audi Nottingham’s overall winning submission, Howells said: “Lee Wright at Audi Nottingham has created a textbook personal video presentation.
“From where he has positioned the vehicle at the dealership to the thorough explanation provided, he leaves the potential customer in no doubt that he is there to help with the decision-making process and is happy to provide a helpful explanation of what is on offer.
“Lee also listens. He picks up on what the customer said previously on the phone and replays this back in the video at the appropriate moments. Best of all, Lee has taken the time to give his customer every opportunity to fall in love with this vehicle.
“There were many gifted presenters that were shortlisted for this award. The reason Lee won was because he's the one that remembered his training and did the most effective presentation overall.”
Finalists and winners of the CitNOW Video Awards 2015
Best CitNOW Workshop video
Winner:
Ridgeway Audi Oxford
Highly commended:
Grovebury Cars Kia Dunstable
Lancaster Mercedes-Benz Ipswich
Best CitNOW Sales video
Winner:
Sytner Audi Nottingham
Highly commended:
Dick Lovett BMW Bristol
Sytner Volkswagen Huddersfield
Ridgeway Land Rover Oxford
Best CitNOW Bodyshop video
Winner:
Cooper BMW Bodyshop Chelmsford
Highly commended:
Sytner BMW Oldbury
Best CitNOW Web Video
Winner:
Nissan Retail Group Bolton
Highly commended:
Renault Retail Group Leicester
Best Overseas CitNOW video
Winner:
Groupe Maurin La Valette-du-Var, France
Highly commended:
ATL Automotive Montego Bay, Jamaica
Most Creative Use of CitNOW video
Winner:
Johnsons Volkswagen Sutton Coldfield
Highly commended:
Sinclair Volkswagen Newport
Best overall CitNOW video
Winner:
Sytner Audi Nottingham
(Lee Wright)
Watch videos
> View a video montage of the highlights of the CitNOW video awards' entries
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