Awards attract best of the best
Apparel and accessories company The Just Group is set to join others including national womenswear chain Esprit, youth retailer General Pants and boutique store Incu in a bid to command the podium at the 2007 Ragtrader TNT Fashion Retailer of the Year Awards.
With just over a week to go before the nomination period closes, entries for this year's awards have been streaming in with first time entrants - such as Calabro Bridal and Formalwear and Silva Guanta - joining previous winners High Tide Mark and Always Habit in vying for the winners crown.
Seeking to recognise and reward the best of the best among Australia's fashion retailing elite, the awards process allows for third party nominations from leading suppliers or from individual retailers themselves.
In all there are seven awards up for grabs including best menswear, childrenswear, womenswear and youth retailer as well as best under-20 and over-20 chain retailers and best department store.
Supported by a host of sponsors including naming rights supporter TNT, gold partner AMP Capital Shopping Centres and silver sponsors Trak Recruiting and Storeworks, the fourth installment of the annual awards show is shaping up to be the best yet.
Some of the industry's brightest lights have again agreed to stand in judgement of the lead contenders in the awards. These include Australian Retail Association marketing manager Richard Vines, Moon Design's Annouk Darling, Austrade's Caroline MacIntosh, industry consultant Jacquie Naylor and L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival director Karen Webster.
In order to help separate one chain or independent boutique from another, judges will follow a strict criteria taking into account such things as first impressions, store layout, customer service, breadth and depth of employee training, marketing, advertising and promotions, and business and operations.
Judging for the awards will take place September 3 to October 5 with winners announced during a cocktail function at Doltone House on November 28.
Entry forms at yaffa.com.au/retailawards or email retailawards@yaffa.com.au