Women’s fashion retailer, Kilt, headlines a list of 12 retailers from across Waikato, Taranaki, Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty who have been named as national finalists in the Retail NZ Top Shop awards, and will be representing their regions as they compete for national retail excellence awards in Auckland in September.
“The Retail NZ Top Shop Awards are about recognising and rewarding great retailing, great customer experiences and innovation,” said Greg Harford, Retail NZ’s General Manager for Public Affairs.
“There were more than 600 entries nationwide in the Retail NZ Top Shop Awards, and those named as national finalists have got what it takes to shine through and be recognised as amongst the best retailers in the country.
“In Hamilton, SNAPSHOT has been named as a finalist for the Best Small Retailer Award, while Pippy is a finalist for the Pureplay e-tailer Award. Showcase Jewellers Te Awamutu is in the running to receive the Innovation Award, while Wallace Cotton Cambridge has been named a finalist for the Visual Merchandising Award.
“Florist ilene and Last Season, both from Frankton are slugging it out for the coveted People’s Choice Award, decided by customer votes.
“In Taranaki, Cruiseabout New Plymouth has been named a finalist for the national Investment in People Award, while Kilt New Plymouth has been named as a finalist for three categories: Best Large Retailer Award, the Customer Experience Award, and the Omnichannel Award.
“Over in Tauranga, Furnish has been named as a national finalist in for the Visual Merchandising Award and the Omnichannel Award, while the Agrodome in Ngongotaha has been declared a finalist for both the Customer Experience Award and the Investment in People Award.
“Finally, Taupo retailers also made the cut. Fly & Gun Hunting & Fishing has been named a finalist for the Best Small Retailer Award, while Kilt Taupo has been named as a finalist for both the Best Large Retailer Award, and the Omnichannel Award for retailers with both a bricks and mortar and online offering.
“Finalists from the South Island and Lower North Island have previously been announced. Auckland regional finalists will be named on Wednesday this week, and all the finalists around the country will then be competing for national award titles at a Gala Dinner in Auckland on 7 September”.
The full list of Central North Island retailers to be named as finalists is:
Best Large Retailer Award finalists
KILT New Plymouth
KILT Taupo
Best Small Retailer Award finalists
Fly & Gun Hunting & Fishing, Taupo
SNAPSHOT, Hamilton
Customer Experience Award finalists
The Agrodome, Ngongotaha
KILT New Plymouth
Innovation Award finalist
Showcase Jewellers Te Awamutu
Investment in People Award finalists
Cruiseabout New Plymouth
The Agrodome, Ngongotaha
Omnichannel Award finalists
Furnish, Tauranga
KILT New Plymouth
KILT Taupo
People’s Choice Award finalists
Florist ilene, Frankton, Hamilton
Last Season, Frankton, Hamilton
Pureplay e-tailer Award finalist
Pippy, Hamilton East
Visual Merchandising Award finalists
Furnish, Tauranga
Wallace Cotton, Cambridge
Note: Adulttoymegastore has NOT been named the Wellington Region’s Top Shop and there is no longer such an award, as was incorrectly stated in this article last week. It will compete with other national finalists from around the country for these awards, which will be announced at a Gala Dinner in Auckland on 7 September.