Retail NZ Awards 2025

Celebrating the best of retail in Aotearoa New Zealand

This is your moment to shine and be celebrated for your outstanding contributions to the retail industry. Whether you’re a trailblazer in technology, a champion of customer service, or a pioneer in sustainability, there’s a category for you to showcase your achievements.

Entries are open until 29 June 2025, with winners announced on 28 August. Enter today!

Entries are open!

We invite retail businesses across New Zealand to submit their awards entries, you don’t need to be a Retail NZ member. Entering the Retail NZ Awards is more than just a chance to win a trophy. It’s an opportunity to:

Celebrate success. Take a moment to celebrate your team’s accomplishments and inspire others with your story.
Gain recognition. Stand out in the industry and be acknowledged for your hard work and innovation.
Boost your brand. Enhance your brand’s reputation and attract new customers by showcasing your achievements.
Network with peers. Connect with industry leaders, potential partners, and like-minded professionals.

Ready to enter? Find the award category that’s right for you below.

Entries close in:

Awards Dinner

Winners will be announced at our black-tie Awards Dinner on Thursday 28 August, at the Grand Millennium in Auckland.

This prestigious event will follow our one-day conference, Inspire Retail 25, making it the perfect opportunity to network, learn, and celebrate with the best in the business.

Join us for a night of celebration, recognition, and fun, at what promises to be the retail event of the year.

More information and ticket options will be available soon. Watch this space!

Entry information

The awards are open to all online and physical retail stores operating in New Zealand. You do not need to be a Retail NZ member to enter. You can enter multiple categories but need to complete the entry form for each category addressing the questions for that award.

Don’t wait until the last moment to submit your entry. It’s important to invest time and thought into crafting a clear and informative entry. The effort you put in will increase your chances of success! The deadline is Sunday 29 June, so be sure to submit your entries well before then.
Our categories come with specific criteria for you to review before and during the entry process. Be sure to read the criteria thoroughly and address each question accordingly.
Clearly describe your achievements and support them with relevant data. When preparing your entry, keep in mind that facts are more convincing than mere statements. Since all judges are bound by confidentiality, providing detailed numbers, facts and objective evidence will make your entry stand out and capture their attention. Don’t assume the judges know anything about your business and use plain language.
Provide context by outlining the background, rationale, objectives, process, execution and results of your work.
What sets you apart from others? Highlight any new approaches or innovations you introduced. We are interested in examples of businesses and individuals who have discovered more effective ways of achieving results. Most categories in the Retail NZ Awards emphasise accomplishments from the past year. Be sure to showcase any novel strategies you implemented and describe how they differed from your competitors’ practices.

There is an administration fee of $50 +GST for each entry. Retail NZ members do not need to pay this fee.

Terms & Conditions

General Terms & Conditions — Retail NZ Awards 2025

Eligibility:
- The awards are open to all retail businesses operating within New Zealand.
- Entrants must be at least 18 years old.
Entry Period:
- Awards entry closes on 29 June 2025.
- Entries received after the closing date will not be considered.
How to Enter:
- Complete the entry forms available through retail.kiwi/retailnzawards, under the corresponding category.
- Pay the entry fee of $50 +GST if you are not a current Retail NZ member.
- Submit the form along with any required supporting documents by the closing date.
Judging Criteria:
- Entries will be judged on how well they meet the category-specific criteria, based on how well the questions have been answered and the evidence provided to support this.
- The decision of the judges is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Finalists:
- Finalists will be notified by email in July 2025.
- Finalists will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to attend the awards dinner to be held in Auckland on the evening of 28 August 2025. Event tickets and any travel and/or accommodation costs will be at each attendee’s own expense.
Publicity:
- By entering, participants agree to participate in any publicity related to the awards.
- Winners agree to the use of their name, image and store in any promotional material.
Data Protection:
- All entry information and personal data will be kept strictly confidential.
- Entries will have company and contact details removed before sharing with the judges to remove any potential bias.
- Entry information will be deleted at the conclusion of the awards.
- Data will not be shared with third parties without the entrant’s prior consent.
General:
- Retail NZ reserves the right to cancel or amend the awards and these terms and conditions without notice.
- Any changes to the awards will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by Retail NZ.
- Retail NZ is not responsible for inaccurate details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with these awards.

Award categories

Best New Store Design/Concept of the Year Award

Celebrating store design innovation and creativity for stores that have recently opened or been refurbished. Judges will look for evidence of increased sales following the redesign and indications that the changes will contribute to long-term profitable growth for the retailer.

Entry criteria

This category is open to all retail sectors and store sizes. It encompasses New Zealand stores that have either opened or been refurbished in the past 12 months.

Questions you will be asked:

Describe a store design or concept you have introduced in the past 12 months.
What are the distinctive and standout features of your store design?
What research did you conduct before implementing this design?
What impact has the store design or concept had on the business? Include evidence of increased sales following the redesign and/or indications that the changes will contribute to long-term profitability for the company.
How has the design enhanced the customer experience?

To enter this category, complete the form on the link below before midnight on 29 June 2025. Entries are free for Retail NZ members, non-members will be asked to pay a $50 +GST entry fee at the end of the form. Before entering, we advise you read the entry information and terms & conditions.

ENTER THIS CATEGORY

Most Improved Store Award

This category celebrates a store manager or team that has made significant improvements over the past two years. You have enhanced customer satisfaction and commercial success through exceptional retail execution, inspiring leadership, and effective teamwork.

Entry criteria

Managers and teams should be nominated by their company. This is open to physical and/or online operations.

Questions you will be asked:

Outline the situation prior to the improvements and changes made.
Describe how you tackled these issues and what changes you made to improve the performance of the store/business.
Share how this provided a better experience for customers.
What improvements resulted from these changes in terms of increased sales, profits, foot traffic, NPS results, loyalty conversion and average customer spend?

ENTER THIS CATEGORY

Customer Service Experience of the Year Award

This award honours the retailer that excels in providing an exceptional customer experience. This could be achieved through technology or other solutions such as services, but it must address a specific customer need or create a memorable, exciting experience. The winning initiative will have clearly contributed to enhanced business performance and overall success.

Entry criteria

This category is open to physical store and online operators.

Questions you will be asked:

What significant customer experience initiative has your organisation introduced in the past year?
Can you explain the vision and strategy behind this initiative, including the main reasons for its development?
What results has the customer experience initiative achieved? Describe how you measure and assess its impact.
How has this initiative affected your unique customer proposition and in what ways does it set you apart from your competitors?
What type of training has your team received to ensure the successful rollout of this initiative?

ENTER THIS CATEGORY

Innovation Award – Best use of technology

This award honours operators who showcase exemplary use of technology in their business. This includes online retailing, digital marketing and social media, as well as in-store technologies like self-checkout systems, media screens and payment apps.

Entry criteria

Open to all online and physical in-store retail businesses operating in New Zealand.

Questions you will be asked:

What specific technology have you implemented in your business, and how has it been used to enhance operations or customer experience?

How has this distinguished you from your competitors?

What measurable results have you achieved through the use of this technology? Include data or feedback that demonstrates the effectiveness and impact of your technological innovations.

ENTER THIS CATEGORY

Online Store of the Year Award

Judges are seeking an e-commerce retail manager or team that has significantly and positively impacted customers, the community or the broader company. They will look for examples of outstanding online retail execution, inspiring leadership and effective teamwork, as well as evidence of enhanced customer satisfaction and commercial success.

Entry criteria

Open to online operators and stores with an online and in store offering.

Questions you will be asked:

What are the distinctive and standout features of your online store?
How have you enhanced the online customer experience in the past 12 months?
What motivated these changes and how did you assess their success?
Describe how these improvements have driven revenue growth for the business.
How do your support services contribute to a positive online customer experience?

ENTER THIS CATEGORY

Sustainability Leadership Award

This award honours retailers who are advancing their sustainability efforts. Judges are looking for a specific green initiative from the past year that has made a significant impact, either on its own or as part of a broader sustainability programme. Examples could include reducing plastic use, adopting eco-friendly logistics or minimising waste.

Entry criteria

This category is open to all online and physical in-store retail businesses operating in New Zealand.

Questions you will be asked:

What specific sustainability initiative have you implemented in the past 12 months? Describe the key aspects of this initiative and its primary goals.
How has this initiative made a significant impact? Provide data or examples that demonstrate its effectiveness in improving your green credentials.
How does this initiative fit into your overall sustainability programme or strategy? Explain how it complements or enhances other environmental efforts within your business.
What challenges did you face while implementing this initiative and how did you overcome them?
How do you plan to build on this initiative in the future? Share any upcoming projects or goals related to sustainability that are inspired by this recent success.

ENTER THIS CATEGORY

Outstanding New Talent Award

Recognising the most promising new talents in the New Zealand retail sector. The winner will showcase innovation and enthusiasm, demonstrating how they have significantly impacted the business. Judges will seek individuals recognised as exceptional talents in their field, possessing strong business acumen and serving as an inspiration to their peers.

Entry criteria

This award is open to any individual who has entered the sector on or after 1 April 2023. Entrants can self-nominate but need to include their managers contact details for verification.

Questions you will be asked:

How has the nominee pursued professional development and growth since joining the retail sector? What steps have they taken to expand their skills and knowledge?
What specific accomplishments has the nominee achieved in their role? How have these contributions positively impacted the team or business?
In what ways has the nominee shown leadership or influenced their colleagues and team members? Provide examples of how they have motivated or inspired others in the workplace.
How has the nominee enhanced the customer experience? Provide examples of initiatives or actions that have led to improved customer satisfaction.
What feedback has been received from colleagues, supervisors or customers about the nominee’s performance? Have they received any formal recognition or awards for their work?

ENTER THIS CATEGORY

Lifetime Contribution Award

This award celebrates an individual whose career has profoundly shaped and advanced the retail sector. This prestigious accolade recognises exceptional achievements and enduring impact, honouring those whose visionary leadership, innovative spirit and unwavering commitment have set new benchmarks for the industry.

Entry criteria

Nominees for this award will be evaluated on their significant and sustained influence on the retail landscape. This includes their role in driving innovation, maintaining excellence over many years and mentoring future leaders. Contributions to the community and industry, along with a lasting legacy and adherence to high ethical standards, are also key factors in the selection process.

The award seeks to acknowledge those whose career achievements have not only advanced their own business but have also enriched and transformed the retail industry as a whole. Entrants cannot self-nominate but can support the submission.

Questions you will be asked:

Describe the nominee’s overall impact on the retail industry throughout their career. Include contributions that have significantly influenced industry practices, standards or innovation.
Provide examples of how the nominee has demonstrated innovation and leadership in the retail sector. Highlight groundbreaking initiatives, strategic vision and pioneering approaches they have introduced.
Detail the nominee’s track record of sustained excellence and performance over the course of their career. Include evidence of continued success and high standards maintained throughout their tenure.
Explain how the nominee has mentored and developed future leaders in the retail industry. Include examples of their contributions to training, guiding and inspiring the next generation of retail professionals.
Outline the nominee’s contributions to the community and industry beyond their immediate business. This may include involvement in industry associations, charitable activities and efforts to promote retail as a profession.
List notable achievements and awards received by the nominee that recognise their significant contributions to the retail industry.
Describe the lasting legacy and influence of the nominee’s work. How have their contributions shaped the current landscape of retail and what enduring impact have they made?
Assess the nominee’s adherence to high ethical standards and integrity throughout their career. Provide examples of how they have upheld and promoted ethical practices in the retail industry.