Call for Entries: The 3rd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Challenge for the Insurance Industry
Is your insurance company, brokerage, or firm ready to embrace some gloriously bad holiday fashion? The wait is over! The #UglyChristmasInsuranceSweaterChallenge is officially back for its third hilarious year. This unique event has become a beloved tradition, showcasing the insurance industry's self-deprecating humor, creativity, and community spirit. After Halloween's spooky fun, this is your chance to keep the festive (and frightful) energy alive. We're calling on all insurance providers, brokers, agents, and related businesses to design and submit the ugliest, most dreadful Christmas sweater imaginable. Will your company be crowned the champion of terrible taste in 2023?
A Growing Tradition of Terrible Taste
This challenge has grown exponentially, proving that the insurance world loves a good laugh. What started with 10 participating companies two years ago exploded to 26 horrific entries last year, generating over 4,900 reactions on social media. This year, we believe we can go even bigger—and uglier. It's more than just a silly contest; it's a demonstration of brand personality, team building, and humanizing an industry often seen as formal. Participating shows your clients and peers that your company values creativity, camaraderie, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
How to Enter: Simple Rules for Maximum Ugly
Entering is straightforward. Here’s what you need to know:
| Step | Action Required | Deadline/Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Design & Create | Design your company's uniquely ugly Christmas sweater. Get creative, embrace clashing patterns, awkward slogans, and festive horrors. | Let your team's worst instincts guide you! |
| 2. Photograph & Submit | Take a high-quality photo of the sweater (worn by a team member or displayed). | Email the image to ohduschreckliche@versicherungsbote.de |
| 3. Deadline | All entries must be received. | By November 26th |
| 4. Public Voting | The industry decides the winner! All submitted sweaters will be presented for public vote on our social media channels. | Voting runs from November 30th to December 13th on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. |
Need Inspiration? Behold Last Year's Top 10 Champions of Ugly
To fuel your creative (or destructive) process, look back at the masterpieces that defined bad taste in 2022. These set a high—or low—bar for what's possible.
The 2022 Podium Finishers
- 1st Place - Provinzial: The reigning champion defended its title with a produced version of its winning design, proudly modeled by its board members. (1,660 points)
- 2nd Place - LVM: Their "horribly beautiful little horse Christmas pullover" galloped to a strong second place with 1,393 points.
- 3rd Place - OCC: Secured the bronze medal with a robust 749 points for their uniquely ugly design.
Other notable entries included Zurich (4th), Nürnberger (5th), Gothaer Digital (6th), and AXA Omnichannel (7th). The competition also featured a special category for brokers, won by Tanja Merches with a self-sewn sweater and matching hat.
Why Your Company Should Participate
Beyond the laughs, participating in the #UglyChristmasInsuranceSweaterChallenge offers real benefits for your brand and team:
- Boost Team Morale & Culture: Collaborating on a fun, non-sales project fosters creativity and strengthens internal bonds.
- Enhance Brand Relatability: It shows a human, approachable side of your company to clients and prospects, breaking down formal barriers.
- Generate Positive Engagement: The social media voting period drives organic engagement, putting your brand in front of a wide industry audience in a positive, memorable context.
- Join a Community Tradition: Be part of an event that celebrates the unique spirit and camaraderie of the insurance and financial services sector.
So, gather your most creatively challenged colleagues, unleash your inner fashion disaster, and show the industry that your company has the courage to be ugly, the humor to laugh at itself, and the worst taste in sweaters. We can't wait to see what horrors you create!
Submission Deadline: November 26th
Submission Email: ohduschreckliche@versicherungsbote.de
Voting Period: November 30th - December 13th