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29 November, 2011
2011 Awards Ceremony
Its been a record year for retailers at this years Independent Achievers Academy awards ceremony.
There is one thing that all successful people have in common, they are willing to step out of their comfort zone. This was the advice that Simon Woodroffe, millionaire founder of the YO! Company, told top convenience retailers at the Independent Achievers Academy gala dinner, held on 17th November.
Both failure and a willingness to do something differently are the ingredients to success, and the flexibility that independent retailers have means they are ideally place to do this, Mr Woodroffe said.
‘It was refreshing to have a business speaker who was really inspirational’ said Paul Cheema of Costcutter, Coventry. Mr Cheema took home the award for Shop Layout.
The awards are the culmination of seven month’s work that made best practice information available to independent news and convenience retailers across the UK.
With standards increasing year on year, it was an evening of celebration and success for the 22 independent retailers shortlisted for an award, and the 11 winners.
“At the Academy, we recognise those retailers who consistently provide a first class service to shoppers, and we are delighted with the standards we saw this year. It reinforces our belief that the future of the independent retailing sector is bright.” said Nick Shanagher, Managing Director of Newtrade Publishing.
Congratulations to all of this years winners.
- Vipul Pabari, Best-one Connaught Road Post Office & Supermarket, Market Harborough (Overall Best Shop; Customer Service; Effective Ranging)
- Alkesh Gadher, Best-one Isleworth, Middlesex (Service to the Community)
- Kennedy Nayer and Rav Garcha, Nisa Local – Gains Park, Shrewsbury (In-Store Theatre)
- Mandeep Singh, Premier Singh’s, Sheffield (Marketing to Customers)
- Mital Morar, Store!, Castlefield (Availability)
- Rav Garcha, Nisa Local, Broadway (Staff Development)
- Roli Ranger, Londis Ascot, Berkshire (Retail Innovation)
- Shaan Chaudry, Premier Convenience Stoer & Petrol Station, Nuneaton (Merchandising)
- Shahid Razzaq, Premier Mo’s Convenience Store, Glasgow (Responsible Retailing)
- Terry Philpott, Martins of Castle Cary, Somerset (Environment and Health)
20 October, 2011
2011 finalists announced!
This week we announced the names of the fantastic 23 finalists who have reached the final stages of our programme.
The finalists were narrowed down from the Top 100, using a combination of mystery shopper scores and information on their entry forms. All finalists will attend the Gala Dinner on the 17th November to find out if they recieve a category award, or the coveted Overall Best Shop award.
RESPONSIBLE RETAILING
Sponsored by JTI
Faz Mahmood, Faz Convenience Store, Cheadle Hulme
Vipul Pabari, Connaught Road, Post Office & Supermarket
Shahid Razzaq, Premier Mo’s Convenience Store, Blantye
RETAIL INNOVATION
Sponsored by Nestle
Roli Ranger, Londis Ascot, Ascot
Paul Cheema, Costcutter, Coventry
Kennedy Nayer, Nisa Local Gains Park, Shrewsbury
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
Sponsored by PepsiCo
Terry Philpott, Martins of Castle Cary, Somerset
Paul Cheema, Costcutter, Coventry
Vipul Pabari, Connaught Road, Post Office & Supermarket
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
Sponsored by Booker
Alkesh Gadher, Best-one Isleworth, Middlesex
Bob & Sue Young, Robin Hill Stores, Dorset
Lesley Brown, Frankmarsh Store, Barnstaple
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Sponsored by the NFRN
Kishor Patel, Nisa Local, Hemel Hempstead
Paul & Michelle Gravelle, Gravelle’s Budgens, Sawbridgeworth
Rav Garcha, Nisa Local Broadway, Worcestershire
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Sponsored by News International
Roli Ranger, Londis Ascot, Ascot
Vipul Pabari, Connaught Road, Post Office & Supermarket
Terry Caton, Londis Chatsworth, Chesterfield
IN-STORE THEATRE
Sponsored by Heineken
Kennedy Nayer, Nisa Local Gains Park, Shrewsbury
Roli Ranger, Londis Ascot, Ascot
Sunder Sandher, S&S Londis, Leamington Spa
SHOP LAYOUT
Sponsored by Procter & Gamble
Paul & Michelle Gravelle, Gravelle’s Budgens, Sawston
Terry Caton, Londis Chatsworth, Chesterfield
Paul Cheema, Costcutter, Coventry
MARKETING TO CUSTOMERS
Sponsored by CADBURY
Mandeep Singh, Premier Singh’s, Sheffield
Jai Singh, Singh’s Premier, Sheffield
Serge Notay, Notay Stores, Yorkshire
AVAILABILITY
Sponsored by Imperial Tobacco
Roli Ranger, Londis Ascot, Ascot
Kishor Patel, Nisa Local, Hemel Hempstead
Mital Morar, Store!, Manchester
EFFECTIVE RANGING
Sponsored by Coca Cola Enterprises
Mandeep Singh, Premier Singh’s, Sheffield
Kishor Patel, Nisa Local, Hemel Hempstead
Vipul Pabari, Connaught Road, Post Office & Supermarket
MERCHANDISING
Sponsored by Wrigley
Shaan Chaudry, Anker Service Station (Nisa Local), Nuneaton
Eddie Poole, Poole’s Supervalu Moira, Co. Armagh
Shahnaz Patel, SPAR Bolton, Bolton
10 October, 2011
Top 100 stores Champion Independent Retailing
The top 100 independent shops in the UK & Ireland were announced last week.
All entries that made it through to the second stage of the programme underwent rigorous assessment, including a mystery shopper visit by performance measurement partner FSS, for the chance to be listed as a Top 100 store. They were notified last week and provided with marketing materials such as a certificate, window sticker and press release to help celebrate their achievement with their customers.
IAA Project Manager Kate Dickenson said: ‘We have seen a huge increase in standards this year, with the average score achieved in the mystery shopper visits increasing by 7% compared to scores achieved in 2010. This demonstrates the true commitment of local store owners to continuously improve their offering and do a great job for shoppers – achieving Top 100 status is a fantastic achievement’
Shops who have achieved Top 100 status will be further judged by a panel of experts in October and finalists for the awards will be invited to the prestigious IAA Gala Dinner, held on the 17th November at the Grange Hotel at Tower Bridge, where the winners will be announced. The awards will be hosted by entrepreneur and maverick, Simon Woodroffe, founder of Yo! Sushi.
28 April, 2011
Independent Achievers Academy inspires Local Shops to Succeed
On Thursday 14th April, the Independent Achievers Academy (IAA) was launched for 2011.
During its nine month run, the IAA and its partners provide independent retailers with best practice advice that can be used in-store, aimed at improving standards in the independent sector.
Independent retailers can now enter their stores across twelve categories, each covering a core aspect of retailing. By entering into the IAA, independent retailers are able to improve and develop their businesses in the ares which affect them the most.
Owner of two Londis stores and winner of the 2010 award for Responsible Retailing, Dee Sedani, spoke at the launch of the IAA on Thursday, giving an energising speech on why he entered the award last year, and why he intends to do so again this year.
“The academy is the only contest that looks at all aspects of the business. It forces you to step up to the mark and do something different.” he said.
He explained how the awards inspire his staff to work harder to develop best practice, and described the feeling of winning last year as ”an incredible buzz that lasted for days afterwards”.
To celebrate the programme launching, Dee and the Academy team were joined by industry suppliers, symbol group representatives and other winners of the 2010 Academy, who came together to learn more about the IAA and what it offers the industry.
Renowned motivational speaker Marcus Child told the audience that it is “the tiny nice touches that really make a difference” to customers; particularly relevant for independent retailers, where great customer service is paramount in helping them win the battle for local shoppers.
The IAA continues to help retailers improve, and expert assessment by field marketing agency Field Sales Solutions (FSS) shows that entrants are improving across the board each year, paying attention to categories such as environment and health, marketing to customers and in-store theatre. Winning retailers know that in order to thrive and stand out from the crowd, they have to widen their appeal as well as continuing to invest in stock, shop and staff.
