Maryland Firm Takes Top Marketing Awards

A Maryland-based small business rose to the top of this year’s nominees at the American Marketing Association (AMA) 37th Industry Awards Ceremony held in Chicago.

Duct Cleaning Business of Rockville took the top prize in three of the night’s biggest categories:  Digital Marketer of the Year, Social Media Campaign of the Year, and In-House Agency of the Year.  Winners are elected by AMA members in a closed ballot.

In the Social Media category, Duct Cleaning Business’ “Believe My Work Not Words!!” campaign was the runaway winner, garnering 84 percent of AMA members’ votes. AMA officials said cutting-edge exaggerated adjectives like ‘soooo necessary’ coupled with ingenious use of exclamation marks and vermin emoticons was unparalleled.

The Digital Marketer of the Year award was pinned to Duct Cleaning Business’ pervasive presence in online communities. With active posts in more than 102,987 Facebook neighborhood and buy-and-sell groups, this small firm has achieved Internet omnipresence not seen since the Nigerian Prince campaigns of the 1990s.

Natasha and Yuri Hvacis, owners of Duct Cleaning Business, say they take greatest pride in the In-House Agency of the Year award. “Natasha does all our campaigns. She invented the ‘need customers to fill up the truck’ promotion. Now everyone does it,” beamed Yuri.

An AMA official said Duct Cleaning Business’ success is particularly remarkable given the tough business climate they face. “The U.S. EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances, yet this company appears to be thriving.”