Vodafone was crowned ‘national retailer of the year’ at the Australian Retailers’ Association’s annual awards in Melbourne on Thursday.
The telecommunications company said it had made significant improvements to its business and customer experience since a low point a few years ago by making common sense decisions and backing its people.
This was a fitting result, given this year’s theme, ‘Retail Morphosis’, which is all about how retailers adapt to change in order to succeed.
“Although the retail landscape will continue to be disrupted by emerging technology and international competitors, it is truly gratifying to see the industry filled with hardworking retailers who continue to power retail through innovation and adaption,” Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said.
Retailers including Petstock, Bakers Delight, Birdsnest, Coles Group and Biome were recognised for their achievements in innovation, marketing, customer experience and more. The winners in all 12 categories are listed below.
The awards took place at Myer Mural Hall on Thursday morning, and featured fashion parade capturing the history of Australian retail from the 1920s to the 1990s, with outfits curated by Myer and hair and make-up created by Chiseled Hair.
Consumer futurist Amanda Stevens delivered a keynote speech on what the latest consumer research insights reveal about the opportunities for growth in the sector, and host Steve Plarre, CEO of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, entertained the audience with a rendition of ‘Uptown Funk’.
2019 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Award Winners
Excellence in customer experience
- Petstock
- Birdsnest
Excellence in retail marketing
- Bakers Delight
- PETstock
Retail Innovator of the Year
- Biome
Store design and fit-out of the year
- First Choice Liquor Market – Coles Liquor
Retail business woman of the year
- Chelsea McIntosh – Spoilt Gift and Homewares
Retail employer of the year
- Petstock
Young retailer of the year
- Aled Ball – On the Run
Retail graduate of the year
- Esther Laub – The Sydney String Centre
National retailer of the year
- Vodafone
Digital commerce retailer of the year
- YCL Jewels
Franchise group of the year
- Bakers Delight
Independent retailer of the year
- Birdsnest
The judging panel included:
- Alla Buinowicz, managing director at Taking Shape
- Bernie Brookes AM, adjunct industry fellow at Swinburne University of Technology
- Radinck van Vollenhoven, country manager of Stocard
- Robyn Batson, group people and development manager at Sussan Group
- Warwick Ponder, head of corporate affairs and communications at eftpos Australia