High level support for fashion retail awards

An impressive list of industry heavyweights will duke it out - metaphorically speaking - in an attempt to find the lead contenders in the third annual 2006 Ragtrader TNT Fashion Retailer of the Year Awards.
The influential panel will be charged with narrowing a field of more than 70 finalists across several categories down to just one winner and one runner-up in each category in an effort to find the best of the best among Australia's fashion retailing elite.
Included in the 10-strong panel is Council of Textile & Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) executive director Ashley Van Krieken, Anouk Darling, the general manager of branding consultancy firm Moon Design, L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival director Karen Webster and retail veteran turned consultant Brian Walker of The Retail Doctor.
The panel - together with the preliminary judging team of former Australian Centre for Retail Studies executive director Amanda Young and Ragtrader Melbourne journalist Belinda Smart - will follow a strict selection criteria taking into account aesthetics and sales performance as well as customer service, marketing and promotional activity, employee training and, business and operational systems.
With just over a month to go before award nominations close, the mail bag has been full to overflowing with an even mix of third-party and self-nominations across each of the seven categories - Kidswear, Menswear, Womenswear, Youth, Mature Market in the boutiques arena and both under-20 and over-20 chain retailers.
The judging for the awards will take place during October with winners announced during a glittering cocktail function in Sydney on November 29.

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