The National Retail Association’s (NRA’s) prestigious 2018 National Retail Awards line-up of finalists is proving to be one of the most innovative and diverse in the event’s long-running history.
NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said this calibre of entrants this year in particular, highlighted how quickly Australian stores were pivoting in such a rapidly-changing environment, to embrace more unique and inventive strategies brought forward by lateral-thinking teams.
“Retailers who’ve been in the game for a long time know that the landscape has changed, so there’s been remarkable opportunities for those who really think outside the box, to dive in and lead well-established retail teams onto entirely new pathways, to great success,” Ms Lamb.
“The 2018 Awards line-up is a reflection of just how much this game has changed, and a wonderful chance for retailers to stand up and thank these movers and shakers, who are collectively shaking up the entire industry,” she said.
“It’s really exciting to see so many of these incredibly ambitious retailers in the line-up, and to hear about some of the remarkable ideas they are rolling out across the nation, and to such great success!” she said.
As the most anticipated category, the Young Retailer of the Year award has again attracted the highest number of entries overall, with 25 finalists now selected to progress to the next round of judging.
The winner, who’ll be announced during the gala event in Sydney on August 23, will score an all expenses paid trip to New York City to visit one of the world’s largest retail expos, the National Retail Federation Big Show in January, where they will learn from some of the world’s best leading experts.
The CEO of the Young Retailer of the Year prize sponsor, National Online Retail Association (NORA), Paul Greenberg, hopes the award will encourage a new generation of thought-leaders to choose the retail profession.
“We are deeply supportive of retail being chosen as a career. Our best and brightest young retailers are the key to harnessing technology-led, customer-centric, global retail opportunities.”
Given the extra high volume of Store Manager of the Year award entrants, the NRA has decided to expand the category to recognise the Top 10 finalists.
The finalists are:
Social Responsibility Champion of the YearHoMie Street Store Vinnies Shops NSW BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing | Customer Experience Champion of the YearPeregrine Corporation Pty Ltd Perfect Potion Supercheap Auto | Innovation Champion of the YearTarget Australia HWKR Melbourne | |
Lifetime Achievement Award (30+ yrs of service)Mary Booth – Wine Glass Gallery Yvonne Badham – Freedom Donna Seaman – NIB Retail Centre | HR Manager of the Year AwardCaterina Kidd – Freedom Nicole Benneyworth – HG Retail Group Alina Bidewell – Coles | Franchisee of the YearKarnon Enterprises Pty Ltd Baskin Robbins North Lakes Plenty Luck News & Lotto | |
Small Retailer of the YearArlo and Co Foster & Black Specialty Coffee The Party People Megastore Simply for Strings SportsPower Bunbury & Eaton Fair | Medium Retailer of the YearPerfect Potion St Frock Tentworld | Large Retailer of the YearBCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing Peregrine Corporation Pty Ltd PETstock | News Xtend Online Retailer of the YearSupercheap Auto Arlo and Co The Athlete’s Foot |
Roubler Store Manager of the Year AwardMadison Keynes – Target Christine Rogers – Supercheap Auto Jason Bortolazzo – Supercheap Auto Melissa Jones – Supercheap Auto Paul Sangster – The Co-op Mason Roberts – Australian Geographic Narelle Beech – Target David Cartwright – Target Steven Plant – WHSmith Ricky Sinclair – Surf Dive n Ski | REST and NORA Young Retailer of the YearAnthony Bebee – OTR |
Judging will continue for the next two weeks before winners are announced at the gala dinner event on August 23rd, 2018.
The gala will take place at the exquisite Myer Mural Hall – an iconic ballroom within Myer’s Bourke St building.
Full finalist details can be found online– http://www.nationalretailawards.net.au
The dinner is open to the public and tickets can be purchased through the NRA website www.nra.net.au