Multiple retailer Steamer Trading, which is continuing to invest in the gift side of its cookshop business, won the Excellence in Specialist Retailing (Multiple and Large Independents) category at last week’s Excellence in Housewares Awards, organised by Progressive Housewares magazine in conjunction with bira.
House UK was revealed as the Most Promising Newcomer, and Harrods won the Retail Display category which was open to multiple and department stores.
Alan Hawkins, the recently retired ceo of the British Independent Retailers Association (bira), was presented with the Honorary Achievement Award.
Other winners on the night included:
Best Department Store – Independent: Dawsons, Skipton and Clitheroe
Best Department Store – Multiple Branch or Group Member: Fenwick, Brent Cross
Excellence in Innovation Award: Joseph Joseph
“The 19th Excellence in Housewares Awards were a fantastic celebration of the hard work, inventiveness, innovation and dedication of our industry’s retailers and suppliers,” commented Jo Howard, editor of Progressive Housewares. “Our 80s Electric Dreams theme added extra sparkle and a nostalgic glow to what is widely regarded as the industry event of the year.”
The event, which were hosted by stand up comedian and comedy writer Tania Edwards, took place at the Royal Lancaster London where 400 movers and shakers in the housewares industry gathered to celebrate into the early hours.
Top: The Excellence in Housewares Award winners 2018 with their trophies.
