Gazal to drive and reward boutique businesses
SYDNEY: One of the most influential players in Australia's intimate apparel market has announced an initiative aimed at rewarding the little guys.
Gazal Corporation, which distributes branded underwear and accessories to boutiques and chain operators throughout Australia and New Zealand, is staging an inaugural awards program to recognise its independent clients.
The Gazal Underwear Independent Retailer of the Year Award will include six regional categories, one overall winner and a prize pool valued at more than $20,000. Regional prizes will be rewarded across New South Wales, Victoria/Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia/Northern Territory, Western Australia and New Zealand.
Gazal Underwear national sales manager David Furness said sales contributions from boutique retailers were a significant part of the overall business.
"[This award] gives independent retailers a chance to be proactive within their own businesses and rewards them for doing so," he said. "We have many great retail partners and we really wanted to work with them to grow our combined businesses. We hope with this award we'll see some great things from our boutique customers in FY09."
The six regional winners will receive $2000 to invest in advertising while the overall winner will walk away with a $10,000 cheque for advertising and in-store promotions. Furness said a panel of senior management representatives would judge entrants based on a number of factors including growth targets, product mixes, marketing initiatives and merchandising programs for the financial year 2009.
Furness said the initiative was part of a broader plan to build on the public company's basics business and boost client relations. Gazal intimate apparel brands include Calvin Klein, Lovable, Davenport and Oroton.
"We are passionate about the great brands we have and hope to inspire both the consumer and retailer with some exciting new strategies in the next six months," he said. "Watch this space."
The winners of The Gazal Underwear Independent Retailer of the Year Award will be announced in August.
By Assia Benmedjdoub