Which retailer has 'The Store of The Year' ?

Stores run by exceptional people, working effectively as a team, are recognisable the minute you walk in the door. Service will be great, staff will be friendly, product will be correctly displayed and readily available, and the shopping experience will be pleasantly stress-free.

To customers it looks easy, but as an industry we are well aware of the work that has gone into recruiting, training, inspiring and retaining good retail personnel. The reality is that retail store

teams working in unison actually power retail performance, but rarely do the teams in question get the opportunity to toast their own success.

For these individuals the pressures to perform in a busy customer-facing environment, hit targets, keep operational tasks under control and stay cool under pressure can be incredibly taxing. Getting it right is a major achievement.

“This award will recognise a team that has the ability to outperform the market,” says Mark Higgins, editor of Retail Bulletin. “The winning team should be able to demonstrate a robust financial performance, low staff turnover and positive customer feedback - all areas that show teamwork, and team leadership, at its best.”

In entries for this category there should also be anecdotal evidence of staff within the team going the extra mile for their colleagues, and in this it's important to include all areas of the shop floor - from manager to check-out, and including security staff and stockroom staff where relevant. Shortlisted stores will be mystery-shopped.

Taking home the trophy for this award category will bring instant benefits to the team and company in question. The Store of the Year will claim not just a prize on the night, but also a long-lasting sense of pride that hard work has been recognised and rewarded. Awards can boost career prospects, spur neighbouring store teams to raise their game, and drive further improvements in performance. Going up on stage together as winners is the ultimate team-building experience, and a great motivator for all involved.

“We know that company morale is given a genuine boost through winning industry-recognised titles, and nowhere is congratulation deserved more than on the shop floor where commitment and hard work is so vital,” says Higgins. “We are once again expecting some inspiring entries in this important category.”

"Retailers will already know which are their best stores and have probably recognised them with internal company awards.- But here is an opportunity to put them up against other retailers top stores and gain national external recognition"

For more details on The People in Retail Awards including all the categories and how to enter, follow the link below.