Following the announcements of both retail and product finalists for The Excellence in Housewares Awards 2022, housewares stockists and suppliers are now expressing their sheer delight at being on the final lists.
“The John Lewis team is delighted to be nominated again this year,” comments Lisa Rutherford, category lead Cookshop, John Lewis & Partners (finalist in several categories). “It’s been an unprecedented couple of years and trade is hard fought for retailers. We are especially excited to have recognition for our branches in terms of look and feel and retail training.”
In the line-up for Best Department Store – Independent, Voisins’ Sarah Sacriste, head of marketing, comments on behalf of the Jersey store: “What an absolute honour to be nominated as a finalist for the Excellence in Housewares Awards 2022!” She continues: “Our sales team at Voisins Home work incredibly hard to uphold unrivalled standards of customer service, teamed with expert product knowledge and inspiring merchandising to make our store a stimulating environment that customers want to return to again and again. We strive to offer an inclusive range of brands and products that exceed the Housewares needs of our customers from quality to affordable, lifestyle to essentials and traditional to innovative, priding ourselves on being the island’s go-to destination for cookshop and baking.”
Sarah reflects: “The past few years have been a challenge to say the least so being shortlisted alongside so many brilliant retailers and to be recognised for all our hard work really does make it all worth it.”
First-time finalist for the Multiple or Small Group Retailer of the Year, Jason Moran, managing director of Season Cookshop in London enthuses: “We are over the moon. It is humbling indeed to know the efforts of our team of cooks and chefs over the past decade has been recognised by such an esteemed body.”
“This is super exciting; we’re feeling incredibly honoured to be shortlisted among so many big names in the housewares world,” says another first-time finalist for The Excellence in Retail Display – Independent, Sophie Atkins, co-owner of Quince & Cook, Perth.
Also making the finals of The Excellence in Retail Initiative Award for the first time for its 360 online tours, Aldiss of Fakenham’s trading director Tina Barkway comments: “We were delighted to have been nominated but to be a finalist is testament to all the team that put such effort and commitment into making each 360-filming session work. We reshoot every four months which involves the sales, marketing, web teams and more so this is a great boost for them and all their efforts in making it work.”
On the product front, Jenny Handley, T&G’s head of marketing exclaims: “T&G is delighted to hear that we are finalists in the Cutting Edge Category of the Excellence in Housewares Awards with our natural oak Chateau serving and preparation boards. Being recognised by industry experts and colleagues is a huge compliment; it’s a seal of approval for our products, design and quality and we are very excited to have been chosen.”
At Australia’s Dreamfarm (from Forma House), Cate McDermott, marketing manager is elated, saying: “We are absolutely thrilled that we have been chosen as finalists not just once but five times over – how incredible!”
First time in the finals, James Sanderson, Sales Manager at Masterpan states: “We are honoured to be selected as a finalist for the Innovation Award at the upcoming Excellence in Housewares Awards. Thank you judges for considering us. We look forward to seeing everyone at the event; best of luck to all the finalists!”
Commenting on behalf of Nordic Ware UK, Caroline Appleton acknowledges: “We are honoured to once again be a finalist within both the Icon Award and Excellence in Cookware categories. Having recently celebrated our 75th Anniversary, we are grateful for the support Nordic Ware has received over the years from consumers, retailers and fellow brands within the housewares industry.”
She continues: “Creativity is at the heart of Nordic Ware and we are continually looking to innovate and inspire with new designs every year. The Braided Loaf Pan joins our line-up of pans specially created to commemorate our milestone anniversary. With its elegant interwoven braids symbolising togetherness, continuity and strength, the golden loaf pan represents the ideals that are at the core of our business.”
