PIM Star Awards
2026 Call for Entries will open Fall 2025
Printing Industry Midwest’s (PIM) Star Awards honors every aspect of the graphic communications supply chain, from content creation to print distribution in every way imaginable. PIM’s Star Award is your chance to convey your capabilities to your customers and honor the hard work of your staff. This awards program reveals massive opportunities for your company to showcase your best, show off what you can do!
Plan ahead for 2026! Do you have a printed piece so flawless that its craftsmanship should be awarded? Do you want to recognize a person who has gone above and beyond this year? PIM has an award program just for you, our Star Awards. This program has two parts your company can participate in; submit printed entries and nominate co-workers. You can participate in one or both! Start saving your 2025 projects and thinking about who you want to nominate for PIM’s 2026 Star Awards Call for Entries. Below is all the information you need to know about entering.
Questions? Please email Kristin Pilling-Davis and Sadie Johnson at starawards@pimw.org.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WINNING?
- Your company will receive increased name recognition within the industry.
- A press release will be sent to trade publications announcing the winners.
- Exclusive use of the Star Awards logo for your website, social media and promotional materials.
- You can present personalized award to your customer and project partners.
- Winners will be promoted in PIM’s printed newsletter, The Loupe, and annual Print Buyers Guide & Membership Directory.
- All Best of Category winners will be entered into the national Americas Print Awards competition for free. PIM will pay for your entry fees.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: CLOSED
HOW TO ENTER…
SUBMIT PRINTED PIECES
This program is not taking any entries at this time. 2026 Call for Entries will open Fall 2025.
Start thinking about PIM’s 2026 Star Awards print competition. Here is how the program works…
1. SELECT YOUR BEST PIECE(S): Select your best piece(s) to enter that you produced between January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. You will need to send in two unmounted samples for each category you wish to enter. PIM will not return your submissions after the competition is complete.
Remember to enter your pieces honestly. Only enter a piece under a category, if you did the work and had a direct role in the production of the printed piece(s) entered.
2. REVIEW CATEGORY LIST: Next, review the Category List for descriptions about where your projects will fit. One entry can be submitted into multiple categories.
Above form is the 2025 form. New form will be posted Fall 2025.
3. PRINT, FILL OUT & MAIL: Print and fill out the Entry Forms. Mail completed forms and entries to PIM’s Office located in Bloomington, MN by the due date January 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM (CST).
Above form is the 2025 form. New form will be posted Fall 2025.
4. JUDGING: In February, a team of industry experts will review all entries. An entry is judged first on technical expertise and quality of printing; next on design features and overall graphic appeal. Entries with visible technical flaws will be disqualified from the judging process. Please check your samples carefully. Judges will not know which company submitted the entry (except in the case of self-promotion category).
5. RESULTS: Around the end of February PIM will reach out with the results. You will be able to order duplicate or custom awards at this time. All awards and the Best of Show winner will announced at banquet. Promote and announce your wins in February or wait until after the banquet to announce or do both.
6. CELEBRATE: PIM’s Star Awards Banquet will be held on June 12, 2025 at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America, Bloomington, MN. We encourage everyone to attend the banquet to celebrate. The event link will be available in February.
HOW TO ENTER…
NOMINATE CO-WORKERS
This program is not taking any entries at this time. 2026 Call for Entries will open Fall 2025.
Start thinking about PIM’s 2026 Star Awards. Boost the morale of your employees by nominating professionals for the chance to win the following awards…
1. REVIEW THE FORMS: Review the nomination process, click here or click the below links and review the by the nine different awards you can nominate co-workers for…
- Creative Professional
- Customer Service Representative (CSR)
- Financial Professional
- Human Resource (HR) Professional
- Manager
- Production Professional
- Sales & Marketing Professional
- Team
- Young Professional
2. FORMS: New this year, PIM is only accepting online nomination forms. No paper base or email forms will be accepted. It is free to nominate co-works and there is no limit to how many people you can nominate. Collect testimonials or supporting documents that help demonstrate why your employee is award-winning.
3. FILL OUT & SUBMIT: Complete the online forms by answering each question. There is a “SAVE AND RESUME LATER” button at the bottom of each form. By clicking this, your form will be saved for 30 days and a unique link will be created for you to access and resume working your form. Please complete the online form(s) by the due date January 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM (CST).
3. JUDGING: In February, a committee will review all nominations.
4. RESULTS: Around the end of February, PIM will reach out to the nominator with the results. Please do not tell the nominee if they won.
The identity of the winner will remain a secret until the Star Awards Banquet. All nominations will be recognized and the winners will be announced at banquet. Winners will receive a framed certificate and everyone else will receive a certificate in a folder.
5. CELEBRATE: PIM’s Star Awards Banquet will be held on June 12, 2025 at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America, Bloomington, MN. We encourage everyone to attend the banquet to celebrate. It is an honor to be nominated! The event link will be available in February.
