The best of the best


The Independent Business Awards, which recognise the achievements of independent electrical retailers and electrical manufacturers and continue the tradition of the Independent Marketing Awards, were held at the St John Hotel, Solihull, on 24 June 2010. The winners of this year’s Awards, organised annually by the Independent Electrical Retailer and voted for by the independent electrical retailers – the readers of the IER magazine – collected 20 awards in 11 categories.


T he Awards, which are in their 18th


year, have the longest heritage of any awards in the electrical industry. The number of nominations they attract is greater every year, and as the industry evolves, new awards categories are added to reflect its efforts and achievements. The Awards are also unique since they are the only awards programme that recognises the achievements of electrical goods manufacturers as determined by the independent electrical retailing sector. “The Independent Business Awards continue to give our readers the opportunity to recognise manufacturers’ contribution to the ongoing development of their businesses and the sector as a whole,” said Andrew Castle, Datateam


Business Development Director, opening the Awards evening. “With some 17 years of heritage behind them, they have become a highly regarded declaration of business excellence. “All the awards have a common theme – the consumer. And the independents play an extremely important role in putting the products and the consumer together. Their high levels of service and product knowledge enables them to display and communicate an unrivalled passion for your innovation and brand values. “And it is the effective transfer of that knowledge and passion to customers, which plays a key role in driving sales. The independents continue to be the number one place for service, advice and value and IER remains committed to


supporting these important business principles.


“This event could not have been staged however, without the participation and backing of a host of key sponsors. Therefore I offer my sincere thanks to GfK, Samsung, Neff, Domestic & General, retra and LG for their kind and generous support, to Freesat for its endorsement of the awards website and finally to Vogel’s for its sponsorship of this evening’s drinks reception.” Introducing the Best Independent Retailer award category, Anna Ryland, IER editor commented: “The recession has claimed a number of casualties in the electrical retail sector. Yet independent retailers are a very robust race and although the majority of them had to


August 2010 The Independent Electrical Retailer 33


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