FAQ

GENERAL INFORMATION

What are the FenderBender Awards?

In 2008, FenderBender established to FenderBender Awards to celebrate the achievements of today’s industry superstars. They were created for the core readers of FenderBender, the owners and operators running today’s collision repair facilities, to provide a big stage for them to acknowledge the many individuals that touch their businesses—and lives—on a regular basis.

How are FenderBender Award winners determined?

After you’ve nominated an individual, your submission will be reviewed by FenderBender editors. After narrowing down nominees in each category, FenderBender editors will conduct phone interviews to get more information on the nominees in making their final selections for a FenderBender Award.

Why should I nominate someone?

Visibility

• National, local, and industry recognition for the nominee
• Media exposure via national, local, and industry/trade outlets
• An individual profile page for each winner on our high-traffic website, fenderbender.com
• Coverage in FenderBender magazine for the winner in each of six categories
• A high-quality FenderBender Award for display at the winner's place of business

Morale

• Personal validation and recognition for an employee, co-worker or industry peer
• Acknowledgment by industry peers, vendors and customers of the winner's efforts and successes
• Public praise for an individual who has made a positive impact on the collision repair industry

APPLYING (WHEN, HOW, WHERE AND WHY)

What is the nomination process?

1. Nominate

Complete a nomination for the FenderBender Awards online here.

• Confirm that your nomination meets the FenderBender Awards eligibility requirements.
• Select the category that your nominee best represents.
• Nominate early to ensure that you make all editorial and publication deadlines.

2. Editorial

• After you’ve nominated an individual, your submission will be reviewed by FenderBender editors.
• After narrowing down nominees in each category, FenderBender editors will conduct phone interviews to get more information on the nominees in making their final selections for a FenderBender Award.

3. Notification

• In the summer of 2011, award winners will be notified.

4. Interviews and Photography

If a FenderBender Award is won, interviews and photo shoots will be conducted.
• Nominators will be contacted by a FenderBender writer for an interview regarding the nominee for the profile story of the nominee.
• Nominee will be contacted by a FenderBender writer for an interview for their profile story.
• Nominee will be contacted by a FenderBender photographer to arrange a time for a photo shoot for their profile story.

5. Publication

On October 1, 2011, we will publish the 2011 FenderBender Awards on fenderbender.com. The October issue of FenderBender, profiling the six FenderBender Award winners, will hit mailboxes in early October.
• FenderBender will publicize and distribute the publication to media channels throughout the industry.
• FenderBender will distribute the publication at SEMA 2011, during Automotive Service & Repair Week.

When is the deadline for submitting a nomination for the 2011 FenderBender Awards?

The deadline to submit the online nomination is July 1, 2011, at 11:59pm C.S.T. We encourage you to nominate early to ensure that you make all editorial and publication deadlines.

How are FenderBender Award winners determined?

Is there a fee to nominate someone for a FenderBender Awards?

No. There is no fee for nominators or nominees. The FenderBender Awards are completely free.

What if I still have questions about nominating a person for a FenderBender Award?

We’re here to help! If you have any additional questions about the FenderBender Awards, please contact our team at 651.224.6207, or email us at [email protected].

ELIGIBILITY

What are the eligibility criteria for the FenderBender Awards?

Shop owner. Customer. Employee. Vendor. Anybody that has been touched by a person in the collision repair industry is qualified to nominate. This is an opportunity to let the collision repair industry know about the positive contributions an individual making a difference in the collision repair industry.

The competition is open to all segments of the collision repair industry, and the Awards provide an opportunity to recognize those in the industry that make it happen day-in and day-out through leading by example to improve the industry, the businesses they work for, the people they employ, and much more. The six categories are: executive, management, administrative support, shop worker, vendor and “wild card.”

What if I still have questions about my nominee’s eligibility for a FenderBender Award?

We’re here to help! If you have any additional questions or concerns about any part of the FenderBender Awards, please contact our team at 651.224.6207, or email us at [email protected].

COMMON CONCERNS ABOUT NOMINATING

Will my nomination be taken seriously or is this a waste of my time?

The editors of FenderBender will take every nomination into consideration when narrowing down the pool of nominees for interviews.

How can I improve the chances for my nominee to win a FenderBender Award?

The more accurate and detailed information you can provide regarding the nominee, the better the chances are that editors will select you, as a nominator, for a more detailed interview about the nominee.

What if my nominee wins and doesn’t want to participate in an interview or photo shoot?

Because the FenderBender Awards are the focus of our October 2010 issue, we will need nominees to be accessible to editors and photographers. Our editors are very considerate of time and information individuals want to share, so the interview process is low pressure. For the photo shoot, we select only the best photos, so nominees don’t need to be shy.

What if I still have concerns or unanswered questions about the FenderBender Awards?

We’re here to help! If you have any additional questions about any part of the FenderBender Awards, please contact our team at 651.224.6207, or email us at [email protected].

THE AWARD ITSELF

What exactly is an actual FenderBender Award?

A FenderBender Award is an acrylic award that is approximately 10 inches tall, and perfect for display.

What is on the FenderBender Award?

A FenderBender Award displays the year the award was won, as well as the winner’s name and the business they represent.

What if I have questions that are not listed here?

We’re here to help! If you have any additional questions about the FenderBender Awards, please contact our team at 651.224.6207, or email us at [email protected].