Search is back again for Christchurch’s Top Shop

Search is back again for Christchurch’s TOP SHOP®

The search for Christchurch’s top retailers is set to begin next week.

Following a two year absence, New Zealand’s leading retail excellence awards, TOP SHOP®, kicks off in Christchurch on Monday 3 May with the organizer, the New Zealand Retailers Association, calling for entries from all Christchurch shops.

The launch of the retail sector’s showpiece comes as Canterbury retailers are slowly recovering from a downward trend in retail sales due to the economic situation.

Brian Finlayson, the Association’s South Island Regional Manager says “The TOP SHOP® Retail Excellence Awards are a great opportunity for retailers to highlight their professionalism in retailing.”

“The TOP SHOP® Awards are open to all shop owners proud of their customer service, store ambience and how they run their business.”

The Awards are now in the 22nd year and have a well established track record of assisting retailers to improve their customer service still further.”

Greg Shepherd, Managing Director of Simply Furniture, Tower Junction, winner of the Giftware and Homeware Category and winner of the 2008 Overall TOP SHOP® Christchurch says, “Winning TOP SHOP® was extremely satisfying, not only did we enjoy an almost immediate increase in customers from the publication of the finalists and even more after the winners announcement, it gave the staff a sense of pride and achievement.”

“All staff are taking the challenge to defend the title very seriously. I don’t think you can put a figure on how much business has been attracted, but it has definitely given our brand awareness a huge lift.”
A key test during the competition for all 2010 TOP SHOP® entrants is the mystery shopper exercise, during which staff from a specialist mystery shopping company make unannounced visits to entrants’ shops to provide judges with information on criteria such as service and presentation.

Other criteria include doing the basics well, innovation and having that ‘something special’ that keeps customers coming back for more.

TOP SHOP® is open to all retailers within the TOP SHOP® region. Entries for the Christchurch regional awards close on Friday 25 June. The winners will be announced at a black-tie awards dinner on Wednesday 29 September, 2010.

The awards also run in the Waikato, Wellington and Auckland regions.

Shops can enter in categories such as large format, which this year includes supermarkets, lifestyle and wellbeing and, new this year, sustainable retailing. The overall regional winner is selected from seven of the categories announced at the awards dinner.

ENDS

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