Launch of ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards 2017

Retail Insider is proud to launch its inaugural ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards in 2017. The aim of the awards is to showcase the best examples of innovation across the sector and we would like to invite relevant organisations to apply to be shortlisted in the relevant categories.

If you wish to nominate for an award all you need to do is choose from the categories below, then submit written evidence to support the application in no more than 500 words using the judging criteria listed below.

To receive an application form immediately please contact: christina@busicomm.co.uk

Deadline for entry is 23 June 2017. Shortlisted entries will be notified by 04 August 2017

The Categories

There are six categories to enter:

1. Best In-store Experience of the Year

Judges will be looking for a retailer/technology that has delivered a memorable in-store experience to customers. This ideally will be through the clever use of technology sitting alongside traditional customer service techniques. It is the overall experience that must be exemplary, with technology being the enhancer.

2. Most Promising Newcomer

Judges will be looking for a retailer/technology provider that has made an impact in its youth but is not a disruptor that will fade away. There must be some longevity to its business model. The company could be a retailer that is quickly making its mark or a technology provider that is delivering a particularly impressive solution to its retail clients.

3. Overall Technology Innovation of the Year

Judges will be looking for a technology that has stood out from the pack in terms of it being particularly revolutionary or disruptive. Equally, it could be a relatively straightforward solution but one that has made the life of retailers easier. Providing evidence of it helping deliver a return on investment for retailers will clearly be advantageous.

4. Best Multi-Channel Experience of the Year

Judges will be looking for a company that has been able to deliver a seamless experience across the various channels in which it operates. Evidence of a consistent customer experience and intelligent management of inventory across the channels will be good indicators of success. Retailers that operate predominantly online but have some physical presence will also be welcome to enter this category.

5. Delivery Innovation of the Year

Judges will be looking for a technology that has helped retailers deal with one of the most troublesome aspects of their businesses: effective and cost-efficient delivery. Evidence should be provided that highlights specifically how the solution has directly benefited retailers in their delivery of goods to consumers.

6. Most Intelligent Use of Data

Judges will be looking for a solution that is an outstanding example of how data is being cleverly used within retail organisations. This could be through the delivery of personalisation that has improved the customer experience or it could be the use of data in the back-end that has markedly helped the operational efficiency of the retailers’ business.

 

Categories will be judged against the following key criteria:

Innovation: has the product introduced new or leading-edge technologies, created different ways of working, or novel approaches that benefit its users?

Measurable success: can significant commercial success for the product during the past 12 months be demonstrated?

Customer satisfaction: is there evidence of customers/retailers using the product to successfully improve their operations, and they would therefore recommend it to others?

 

The Judging Process

Entry applications will be judged by a panel of experts alongside Glynn Davis, editor of Retail Insider.  The panel will consist of senior figures in retail and includes: Paul Wilkinson, head of technology research at Tesco Labs; Martin Newman, CEO at Practicology; Lawrence Shaw, CEO of Sitemorse; Simon Harrow, CEO of Elevaate; Sean McKee, director of e-commerce at Schuh; and Bertrand Bodson, chief digital and marketing officer at Sainsbury’s Argos.

The Deadlines

Deadline for entries is 23 June 2017

Awards ceremony

Announcement of winning entries will be at a relaxed evening awards/drinks ceremony to be held on 4 October 2017 at Sourced Market in Marylebone, London to which all shortlisted entrants and sponsors will be invited along with other senior executives in the retail industry. The event will also include a tutored beer tasting and plenty of networking opportunities.

There are also sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact Christina@busicomm.co.uk for further details.