Christchurch shoppers can take heart that they get the best hardware and home improvement service in their region, with two stores taking out the big gongs at the 2015 Hardware Awards.
Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby won the Retail Store of the Year (over 4,000sqm) award for the second year in a row, while Mitre 10 Beckenham won the Retail Store of the Year (up to 4,000sqm) award.
The 20th annual Hardware Awards, held at Shed 10 on Auckland’s waterfront, boasted the biggest ever turnout. Open to all New Zealand hardware stores, the awards recognise excellence and best practice in the industry and are judged by an expert panel.
Mitre 10 Crofton Downs also made the finalist list for Retail Store of the Year (up to 4,000sqm), while Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin and Mitre 10 MEGA Ferrymead were both on the finalist list for Retail Store of the Year (over 4,000sqm).
Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby store director, Andrew Smith, said it was a great honour to win the big award for the second year running.
“This just goes to show the huge dedication and effort from everyone on our instore team, and our drive to give customers the best experience possible,” he said. “Our staff do a fantastic job and we’re incredibly proud to see our Hornby store setting the pace.
“The fact that we also were on the finalist list for Trade Store of the Year shows we’re hitting our straps in all areas, and just goes to show the trust that both retail consumers and tradies have in the Mitre 10 brand.”
Mitre 10 staff also featured in the finalist list, with Mitre 10 MEGA Te Awamutu’s Gavin Scott-Petersen a finalist for Young Retailer of the Year and Mitre 10 MEGA Napier’s Rodger Van Der Gulik a finalist for Retailer of the Year.
The success follows on from the 2014 awards, where Mitre 10 won five awards, including Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby’s Jacqui Keys winning Trade Account Manager of the Year and three other staff winning awards.
A number of Mitre 10 partner suppliers were recognised last night and named Supplier of the Year in their respective categories: Winstone Wallboards (Building Supplies category), Kiwicare (Garden), Accent Tools (hand & power tools), MiTek (hardware) and Sika (painting and decorating).
The Hardware Awards are designed to recognise the achievements of NZ’s retailers in the hardware, builders’ supply and home décor stores. The awards reflect on overall success in New Zealand’s finest hardware retail stores.