
Even the most extravagant window display had nothing on the glittering splendour of Retail NZ’s 30th Top Shop awards. A wide range of industry participants, from sales assistants to chief executives, raised a glass to the ongoing health of the retail industry at the awards, which were held at Auckland’s Sky City on September 7 after an exhaustive judging process.
Each finalist entered the national Top Shop awards after winning their category in one of six regional events held earlier in the year. The regions were Otago/Southland; Canterbury; the top of the South Island; the lower North Island; Waikato/ Bay of Plenty and Auckland/ Northland.
Hawke’s Bay jeweller Grieve Diamond Jeweller from Hastings was named as New Zealand’s supreme Top Shop. The business also scooped up the Small Retailer Omnichannel Award.
“Tonight’s award is recognition of the outstanding omnichannel experience offered by Grieve Diamond Jeweller and the fantastic customer experience in the store,” says Retail NZ’s general manager for public affairs Greg Harford. “Grieve Diamond Jeweller was first established in 1934, so has a long history, and Hastings should be proud that one of its iconic retailers has received a national honour.”
The last Top Shop Overall National Supreme Award was won by Specsavers Gisborne in 2015.
Pearls of wisdom from the Top Shop category winners
Customer Experience Award – Sponsored by NZI.
Winner: John Franich Jewellers, Westgate, Auckland
Runner-up: Cruiseabout, Wellington
Highly commended: Kilt, Dunedin
Jenni Franich, director of John Franich Jewellers, says: “The team here at John Franich Jewellers are delighted to have recognition in our ongoing commitment to the customer experience.”
Best Small Retailer Award – Sponsored by Westpac.
Winner: Global Baby Epsom
Runner-up: John Franich Jewellers, Westgate, Auckland
Highly commended: Beaukayes Florist, Napier
Visual Merchandising Award – Sponsored by Vodafone.
Winner: Global Baby, Epsom
Runner-up: Wallace Cotton, Napier South
Highly commended: Wallace Cotton, Merivale
Anita Afflick, director of Global Baby says: As a team, we were absolutely thrilled to be named as finalists in three categories, and we couldn’t really believe it when we won two awards! We have only been in business for three years, I purchased the store when it wasn’t doing too well, and turning it around has been really, really hard work!
To be recognised with the awards meant a lot to us. I’m really proud of my team, and what we’ve built together. They’re totally on board with my vision and goals for Global Baby, and the team has worked so hard to make everything happen. Attending the awards with all six of our team members was a lot of fun, and a great way to celebrate the team’s success!
Up & Coming Retailer Award – Sponsored by ServiceIQ.
Winner: Abbin Peter – Z Carlton Corner, Christchurch
Runner-up: Amber Ledingham, Z Hornby, Christchurch
Highly commended: Tiffany Aranui, Resene Rangiora and Kelly Entwhistle, Ziera Otaki
Hamish Wright of Hattrick Services says: Abbin Peter has been fuelling his career over the years by upskilling on the job, and so far the ambitious professional has gained three nationally recognised ServiceIQ retail qualifications.
Hattrick Services is really proud to have two of its site managers recognised for their talents in the retail industry. Abbin Peter and runner-up Amber Ledingham are outstanding examples of young people wishing to achieve in a very competitive sector. Their awards will inspire our other young site leaders within our business to strive for higher goals to carry them forwards in their careers. Our thanks to ServiceIQ for their valued sponsorship and support in retail education
People’s Choice Award – Sponsored by NZME.
Winner: Madame Fancy Pants, Wellington
Runner-up: House of Décor, Onehunga
Highly commended: Florist Ilene, Hamilton
Claire Terry, director and designer for Madame Fancy Pants: Winning the People’s Choice award is a great honour, the people are why I have a retail store and why my team and I aim to provide a warm, inviting, and exciting store to visit time and time again. The People’s Choice Award is a fabulous one to take home because it is purely based on what the folks out there are thinking and if they think that we are doing a great job – turns out we might really be a bit fancy after all!
Innovation Award – Sponsored by Eftpos New Zealand.
Winner: Lush, Mt Wellington, Auckland
Runner-up: Wellington Zoo Shop
Highly commended: Wildzone Gift Shop, Auckland Zoo
Investment in People Award – Sponsored by Z.
Winner: The Agrodome, Rotorua
Runner-up: Spark, Whanganui
Highly commended: Streeter & Turner Travel Associates, Christchurch
Catherine Wright, The Agrodome retail manager says: To us, nothing could have been better than winning the award for ‘Investment in People’. This was testament to the hard work put in by the retail team to ensure they don’t just have a ‘job’, but have a career.
We are also privileged to be part of Ngāi Tahu Tourism, who provide a range of great courses including Te Reo, Performance Edge, Challenging Situations, etc. Along with the support and training provided by Service IQ, staff development is never far from anyone’s mind.
Best Large Retailer Award – Sponsored by UnionPay.
Winner: Kilt, Napier
Runner-up: Kilt, Dunedin
Highly commended: Glengarry, Kingsland
Omnichannel Award – Large Retailer – Sponsored by Visa.
Winner: Kilt, Napier
Runner-up: Kilt, New Plymouth
Highly commended: Flight Centre High Street, Auckland
Emma Sey of Kilt Napier says: “Kilt is exceptionally proud and honoured to have won the Best Large Retailer Award and the Large Retailer Omnichannel Award – as well as receiving Runner-Up in both of these categories and highly commended for the Supreme Award. Winning these awards but also being nominated to begin with lets us know that we are on the right track when it comes to what we offer. This also helps to strengthen consumer trust not only in the quality of our product, but also in the experience our customers have wen shopping with us.”
Pureplay E-tailer Award – Sponsored by NZ Couriers.
Winner: The Sleep Store, New Lynn
Runner-up: AdultToyMegastore.co.nz, Wellington
Highly commended: Pippy, Hamilton
James Faulkner of The Sleep Store says: We’re overjoyed to win the Top Shop award for best online retailer! We’ve been a pureplay online store since 2006. Over the last 10 years our family business has grown from working out of our garage at home to a dedicated warehouse in New Lynn, expanding our range and small team of dedicated staff along the way.
We take great pride in the service, range and resources we offer our customers. Our customers seem to appreciate what we provide for them too, and recently voted us the winner in the Best Online Retailer and the Best Baby Store categories in the recent OHbaby! awards. Winning the Top Shop award is the cherry on the top and it’s fantastic to be recognised as the leader in the online space by Retail NZ.
Top Shop finalists 2017
Best Large Retailer Award – Proudly sponsored by UnionPay.
Flight Centre Dunedin – Lower South Island
Kilt Dunedin -Lower South Island
Flight Centre Timaru – Upper South Island
McKenzie & Willis, Riccarton, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Kilt Napier – Lower North Island
Glengarry Thorndon – Lower North Island
Kilt New Plymouth – Central North Island
Kilt Taupo – Central North Island
Kilt Ponsonby – Upper North Island
Glengarry Kingsland – Upper North Island
Best Small Retailer Award – Proudly sponsored by Westpac.
Gone Potty, Dunedin – Lower South Island
Originz, Wanaka -Lower South Island
Renaissance, The Art of Beauty, Sumner, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Eye Bright Country Store, Richmond, Tasman – Upper South Island
Ellen G, Lower Hutt – Lower North Island
beauKayes florist, Taradale – Lower North Island
Fly & Gun Hunting & Fishing, Taupo – Central North Island
Snapshot, Hamilton – Central North Island
Global Baby, Epsom – Upper North Island
John Franich Jewellers, Westgate – Upper North Island
Customer Experience Award – Proudly sponsored by NZI.
Hannigan & Greive Travel Associates, Dunedin – Lower South Island
Kilt Dunedin -Lower South Island
Streeter & Turner Travel Associates, Merivale, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Corcovado, Christchurch Central – Upper South Island
Cruiseabout Wellington – Lower North Island
Kilt Sample Sale Seconds, Whanganui – Lower North Island
The Agrodome, Ngongotaha – Central North Island
Kilt New Plymouth – Central North Island
John Franich Jewellers, Westgate – Upper North Island
Kilt Ponsonby – Upper North Island
Innovation Award – Proudly sponsored by Eftpos New Zealand.
Thrillzone – Queenstown – Lower South Island
Hair Art & Beauty, St Albans, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Wellington Zoo Trust – Lower North Island
Adulttoymegastore.co.nz, Wellington -Lower North Island
Showcase Jewellers Te Awamutu – Central North Island
Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Mt Wellington – Upper North Island
Tea Total Concept Store, Rosedale – Upper North Island
Wildzone gift shop at Auckland Zoo, Western Springs – Upper North Island
Visual Merchandising Award – Proudly sponsored by Vodafone.
Thrillzone – Queenstown – Lower South Island
Perriam, Wanaka – Lower South Island
Wallace Cotton, Merivale, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Delicious, Mapua, Tasman – Upper South Island
Wallace Cotton Napier South – Lower North Island
Wallace Cotton Wellington – Lower North Island
Furnish, Tauranga – Central North Island
Wallace Cotton, Cambridge – Central North Island
Global Baby, Epsom – Upper North Island
John Franich Jewellers, Westgate – Upper North Island
Investment in People Award – Proudly sponsored by Z.
Flight Centre Remarkables Park, Queenstown – Lower South Island
Hannagan & Greive Travel Associates, Dunedin -Lower South Island
Streeter & Turner Travel Associates, Merivale, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Spark Blenheim – Upper South Island
Cruiseabout Wellington – Lower North Island
Spark Whanganui – Lower North Island
Cruiseabout New Plymouth – Central North Island
The Agrodome, Ngongotaha – Central North Island
Flight Centre High Street, Auckland Central – Upper North Island
Vuksich & Joll Travel Associates, Mt Eden – Upper North Island
Up & Coming Retailer Award – Proudly sponsored by ServiceIQ.
Christopher Kay, Warehouse Stationery South Dunedin – Lower South Island
Ed Matthews, Z Andy Bay -Lower South Island
Lokendra Bista, Z Stoke – Upper South Island
Abbin Peter, Z Carlton Corner – Upper South Island
Amber Ledingham, Z Hornby – Upper South Island
Tiffany Aranui, Resene Rangiora – Upper South Island
Tara Olds, Resene Timaru – Upper South Island
Lania Rock, Trenery Wellington Airport – Lower North Island
Kelly Entwhistle, Ziera Otaki – Lower North Island
Pureplay E-Tailer – Proudly sponsored by New Zealand Couriers.
Adulttoymegastore.co.nz
www.Pippy.co.nz
Cadenshae.co.nz
Thesleepstore.co.nz
Small Retailer OmniChannel Award – Proudly sponsored by Mastercard.
Thrillzone – Queenstown – Lower South Island
Kidd’s Cakes & Bakery, St Albans, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Grieve Diamond Jeweller, Hastings – Lower North Island
Beauty Bliss, Wellington – Lower North Island
Furnish, Tauranga – Central North Island
Global Baby, Epsom – Upper North Island
Urban Dogs, Rosedale – Upper North Island
Large Retailer OmniChannel Award – Proudly sponsored by Visa.
Kilt Dunedin – Lower South Island
Flight Centre Dunedin -Lower South Island
Flight Centre Timaru – Upper South Island
Kilt, Woolston, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Kilt Napier – Lower North Island
Flight Centre Taranaki Street, Wellington – Lower North Island
Kilt New Plymouth – Central North Island
Kilt Taupo – Central North Island
Flight Centre High Street, Auckland Central – Upper North Island
Glengarry Kingsland – Upper North Island
People’s Choice Award – Proudly sponsored by NZME.
Thrillzone – Queenstown – Lower South Island
Z Andy Bay, Dunedin -Lower South Island
The Christmas Hut, Northcote, Christchurch – Upper South Island
Annie’s Country Quilt Store, Tinwald, Ashburton – Upper South Island
Madame Fancy Pants, Wellington – Lower North Island
Adulttoymegastore.co.nz, Wellington – Lower North Island
Florist ilene, Frankton, Hamilton – Central North Island
Last Season, Frankton, Hamilton – Central North Island
House of Decor, Onehunga – Upper North Island
The Sleep Store, New Lynn – Upper North Island