The National Retailers Association (NRA) celebrated the next generation of retail industry leaders at the NRA Young Retailer of the Year awards today, with Kmart general merchandise manager Jennifer Skeahan-Heugh taking out the top prize.
The event, held as a luncheon at Sydney's Mercure Hotel, welcomed industry leaders and 15 finalists under the age of 25 from some of Australia's leading retail chains, including Kmart, Country Road, Oroton Group, Jeanswest, Luxxotica and Myer, with Jack Hanrahan, retailer relations general manager at Westfield Group, Peter Birtles, MD and CEO of the Super Retail Group, and NRA executive director Gary Black also in attendance.
Skeahan-Heugh, who has worked at Kmart for the past nine months, won the award after finalists were whittled down to a shortlist of 10, with Caltex retail business manager Tim Burdon coming in as runner-up.
During her time at Kmart, Skeahan-Heugh has claimed several achievements, including triple digit growth in selected Kmart departments in Tamworth, and a 60 per cent increase in Customer Compliment Cards for oustanding customer service.
As winner of the NRA Young Retailer of the Year Competition 2011, Skeahan-Heugh has scored a place on the Westfield World Retail Study Tour 2012, valued at $16,000. The reward is also a significant step up from last year's NRA Young Retailer of the Year reward, which was $1000 cash.
Hanrahan said Westfield had invested in the event to demonstrate its commitment to retail excellence and to promote an industry with burgeoning career opportunities.
“We are very pleased to offer the winner a place on the study tour, which will allow them to see behind the retail scenes in a number of major cities over two weeks, with other like-minded retail industry people,” he said.
“The tour’s goal is to educate, motivate and inspire retailers by exposure to the latest global retail trends and technology, providing interactive learning experiences with leading edge retailers and providers globally.”
Finalists were also treated to a workshop hosted by the NRA prior to the event, with presentations from Westfield's Hanrahan, the Retail Doctor managing director Brian Walker, managing director of Retail Advisor Michael McIntosh, E-2’s strategy director Sonja Källström, creative strategist Paul O’Connor, and last year’s award winner Kaylee Albronda, representing Myer.
As part of the judging process, finalists were also required to undergo a telephone interview and presentation in front of the judging panel.