The Australian Retailers’ Association have announced the winners of the 2019 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards. This year’s Awards were held at Myer Mural Hall, with retailers from across the nation coming together to celebrate the achievements of individuals and organisations in the industry. In the lead up to the Awards, the ARA received an outstanding number of submissions from some of Australia’s largest retailers including PETstock, Bakers Delight, Vodafone and Coles Group. With 12 awards up for grabs, the ARA recruited an elite group of retail leaders to decide the ‘finest in retail.’
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; and Warwick Ponder, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at eftpos Australia.
Retail expert Amanda Stevens and Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ARA,
The Executive Director of the ARA, Russell Zimmerman, said “The vast scale of retailers in attendance at this year’s awards shows the perseverance and commitment these individuals and organisations have for their businesses, employees and the wider community. 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.”
“Our annual Awards program is an excellent platform for retailers to come together, network, share stories, and most importantly support one another. Their ongoing passion and dedication is what and contributes to the vitality of the $320 billion sector,” he added.
The Retail Morphosis fashion parade with Steve Plarre, CEO of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses
This year’s theme, Retail Morphosis, encompassed the development of the retail sector, and how it has matured into a thriving, adaptable industry. Keeping with the theme Retail Morphosis, the ARA coordinated a fashion parade that captured the history of Australian retail from the 1920s, 50s, 60, 70s, 80s to the 1990s. Each model’s outfits were carefully curated by Myer to emulate the appropriate decade, with hair and make-up created by Chiseled Hair to complete the look.
Leading consumer futurist and keynote speaker, Amanda Stevens
Following the parade, leading consumer futurist and keynote speaker, Amanda Stevens delighted the audience with an informative presentation that combined valuable consumer insights and research into consumer purchasing behaviour for the audience to take away. The host of this year’s Awards, and CEO of the century-old Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses retail chain, Steve Plarre, closed the show with a show-stopping rendition of ‘Uptown Funk’ which had the audience jumping out of their seats and clapping along.
eftpos CEO, Mr Stephen Benton, said eftpos is proud to support these awards because they recognise the extraordinary work that is done by the hundreds of thousands of retailers who serve Australian communities every single day.
The awards MC Steve Plarre, CEO of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses
“Retail is an exceptionally important industry because it impacts all of our daily lives and is the barometer of our economy. These Awards provide an opportunity to recognise the contribution of these businesses and the people who run them,” Benton said.
2019 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Award Winners are:
Award category: Customer Experience
Recognising Australian retailers who create and enhance the customer experience at every step of their shopping journey.
2019 Manhattan Associates Excellence in Customer Experience
- PETstock
- Birdsnest
2019 Daylight Agency Excellence in Retail Marketing
- Bakers Delight
- PETstock
2019 Pronto Retail Innovator of the Year
- Biome
2019 Store Design and Fit-Out of the Year
- First Choice Liquor Market – Coles Liquor
Award category: People in Retail
Recognising individuals and employers in the retail industry paving the future of Australian retail.
2019 Rest Retail Business Woman of the Year
- Chelsea McIntosh – Spoilt Gift and Homewares
2019 FCB Retail Employer of the Year
- PETstock
2019 Rest Young Retailer of the Year
- Aled Ball – On the Run
2019 Retail Graduate of the Year
- Esther Laub – The Sydney String Centre
Award category: Retailer of the Year
Celebrating and acknowledging progressive retailers in Australia who have transformed their business to adapt to the new era of retail.
2019 eftpos National Retailer of the Year
- Vodafone
2019 eftpos Digital Commerce Retailer of the Year
- YCL Jewels
2019 eftpos Franchise Group of the Year
- Bakers Delight
2019 eftpos Independent Retailer of the Year
- Birdsnest
