BENCHMARK YOUR BUSINESS SUCCESS

16 MAY 2019NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM

Absolutely thrilled, it’s really exciting. It’s been a massive project, I’m very grateful to the Congress today and to the judges for voting for us. I think it was a brilliantly executed partnership for both of us. I’m so proud of everyone involved and it expanded across the entire organisation, the partnerships and affiliates that we formed with the Fenty Beauty team, I think it was magnificently executed as a result of that.

Daniela RinaldiCO-COO l HARVEY NICHOLSWINNER OF BEST BRAND COLLABORATION

Fantastic - I am absolutely delighted because we worked so hard as a team to make sure that the campaign was socially based and it has just been recognised globally so that’s brilliant.

DebenhamsSOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR 2018

Thank you so much, it is such a privilege to be honoured here tonight in a room full of retail’s best.

Julie StevanjaYOUNG RETAIL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2016

Thank you. It’s wonderful, we feel very honoured because it is contribution and a reconfirmation of everything that we do everyday to all of our 35,000 employees.

Sephora INTERNATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2017

I am just so over the moon and I would say that this is at the heart of our business and it is the only way to do business is to be a responsible retailer.

LushWINNER OF THE RESPONSIBLE RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2016

It’s a fantastic acknowledgement and a fantastic achievement and it’s really for the whole team.

Spoon GuruRETAIL TECHNOLOGY GAMECHANGER

We are so happy. We had a really nice collaboration with FITCH. The whole journey was so exciting and so good. We are so happy to be here with you.

Arcelik OUTSTANDING STORE DESIGN <1200 SQM 2018

INNOVATION. CELEBRATION. REWARD.

THE WORLD RETAIL AWARDSBENEFITS OF ENTERING

Changing the face of retail? Be rewarded for your initiatives, ideas and innovation.

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD ENTER IN 2019:

The industry gathers to reward the inspirational and forward-thinking at the World Retail Awards, taking place on Thursday, 16 May in Amsterdam, in a glittering and dramatic evening of celebration.

Winning an Award aligns your business with the world’s most visionary, influential retailers (and past winners) including Alibaba, Burberry, Walgreens, LUSH, Primark, Costco, Sephora and Jumia amongst others.

There are 14 categories in total, including one new addition for this year; 11 for entry and three for nomination by the 2019 Grand Jury.

Over the last 12 years we have seen thousands of entries which have pushed the boundaries of retail and taken the industry forward, helping to establish the Awards as a vital benchmark of global excellence across retailing. What continues to resonate is the astounding amount of innovation across the sector that is enabling retailers to better understand and serve consumers.

With that in mind, we look forward to receiving your entries for the 2019 World Retail Awards.

Ian McGarrigleCHAIRMAN | WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS & AWARDS

WORLDWIDE EXPOSURE

Every World Retail Award winner and finalist gains media exposure through a coordinated PR campaign. Your profile will be raised across the global retail industry, resulting in increased brand awareness and collaborations.

UNRIVALLED RECOGNITION

The Awards offer all retailers the unique opportunity to be recognised by their peers for the quality of their work and the impact of their ideas. Being shortlisted by the panel of esteemed judges adds third-party credibility to your business and is an excellent way to stand out from your competitors.

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

The Awards offer a level playing field for all entrants regardless of size. Whether you are a small business, an online retailer, a domestic or multinational retailer, all entries face the same judging process and are in with a chance to take home a World Retail Award trophy.

INTRODUCING THE 2019 GRAND JURY All Grand Jury members are selected for their specific insight and knowledge of the retail industry, bring a strong global perspective and many years of leadership experience.

Bernie BrookesFORMER CEO l EDCON

Patrick Bousquet-ChavanneCEO l EMAAR MALLS

Vipul ParekhCO-FOUNDER & CMO l BIG BASKET

Sylvie Freund-PickavanceGROUP STRATEGY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR l VALUE RETAIL

Marty WikstromFOUNDER l ATELIER FUND

Andrew JenningsCHAIRMAN l HEMANED l TED BAKER

Neela MontgomeryCEO l CRATE & BARREL

Suzie WokabiFounder & Chief Creative Officer l SUZIEBEAUTY

RETAIL START-UPOF THE YEAR

Retailing has always been driven by the entrepreneurial spirit which has seen new businesses launch each year, many of which have gone on to become massive international or national companies. But with the industry entering a new digitally-driven era, we are seeing a new generation of retail businesses being launched. Many are online-only and some are operating across channels including physical space. This new category looks to recognise the dynamism and creativity of retailing and the new entrepreneurs within it. We are looking for great new retail start-ups who have been trading for up to five years and can already demonstrate that they have a scale-able, sustainable business that is helping reinvent or reshape a category and is serving today’s consumers in new and compelling ways.

THE RETAIL TECHNOLOGY GAME-CHANGER

Retailing is embracing rapid transformation as it remodels itself for the digital age. Every aspect of retailing is changing from supply chain to multiple selling channels, payments and the final delivery of products to customers. The common factor in all areas of change is the development of new technology solutions that are helping drive efficiency, innovation and sometimes a revolutionary new approach. n This category is looking to

recognise the technology start-ups that are inventing new solutions for the retail industry; judges will be looking for how they have developed a new approach to an existing retail process that helps the business and ultimately creates a better experience for customers and employees.

n The award is open to start-ups of no more than five years old and is for one technology solution only.

BEST INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN

To achieve a successful marketing campaign in today’s fragmented media market is increasingly challenging. A retail marketing campaign demands consistency of message but in turn this has to be mindful of the requirements of the different media channels. This new category highlights those marketing or advertising campaigns undertaken by retailers that can demonstrate a highly creative and innovative approach that uses multiple channels in the most effective way that delivers a fully integrated campaign with demonstrable results.

ENTRY CATEGORIES

NEW

ENTRY CATEGORIES

THE WORLD’S BEST RETAIL EMPLOYER

Retail remains one of the biggest employers in most economies around the world. It requires a range of skills with an increasing demand for highly skilled and experienced digital personnel. The competitiveness to recruit and retain the very best people is growing ever tougher. This means that retailers have to place an even greater emphasis on their people across the entire business, from the way they are attracted to the company and then in meeting their career aspirations. Retailers have to be at the forefront of the most advanced policies in human resources. This important new category looks to recognise those retailers that are truly outstanding in their approach to the most important asset – people. If you believe you are among the very best places to work in the world then this is the category you must enter.

RETAIL BRAND COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

One of the biggest drivers for retailers across all sectors from food to fashion is in the collaboration with celebrities or social media influencers. Celebrity and online personalities have become a powerful factor in today’s world and bring figures from film, theatre, fashion, music, beauty, entertainment and other areas of public life into the world of retail and brands. In collaborating with these big names, retailers can create strong ambassadors who can really connect and engage with target consumer groups. We are seeing great collaborations around the world and this new category has been created to recognise the most successful campaigns and celebrity relationships.

BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE

How can retailers gain that all-important competitive edge when the battle over original product or best prices grows ever harder? Increasingly, that edge is being delivered by great customer experiences that deliver to a retailer’s brand positioning or sets them apart from the competition through its originality and appeal. We are seeing examples of this from both offline and online retailers. From Alibaba’s Singles Day to the 2017 category winner, Tommy Hilfiger’s Tommy’s Pier. n This award category is therefore looking for examples

of outstanding customer experience that are being delivered by a retailer.

n This category is not looking to reward a store design but more about an amazing customer experience that could

be delivered in store, or an experiential event created especially to deliver something truly outstanding that connects with your customers.

n This might also include interesting collaborations with related brands (e.g. Doc Martens and Jack Daniels).

n Judges will be looking for customer experiences that really stand out in an already highly competitive landscape. What makes this different and how has it captured the imagination and support of your customers?

n This category will be split in two: for retailers and for shopping malls to ensure that we recognise all great initiatives to delivering amazing customer experiences.

ENTRY CATEGORIES

RETAIL TRANSFORMATION AND RE-INVENTION AWARD

Retailing is facing unprecedented external and industry change, driven on by new digital technologies which are being adopted by consumers and which in turn is changing existing business models. This award therefore recognises those retailers who the judges believe have most successfully re-engineered and re-energised their business to be fit-for-purpose in this new digital age and who look set to deliver sustainable growth. Given that transformation or turnaround does not happen over just 12 months, companies should submit supporting evidence and material for the last 4 years to show the transition of the business.

RESPONSIBLE RETAILER INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

This important and prestigious award honours the retailer who the judges feel by their actions demonstrate that they are outstanding corporate citizens through on-going high standards, but also a distinctive and effective initiative undertaken in the last 18 months. n The award aims to recognise

the values that form the cornerstone of a good business from its approach to its people, its customers, suppliers, the environment and a sustainable future.

n Because this should be a goal for all businesses, the judges in this category will benchmark a company’s success at living their values whilst at the same time looking for evidence of a specific initiative(s) that has been implemented within the last 18 months. This can be an enterprise that is either focussed entirely on your people, or suppliers, customers or a wider environmental programme that helps those that your business touches on a wider basis.

n Innovation and tangible results will be a key criteria because this can take a company beyond the increasingly high standards expected of all.

2019’S OUTSTANDING STORE DESIGN

With retailers recognising that the store needs to increasingly serve as a flagship, this category is looking to find the world’s outstanding new store designs.

n Open to all retail sectors and store sizes that have opened in the last 12 months.

n Successful entries will demonstrate that the design is enhancing the retail brand while proving to be a truly innovative and commercial success.

n And in this omnichannel world, it is increasingly important for new store design to embrace technology that enhances the shopping experience and also helps form a bridge with the brand’s online proposition.

n Judges will also be looking for evidence of commercial success and customer acceptance.

This category is split into two - less than 1200sqm and more than 1200sqm.

Very excited, very proud. It is really what we are made of because for forty years we’ve been thinking the business can be a force for good and a force for change and it’s a really a result of this.

Body ShopWINNER OF RESPONSIBLE RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2018

NOMINATED CATEGORIES

RETAILER OF THE YEAR

The Retailer of the Year is the premier award in the World Retail Awards. It recognises the retailer the Grand Jury believes to be a truly world-class operator that can be held up to be best-in-class across a number of important areas. n With retailing becoming ever

more complex and demanding, the Retailer of the Year will demonstrate that it is not only delivering exceptional financial performance and sales growth, but will also reflect the changes that are taking place across the industry and around the world.

n To be an outstanding retailer today, this business will be able to show how it has adapted to the realities of the digital world by transforming its approach to retailing and the way that it is managing for the future.

n Revenue and profit growth over the last 4 years will be reviewed.

n If it has international operations, the judges will need to see that it is also executing this to the highest standards.

n Above all, this will be a retailer that should be setting new standards for the whole industry to admire.

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD

Selected by the World Retail Awards Grand Jury, the chosen retailer represents the qualities that summarise great retail leadership.n They will be leading a business

successfully through the dramatic challenges facing the industry.

n Will have a strong strategic vision and possess the personal skills that have built focussed teams that deliver the businesses goals and meet the needs of their customers.

The winner in 2018 was Pablo Isla, Chairman and CEO of Inditex.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

The World Retail Congress launched the International Women in Retail Group in 2015 to recognise the achievements of women across the retail industry. To build on the success of this group, the Woman of the Year award was launched in 2017 with Zyda Rylands, the CEO of Woolworths South Africa winning the inaugural award. This very special award, selected by a panel of senior women retail executives, will go to the woman who they believe embodies outstanding qualities of retail skill, resilience, strength, ambition and willingness to battle through whatever challenges and adversity they have had to face in order to be a role model to others and of course, very successful at what they do.

These awards are not open to entries, instead nominations come from our expert judging panel, with the winners being chosen by the Grand Jury.

It’s such an emotional thing actually to hear such nice things said. I have mixed feelings because I am so honoured and at the same time I look forward to the day when this award is not necessary. I think it’s a real testament to the progress that women have made and that there are so many women in retail. Usually 70% of the staff of a retailer is female and yet at the same time we haven’t had many women in the executive ranks and I’m really pleased that women are being recognised.

Laura AlberPRESIDENT & CEO | WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.WINNER OF WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2018

HOW TO ENTER

CREATEAN ONLINE ACCOUNT

Visit www.worldretailawards.com/enter to create an account and viewthe entry requirements for each category.

CHOOSEYOUR CATEGORY(IES)

There are 11 entry categories in total and there is no limit to the number of these you may enter.

CREATEYOUR ENTRY

Following the criteria guidelines, complete your entry response (usually no more than 500 words – you can save as you go) and upload any relevant

supporting material/links. Top tips: 1) the more visual collateral you include, the better 2) tell a story, bring your submission to life

SUBMITAND PAY FOR YOUR ENTRY

Once complete, submit your entry and complete online payment before 18 January 2019. Each entry costs £300 (discounts available for previous

entrants and multiple entries). Finalists will be contacted w/c 18th February 2019.

The process of entering the World Retail Awards was straightforward and the organisers were really helpful with any questions we had during the process.

Rachel SwiftHEAD OF BRAND MARKETING | JOHN LEWISWORLD RETAIL AWARD WINNER 2016

ENTRY DEADLINES

Entries open: 9 October 2018Entries close: 18 January 2019Shortlist announced: w/c 18 February 2019Winners announced: 16 May 2019

FOR ENTRY ENQUIRIES:

Samantha GnimavoE: Samantha.Gnimavo@worldretailcongress.com T: +44 (0)20 7715 6581

FOR TABLE AND SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES:

Julia Jones-CollinsAccount DirectorE: Julia.Jones-Collins@worldretailcongress.com T: +44 (0)20 3033 2952

#WRA2019

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

visit www.worldretailawards.com

CONTACT DETAILS

16 MAY 2019NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM

CATEGORY SPONSORS