SYDNEY: Australia's top retailers celebrated a year of surviving and thriving at the sixth annual TNT Ragtrader Fashion Retailer of the Year Awards.
The event held yesterday evening (October 21) saw longstanding womenswear outfitter Cue Clothing Co. awarded the most hotly contested prize of the night and named best fashion retailer in the Chains (over 20 stores) category. Chief Executive and founder of the business, Rod Levis, was on hand to accept the award along with a team of key staff. Melbourne headquarted retailer Country Road accepted the award for runner-up.
The formal event, held at the Sydney Opera House, also celebrated the efforts of women's and childrenswear retailer, Metalicus. The casualwear retailer was named winner of the Chains (under 20 stores) category, narrowly edging out shirting specialist Farage.
Luxury menswear retailer Harrolds made Retailer of the Year Awards history, taking home the winner's trophy for the Independent Menswear category for the fourth time. The team behind label Alpha60 were named as runner-up for their collection of Alphaville stores.
Also taking the winner's podium were Wasteland and Sydney Street Boutique, winner and runner up respectively in the Independent Womenswear category.
The Independent Childrenswear award was scooped by West Australian retailer Funky Kids, ahead of Victorian competitor Kidzone Newport.
Myer took out the Department Store crown, recognised for its monumental year that will be capped off by a November listing on the Australian Stock Exchange. David Jones took the award for runner-up, ahead of Target and Kmart.
Chain store judge and Project Runway Australia regular, Sarah Gale, was host for the evening and kept 100 guests entertained throughout the three course dinner. Australian Centre for Retail Studies staffer Andrew Cavanagh was guest speaker.