Christchurch TOP SHOP Winners
Congratulations to the 2010 Christchurch Category Winners
Large Format - Sponsored by Visa International
Winner - Parkhouse Garden Supplies
"We are the best laid out yard in the South Island. Best signed yard you will find anywhere not only but also The Best Service with our friendly staff." - Noel Dick
Judges Comments
"On a day with torrential rain and wind, the sales assistant came out and gve exceptional service. Ben was engaging, informative and his knowledge was spot on. A great staff member and we will definitely be recommending this business to friends and family."
1st Runner Up - Smiths City Bush Inn
"This is so easy to choose .its the staff. our staff are happy in their work which translates to excellence in customer service. Happy to go that extra step and making the whole shopping experience an enjoyable one for our customers." - Bryan Lamb
2nd Runner Up - Smiths City Colombo Street
"Smiths City is the only store of it's type in New Zealand, we can provide everything you need for your home and we can provide it on EASYPAY! We have extensive customer base contact." - Kristine Lewis
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Fashion, Footwear and Accessories category - Sponsored by Student Job Search
Winner - Freesia
"Freesia is a store where we make woman feel beautiful, and accepted. Customers receive honest and helpful advise, and the store itself is spacious and warm, and is a place where you feel great just being inside it. Freesia has gone back to basics, good old fashioned service with a smile. And a beautiful store with friendly girls to go with it!" - Kim Laurenson
Judges Comments
"We could not fault the presentation of this store, the products or the service. What a wonderful, welcoming environment! This store flies in the face of a number of clothing shops which can be quite intimidating to shop in."
1st Runner Up - U Fit In
"Our outstanding service, and specialty size and product ranges make us excellent. Our points of difference are our expert free fittings (we work mainly by appointments, and set at least 30 minutes aside for each new customer), In products we specialise in bigger bust sizes (C-K cup sizes in 6-30 body fit), and post surgery lingerie for women who have had mastectomies, including breast prostheses and specialised bras. Our focus on these areas means our range and service is a revelation to many of our customers." - Deborah Lewthwiate
2nd Runner Up - Vivacious
"Vivacious is Destination Shopping at its best. Our clientele travel from all over New Zealand for our choice, one-on-one service and ever changing stock. Always well stocked we can have 3 generations of a family able to shop together!!" - Viv Jarrold
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Lifestyle & Wellbeing category - sponsored by Westpac
Winner - Body Shop Northlands Mall
"Our store maintains an exceptional level of personal attention and assistance for all our customers, with personal product recommendations from skilled, experienced staff. We strive to provide customers with a shopping experience that is unmatched in our field, with hands-on product demonstrations. We have customers that trust us to assist them with their shopping across all areas of our store, from skin and hair care to make up and gifts." - Angela Whitehead
Judges Comments
"The staff in this shop were all very helpful to not only myself but the other customers. The assistant that served us has excellent product knowledge and was able to direct me to products that were suitable for my query. Overall it was the most enjoyable shopping experience we had out of the shops we visited and we will certainly be returning in the future to purchase."
1st Runner Up - H&B Hair Art & Beauty
"H&B - Hair Art & Beauty’s philosophy is simple - we aim to offer each and every one of our clients the ultimate H&B experience which we tailor to meet the individual needs of our clients to ensure that they leave our salon feeling relaxed, refreshed and happy. An intensive investment in an exclusive range of luxury hair and beauty products combined with an extensive educational programme that incorporates the latest techniques from Australasia and Europe ensures that our philosophy is carried through to every level. From the onset, Carla Thompson dreamt of offering clients a totally holistic approach and this has been achieved with H&B’s current philosophy. H&B has carefully researched the products they use to reflect this philosophy and offers high quality hair, skin & body care lines in combination with a holistic programme of service and pampering." - Carla Thompson
2nd Runner Up - Basic Bikes
"We are a Mountain bike specialist store focusing on work shop, servicing. We stock premium brands and cater for the serious cyclist, but we still cater for the every day family and commuter customers." - Ewen
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Giftware & Homeware category - Sponsored by Viaduct
Winner - Total Food Equipment
"Excellent customer service, with expert product knowledge and quality product at competitive prices. We have a extensive range of both, household and commercial product and are able to source items that are otherwise difficult for consumers to obtain." - Sandra McLay
Judges Comments
"The store met and exceeded their promise. There was a fantastic choice of goods, both commercial and household. The staff were extremely helpful and had multiple suggestions to meet my enquiry. We were very impressed and will not only return but highly recommend to everyone. Thank you for the experience."
1st Runner Up - Vast Interior
We are direct importers of high quality exotic furniture and homeware which is predominantly sourced from India. All our furniture is made from sustainable or recycled timbers. We also sponsor a school and medical centre in India." - Lynn Todd
2nd Runner Up - Bella Gifts
""Always new, always different" An inviting boutique shopping experience combining superb presentation, excellent value, great range, easy access location and dedicated to giving genuine customer service."
- Vicki Metaxas
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Speciality category - sponsored by Advantage Business
Winner - Groovy Glasses
"We source eyewear that is made by small boutique manufacturers in quality materials and unique, extraordinary, never-boring designs. Customers can be assured they will achieve a look that is suited peculiarly to them with the help of our very experienced, resourceful and enthusiastic staff who are expert at matching faces to frames. Over & above that our retail environment is spacious, relaxed, and non-pressured, with antiques from an elegant age providing a backdrop of timeless style. This helps reassure customers that they are dealing with a business that has good taste and a good eye for design.It is not all about making a quick buck, but rather about a passion for great eyewear & helping customers to feel special. I think the word "genuine" is the adjective that our customers would use most often to describe their experience here." - Trudy McLean
Judges Comments
"The sign of an exceptional level of customer service would surely be when the service you offer exceeds the norm in a less than ideal situation. Groovy Glasses lost their beloved store in the Christchurch earthquake but managed to deliver service that ensured they stood out as the iconic retailer we all know. The passion has not crumbled for their craft, even though their shop may have."
1st Runner Up - Petticoat Lane Costume Hire Ltd
"We specialise in the hire of quality costumes and selling of costume accessories. Our strongest business advantage is our commitment to our customer focus. As we are a destination shop, we aim to exceed customer expectations by offering a professional team of staff to ensure positive costume hire/sale outcomes with each individual. Robust 'behind the scenes' systems afford staff the time for this customer focus." - Gabrielle Heath
2nd Runner Up - Heatstore NZ Ltd
"We are a Pellet & Wood Fire Specialist. We are the only "One Stop Shop" in Christchurch where we offer 15 years experience, consultation, supply, full installation, council permiting requirements and service. We ensure an often confusing purchase due to complex funding options becomes an easy stressfree process for our customer. We employ all our own staff and have selected the best of the wood fires available and have the largest range of Pellet Fires available. Our showroom boasts various Pellet Fire models installed so a customer can see and feel for themselves the benefits of a Pellet Fire." - Wendy Dunn
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Food & Beverage category - sponsored by Dish and NZRetail Magazines
Winner - Traiteur European Butchery
"We provide every thing you need for your dinner of it is for one takeaway meal or a party for 100 or more. We can provide raw or cooked product what ever time or experience you have or need we have it. From sausages to cheese board." - Maarten Loeffen
Judges Comments
"Presentation, food, staff and service represented a passion for excellence."
Runner Up - Mediterranean Food Company & Caffe
"Mediterranean Foods is unique in that it is a genuine importer of European foods and wines combined with a caffe and pizzeria. Our Caffe gives us the chance to introduce new products to the marketplace, many of our customers would not have tasted buffalo mozzarella before tasting it on a pizza. We aim to be regular shopping experience for people interested in food and wine. With direct importation prices we can supply top quality products at prices cheaper than the supermarkets and considerably less than other delis. We combine this with having trained chefs on our staff to help people learn how to prepare their purchases as well as hosting regular cooking classes. Our range of pasta and italian salami is the largest in the country and we even have a special wine cellar featuring unique and interesting wines dating back to 100 years old." - Nik Mavromatis
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Start-Up category - sponsored by Paymark
Winner - Mercato
"With over 1800 products on the shelves, no other store in the South Island has as wide a range of quality essential food ingredients imported from France, Italy and Spain. Mercato also supports NZ's growing artisan food community by offering products made by the finalists of the Cuisine NZ Artisan Food Awards and fresh local produce sourced direct from the grower. Many of the ingredients are not available elsewhere in NZ making Mercato a must visit destination for foodie visitors to Christchurch city. Central to Mercato's philosophy is the desire to help re-establish the links between food consumers, producers and ultimately nature. Free 'Meet the Artisan' tastings are held regularly to give customers the opportunity to talk with the producers - a far richer emotional experience than your average supermarket tasting. Producer stories are also communicated on product packaging, retail shelf talkers and by the staff who share Mercato's passion for quality food. Flavour is what counts most at Mercato so customers are encouraged to 'try before they buy'. This allows them to build up a reference library of tastes and adds to their understanding and enjoyment of food. Appreciating the skill and care that goes into creating the ingredients, Mercato treats them with the utmost respect, maintaining and enhancing their qualities. For example, deli meats taste their best when freshly sliced so Mercato has invested in the only hand wheeled prosciutto slicer in a retail shop in New Zealand. Tucked away in the back of the store, the European-style 'over the counter' deli is a working demonstration of how to combine simple quality ingredients to create a fabulous meal. Down the end of the shopping aisles the gleaming new permanent domestic kitchen is the centrepiece of the cook school which caters for up to 30 people. The school supports the community by showing people how to eat in healthy ways, drink responsibly by matching wine with food and improve cultural understanding." - Ngaire Baker
Judges Comments
"Fantastic service, good product knowledge. Attempted an add on sale and great atmosphere and environment."
1st Runner Up - Inflame
"Inflame are experts in natural flame home heating - where our customer satisfaction is considered to be of paramount importance. We build positive relationships with our customers from the initial consultation and purchase through the installation as well as continuing with ongoing advice and spare parts service." - Alan Wenmouth
2nd Runner Up - Summerfields Foods
"Our store is excellent because we cover such a huge range of ingredients and they have been carefully chosen so if you have a recipe from anywhere in the world we should have what you need to make it. We have been called a "treasure trove" by some of our food loving customers. We are also excellent because we want our customers to enjoy cooking so we have quick meal packs with recipes and ingredients already for them. We also have free recipes to use to make yummy things as well as free fresh herbs. We have passion and great customer service so our customers can be confident with what they intending to cook." - Fiona Summerfield
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Online REtailing Category - Sponsored by Telecom
Winner - Retail On Sale - www.RetailonSale.co.nz
"RetailOnSale.co.nz is a New Zealand owned and operated business developed to provide local fashion businesses with an effective and cost efficient online sales channel. Working for fashion businesses since 2007, RetailOnSale.co.nz has become a leader in online fashion retailing in New Zealand. RetailOnSale.co.nz now has a proven track record of businesses that have integrated our system into the daily running of their stores – all of whom have seen significant increases in turnover through online sales." - Geraldine Shackleton
Judges Comments
"Easy to navigate, scrolling image is eye-catching and well targeted at customers. Images are clear with excellent ability to zoom in and view the products. Customer risk is well dealt with through the returns policy and delivery is well explained."
1st Runner Up - Nature Discoveries - www.nature.co.nz
"Gifts that are both educational and fun to receive. Gift Lists, Dream Gift selection, Reward Dollars and on-line personalized Gift Cards." - Gus Walkden
2nd Runner Up - Emma's At Oxford - www.emmasatoxford.com
"We are a small retail store with an on-line presence with both website and Facebook page where we pride ourselves on our personal service and going that extra mile for our customers. For customers purchasing on line, rather than receiving an automated response a personal e-mail response thanking them for their order and advising delivery status/ETA. We have received many queries/orders from around the world where we have been able to source a required product and/or send the products to the recipients. We have considerable repeat business and referral orders from friends who have bought on line attributing and acknowledging that we took the time and made the effort to find the product people are looking for. The feedback we receive constantly mentions that our emails are personal and they know each one is individual, which gives them a positive experience and they appreciate the lengths we go to. "
- Emma Walker
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Sustainable Retailing category - Sponsored by Meridian
Joint Winners - The Lotus Heart Restaurant and Woodcraft Gallery
The South Island and Overall
Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year -
Sponsored by the Retail Institute
Michaela Harrington, J Ballantynes & Co, Timaru
And the Christchurch 2010 OVERALL WINNER is...
Traiteur European Butchery
Judges Comments
"Traiteur European Butchery has the WOW factor. Presentation, food, staff and service represented a passion for excellence."
promoting excellence in retailing
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