Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The winners of the Excellence in Housewares Awards 2017 were announced last night (Wednesday October 4) during a ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
Some 400 housewares retailers and suppliers attended the event, which was organised by ‘Progressive Housewares’ magazine in conjunction with the CHA (Cookshop & Housewares Association) division of bira (British Independent Retailers Association).
Welcoming guests, bira ceo Alan Hawkins summed up the housewares industry’s key strengths: “It is driven by innovative products, which try to make consumers’ lives easier, as well as bring smiles to their faces,” he said. “Retailers in this industry go above and beyond for their customers – and they are genuinely passionate about what they sell.” The grand finale was the presentation of the Honorary Achievement Award to Ben Phillips, director and owner of 42-strong specialist chain Steamer Trading Cookshop.
‘Progressive Housewares’ editorial director and co-owner Jakki Brown said Ben had steered the business to become “one of the UK’s leading retail gems, inspiring and exciting consumers with a vibrant offering, presented in world-beating store environments – which are invariably ambitious sites that ooze character and style”.
The 2017 winners are:
Retail Employee of the Year: Alison Hobbs, visual merchandiser of Potters Cookshop at Hockley in Essex
Most Promising Newcomer: Prep Cookshop of Stoke Newington in London
Excellence in Direct Retailing: Ocado.com
Excellence in Retail Training John Lewis
Excellence in Retail Display (Independent) Borough Kitchen
Excellence in Retail Display (Multiple or Department Store) John Lewis
Excellence in Retail Initiative Harts of Stur for its ‘Kitchen’ magazine
Excellence in Non-Specialist Multiple Retailing Leekes
Excellence in Specialist Retailing (Multiples and Large Independents) Art of Living
Best Department Store (Independent) Harrods
Best Department Store (Multiple Branch or Group Member) Fenwick Brent Cross in London
CHA (Cookshop & Housewares Association) Retailer of the Year Trevor Mottram, Tunbridge Wells
The Cutting Edge Award Master Series Food Graters from Microplane International
Plugged-In Award Café Cino Capsule Machine from Dualit
Top Tool or Gadget Big Peeler from New Soda
Top of the Table Epicurean Melamine Tableware from Eddingtons
Excellence in Cookware Non-stick Pro Bakeware from OXO
Excellence in Homewares Industrial Kitchen from KitchenCraft
Innovation in Product Award Stojo from Auteur
The Icon Award Rushbrookes Striped Butcher’s Apron from Dexam
Excellence in Marketing Award Le Creuset
Excellence in Innovation Award Joseph Joseph
Excellence in Service Award KitchenCraft
Honorary Achievement Ben Phillips, director and owner of Steamer Trading Cookshop
