The World Retail Awards, now in their eighth year, are run by World Retail Congress and attract entries from hundreds of retailers from over 50 countries worldwide. Regarded as the industry standard for retail excellence, 2014 has attracted a record level of entries. Each category is judged by a panel of global industry experts, with Winning Group selected as a finalist in three categories:

• Best Pure Play Online Retailer: Appliances Online
• Best Customer Experience: Appliances Online
• Best Store Design: Winning Appliances Flagship Redfern Showroom

John Winning, CEO Winning group, says it’s huge recognition for an Australian retailer to reach the final stages of such prestigious awards.

“We’re delighted to have been selected as finalists against major global competitors and counterparts. It’s proof that Australian companies can excel at retail and hold their own on the world stage. We’re particularly excited that our flagship Redfern showroom has been recognised as we opened it at a time when other retailers were closing down or reducing their number of stores. The Awards emphasise the ongoing importance of maintaining a physical retail presence and offering customers choice,” John Winning says.

“It’s also great to be recognised for Customer Experience as exceptional customer service is the lifeblood of our business. For Appliances Online to be selected alongside international giants such as Carrefour, Harvey Nichols and Lidl is amazing. We’re the only Australian pure play online retailer with a 24/7 locally based customer support team and this nomination vindicates our investment in customer experience and relations.”

Awards judge Arvind Singhal, Chairman, Technopak says competition was fierce this year.

“The geographical diversity and product category diversity of entries this year has made this award category a very exciting one. Equally encouraging is the very high quality of businesses from some of these relatively lesser known countries which reaffirms what many of us already know that retail innovation is no longer the preserve of the traditional developed retail markets,” Arvind Singhal says.

Winning Appliances and Appliances Online now go through to the final stage of judging and the opportunity to be crowned the winner at the Awards ceremony in Paris on the 30 September.

Winning Appliances
winningappliances.com.au