Excitement builds for Oscars of housewares industry

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With just over a month until this year’s Excellence in Housewares Awards, which is co-hosted by Progressive Housewares and bira, tensions are building to see who will be named as bira-Cookshop and Housewares Retailer of the Year.

In the running for Retailer of the Year 2017 are members Art of Living – Banstead, Cobham and Reigate; Barnitts – York; The Kitchen Range – Market Harborough; Lords At Home – Six stores in the London area; Potters Cookshop – Hockley and Trevor Mottram – Tunbridge Wells.

The Awards will be presented at the vintage Paris themed night at The Lancaster, London on the 4^th October.

Jo Howard, editor of Progressive Housewares magazine said: “The strong line-up of finalists echo the commitment and talent that is in abundance in the housewares retail sector. Independents and multiples alike have pulled out the stops to ensure that the public’s appetite for housewares products continues to be whetted.

“In an increasingly competitive market, it is so important to celebrate and reward outstanding and proactive housewares retailers from across the retail spectrum. Congratulations to all of our impressive line-up of finalists for the Excellence in Housewares Awards 2017.”

 

Other categories with members nominated are:

Retail Employee of the Year

• Rob Falconer, buyer of Steamer Trading
• Alison Hobbs, visual merchandiser of Potters Cookshop, Hockley
• Maureen Hooker, retail sales manager of Bakers and Larners of Holt
• Lesley Murray, housewares manager of Highland Industrial Supplies, Inverness
• Nick Timmins, concession manager of Admiral, Walsall
• Mary Wallace, supervisor of the Cook Shop at Rejects, Kirkcaldy

 

Most Promising Newcomer

• Jupes Cookshop, Melton Mowbray
• Kerrys, Lowestoft
• Luxe Cookshop, Northampton
• Prep Cookshop, Stoke Newington
• Rye Cookshop, Rye
• Wooden Spoon Cookshop, Leek

 

Excellence in Retail Training

• Borough Kitchen, London
• Fenwick Brent Cross, London
• Harts of Stur
• Jarrold, Norwich
• John Lewis – 40+ stores
• Lakeland – 60+ stores nationally

 

Excellence in Retail Display – Independent

• Abraxas  – Banbury, Northampton, Rugby and Weedon,
• Bents Garden & Home – Glazebury
• Borough Kitchen – London
• Kitchen Range – Market Harborough
• Potters – Hockley
• Webbs of Tenterden

 

Excellence in Retail Display – Multiple or Department Store

• Barkers Home – North Allerton
• Bentalls – Kingston upon Thames
• Harrods – London
• John Lewis – 40+ stores
• Lakeland – 60+ stores nationally
• Leekes – 10 stores and concessions

 

Excellence in Retail Initiative

• Bentalls: for its Gift Bags
• Harts of Stur: for its Kitchen Magazine
• The Hut.com: for its The Hut Magazine
• The Kitchen Range, West Wickham: for its Supper Club
• Potters Cookshop: for its Potters Cookshop Hockley Re-launch
• Steamer Trading: for its Divertimenti Cookery School

 

Excellence in Specialist Retailing Multiples and Large Independents

• Abraxas – Banbury, Northampton, Rugby and Weedon
• Admiral Housewares  – four stores within Boundary Mill
• Art of Living – Banstead, Cobham and Reigate
• Borough Kitchen – Borough Market, Chiswick, and Hampstead
• Lakeland – 60+ stores nationally
• Steamer Trading – 40+ stores nationally

 

Best Department Store (Independent)

• Bakers and Larners – Holt
• Barnitts – York
• Creaseys –  St Peter Port, Guernsey
• Dawsons – Skipton and Clitheroe
• Jarrold – Norwich
• Harrods – London

Best Department Store (Multiple Branch or Group Member)

• Bentalls – Kingston-upon-Thames
• Camp Hopson – Newbury
• de Gruchy – St Helier, Jersey
• Fenwick Brent Cross – London
• Fenwick Newcastle – Newcastle
• Peter Jones – London

Purchase Tickets    Full List of Award Winners