The Retail Week Enterprise Awards celebrated all things entrepreneurial at the ceremony last night, highlighting retail’s most exciting new businesses.
The Collect+ Retail Week Enterprise Awards are designed to find and celebrate some of the people who have spotted opportunities to build companies that are taking advantage of shifting retail dynamics and cater for consumers in new ways.
The awards celebrated the industry’s best business ideas – many of which are increasingly challenging established names – and the people behind their success.
The Global Freight Solutions Customer Service Initiative of the Year
Winner: PetsPyjamas, Travel Service for Petspyjamas.com
PetsPyjamas won with their new pet concierge service, whereby experts suggest travel options for dog owners. The judges said they were bowled over by a great idea which grown had rapidly since launch, consummately tapping into its market through great a understanding of customer requirements and providing a really personalized service.
Demandware Marketing/Advertising Campaign of the Year
Winner: Evans Cycles, Odd Ones
Evans created a campaign with agency Antidote that focused on the “funny little habits” and quirks of cyclists. The judges said the campaign enhanced its credibility among a highly discerning customer base.
The Collect+ Pure-Play Etailer of the Year
Winner: Boohoo.com
For this category we made the consumer the judge and Boohoo.com topped our poll of over 2,500 shoppers.
The Caps Group Store Design of the Year
Winner: Samba Swirl Camden, Mizzi Studios
This Camden frozen yogurt store impressed the judges by broadening the retailer’s customer base and standing out on a crowded high street.
Retail Technology Initiative of the Year Award
Winner: American Golf’s eCommerce with Demandware’s Cloud Commerce Platform
American Golf’s new web platform enabled the retailer to increase online sales in a wider market environment of limited growth, and was an important step towards building an omnichannel business.
The Torque Logistics Multichannel Retailer of the Year
Winner: The Entertainer
In-store and online, at home and abroad, The Entertainer has run a raft of initiatives over the year that have contributed to the creation of a joined up business offering a great customer experience and delivering commercial success.
Employer of the Year
Winner: Better Bathrooms
When a business is growing fast it’s all the more important that it can recruit and retain the most talented people it can. Better Bathrooms has created a great working environment and invested in its staff, the success of which could be seen in high levels of engagement and motivation.
Start-Up Retailer of the Year, supported by Retail Shop
Winner: Secret Linen Store
Secret Linen Store is a relative newcomer in the retail world, but the judges thought this is a business that has the potential to go far.
The Rider Levett Bucknall Retail Leader of the Year
Winner: Carol Kane, and Mahmud Kamani, co-founders, Boohoo.com
Kane and Kamani have built a high-profile and highly successful retail business from scratch. Founded in 2006, it’s a business that has grown fast and expanded internationally as well as in the UK. It now has more 2.3 million active customers and about 140,000 new customers register every month. Such is its success that it floated earlier this year.
The Collect+ Retailer of the Year
Winner: Better Bathrooms
The judges were impressed by an entrepreneurial company that is growing fast. Originally operating from the founder’s bedroom it now operates from stores and online and has ambitious expansion plans. Confidence in the Better Bathroom’s prospects were evident when it won significant investment in 2013.
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