You gotta be in it to win it
As can be evidenced by the amount of sponsored advertising flooding the free-to-air television networks at present, the Australian Olympic spirit is alive and well.
And with the Beijing-bound Sportscraft-clad athletes firing to display their talents on the world stage, we here at Ragtrader HQ figured it was time we too looked at ways of evoking a bit of healthy competition.
With this in mind, we would like to bring out the blood-lust in all our readers by inviting you to participate in the sector's most keenly-anticipated night of nights, the 2008 Ragtrader TNT Fashion Retailer of the Year Awards.
As with previous years this year's awards, the fifth annual, will seek to identify the best of the best among the Australian fashion retail elite. Our illustrious list of past winners include such leaders as General Pants, Target, David Jones, Harrolds, Gorman, Feathers, David Lawrence, Andiamo, Mariana Hardwick, From St Xavier, Arthur Galan, Portmans and Peter Alexander.
And in keeping with our tried and tested methodology we boldly predict that the calibre of this year's awards will be bigger, braver and consequently better than ever before. Not least because we intend introducing a number of changes aimed at ensuring we have the very best resources available to identify the fashion retailing mighty from the meek.
While we're keen to save some surprises for later, I can reveal that one of the most obvious changes you will see is the fact that we have a host of new supporters to help in what is shaping up to be a truly magical event. In keeping with tradition, logistics firm TNT Fashion Express has again been kind enough to sign on as principal naming rights sponsor while AMP Capital Shopping Centre has again been generous enough to sign on as a gold sponsor.
New recruits wholesale clothing and accessory labels Dada & Co and Kaideepeel have also signalled their support for our venture by signing on as silver sponsors joining returning supporter Trak Recruiting back for the third year in a row.
As per usual the core structure of the awards remains the same with nominations accepted from industry suppliers as well as from retailers themselves. The 2008 awards will feature the usual five categories - Best Chain Over 20 Stores, Best Chain Under 20 Stores, Best Independent Womenswear Boutique, Best Independent Menswear Boutique, Best Independent Childrenswear Boutique. And with the ownership of a certain department store now clarified, we also intend resurrecting our keenly contested Best Department Store category.
And in continuing last year's theme, we are in the process of putting together an industry panel - featuring some of the sector's most influential faces - to throw their thoughts into the mix. They will help us conduct unannounced spot checks on you all before putting forward their own nominations.
As with other years stores will be judged on a strict judging criteria - available at ragtrader.com.au - which takes into account such things as first impressions, store layout, customer service, marketing and promotional activity, employee training, and business and operation systems.
All entrants - including department stores, chains and boutiques - will be visited by our on-the-road judges during which time we would request the chance to sit down with you and hear from the horse's mouth about your company's approach to business and individual philosophy.
Entries - also available at ragtrader.com.au - are open now with September 5 being the final day for submissions. Judging takes place between September and October with winners announced during a glittering cocktail evening taking place on Wednesday November 26.
Let the game's begin.
By Tracey Porter