With a record 726 entries, the Australasian Catalogue Association is expecting a stand-out 26th annual awards night.

The event on August 25 has a new larger venue in the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre's Melbourne Room, and Libbi Gorr named as master of ceremonies.

Awards have been judged on the effectiveness of the printed piece including the ability to communicate and engage with the target audience, customer demographic and to achieve the campaign objective. Judges commented on the breadth, effectiveness and strong retail marketing results across all categories which reinforces the power of the media channel.

A new direct mail category - which includes loyalty programme catalogues and addressed mail catalogue retailers - has been well-received with almost 50 entries. Most competitive category is that for chain department stores and specialty retailers.

"The Awards are a wonderful time for the association and the broader industry, a night when we all come together as one industry to celebrate how effective the channel is and how hard we work together to achieve these results," says ACA chief executive Kellie Northwood.

Tickets are now on sale and more than 600 tickets have already been sold. Visit www.catalogue.asn.au/awards-tickets-2017/ or email awards@catalogue.asn.au