New awards off to a shaky start
Recently staged at Sydney's Four Seasons Hotel, the inaugural event has been criticised for not meeting its capacity to recongnise and reward all sectors of the industry. Founder Ari Tsigris said the gala dinner aimed to involve all retailers, students, educators, marketers and design co-ordinators but some attendees said this promise fell short due to both poor organisation and communication.
One finalist - who did not wish to be named - said that while participants were "treated like VIPs" they were forced to scramble for the event due to last minute arrangements.
"We were told on the Thursday before the event that we had got into the finals so we really only had three working days to get out stuff together. We also had to wait in the lobby for a good hour until someone actually told us how the judging would take place. Ari at the end of the day did a top job, he just may need to learn in the future how to delegate work as it seemed he did most of it himself."
Tsigris defended his actions, saying the delay was due to late responses from judges.
"Some were given two weeks notice some were given two to three days notice. It was a matter of waiting for them to return the designer's portfolios. I'm only one person. If I had staff I'd delegate the work to but it was an entrepreneurial initiative on my behalf."
But winners from the award ceremony also said they were left confused after a series of ties in all three prize categories. Kangan Batman TAFE and the Queensland Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE took out the education prize while Longina Phillips and Joshua Roberto Scacheri tied for the Design Award and Marie Hatzis's two labels Hussy and Madame Marie tied for the Business Award.
Scacheri - whose prize included a return trip to Singapore - said he still doesn't know how the awards will be distributed.
"We're still not sure who gets what. I just want to go to Singapore and learn things from the business mentor program."
Communications Coordinator for Kangan Batman TAFE Janette Sato also confirmed organisers had yet to contact her with the final details.
For his part, Tsigris said all winners agreed to split the award and that this will be finalised over the next few weeks.
He also said that he will scramble to arrange reimbursments after invited guests - including a small delegation from Kangan Batman TAFE - were left to pay their own hotel bills after checking out of their hotel room.
"Four Seasons basically decided to take my credit card and not use it," Tsigris said. "As far as I know, we've only got a couple of people to reimburse. Some people were a little bit annoyed at that but all they needed to do was "All in all, I think for the first year, we did a good job."