On show and ready to crow
The fashion retail industry is not known for its ability to stop and smell the roses. And we consider it our job to do something about it.
Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Ragtrader TNT Fashion Retailer of the Year Awards were borne from a genuine desire to uncover the secrets behind some of Australia's most creative and innovative fashion brands.
Little did we realise the enormity of our task.
With the volume as well as the standard of award entries lifting every year since inception, behind the scenes we too were forced to lift our game.
We began by starting the judging process a touch earlier than in recent years, sending our mystery shoppers out into stores as early as June in order to get a feel for each brand and their unique philosophies.
Commercial considerations also had an impact on the way in which we structured the awards this year. With only four real contenders in the department store category, one of which changed ownership during the course of the year, we found it extremely difficult to put together a group of independent panellists who did not have some allegiance or relationship - commercial or otherwise - with the nominated brands. For this reason we elected to drop the department store category however we have plans to reinstate it at next year's awards utilising a different format.
We continued this era of change by welcoming on board a new judge for this year's awards. She arrived in the form of Australian Fashion Council managing director Zoe Edquist, with former judge Amanda Young electing to take on the role of judging convenor.
Zoe - ably assisted by Ragtrader's own Belinda Smart - faced a tougher time than usual in deciding 2007 category winners. No where was this more evident than in the keenly contested independent womenswear category where deliberations continued right up until the eleventh hour. Having reached a stalemate, Amanda was called in and asked to cast a deciding vote.
The large chain store category too also caused more than a few headaches. With only the smallest of details separating the top three entrants in this category, our judges were left with little option but to split the runner-up title between two equally deserving brands.
I did not envy any of the judges their roles this year and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their time and effort.
On behalf of the entire Ragtrader team, I would also like to offer my hearty congratulations to all participants in this year's awards. To the winners, the runners-up and the finalists - you have proven you have what it takes to foot it with the most creative and innovative brands in the fashion industry. You have done yourselves, your suppliers and your customers proud.
As many of you have discovered, the bloom from the rosebud is only fleeting. Make sure you enjoy it while you can.
By Tracey McEldowney