11 of Chesterfield’s retailers have fought off stiff competition from more than 240 businesses to be named the very best in the town.

The winners of the first Chesterfield Retail Awards, organised by Destination Chesterfield and sponsored by Slic Training, were named at an awards ceremony held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18 June 2014.

Pelican Cycles, based on Old Road in Brampton, scooped awards across four categories, including the coveted Retailer of the Year award. The cycle shop was opened in 2012 by owner and keen cyclist Neil Armitage. It stocks an extensive range of cycling parts and accessories, including big name quality brands, as well as offering a full workshop repair and maintenance service. Outside the shop, Pelican Cycles holds free weekly evening road rides in the summer and holding private indoor cycle spinning sessions for customers at Queens Park Leisure Centre during winter.

Prior to opening the shop Neil had never worked on retail. He said: “I followed a dream when I opened Pelican Cycles. I was genuinely gobsmacked to win the awards. We have worked our socks off but it’s worth it.”

Since opening, the business achieved a six figure turnover in year 1 with turnover growing by more than 50% in its second year of trading. Neil said: “We pride ourselves on offering a friendly and personal service. We have created a welcoming informal atmosphere in the shop with the use of touches like an espresso machine and screen showing Tour De France highlights. Because of these touches and our approach to customer service we have developed a loyal repeat customer base.

“I was convinced there was a gap in the local market for a quality cycle shop that treated people with respect and gave a good, honest and personal service. Essentially I wanted to provide what I had been looking for. To receive these awards shows that we have achieved this. I am delighted.”

Multiple awards were also won by new business M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms based on Sheffield Road in Whittington Moor. It was named as the Best New Store and National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year. The family run business, which opened its first store in Tideswell, Derbyshire in 1935, launched in Chesterfield in 2013.

Some of Chesterfield’s oldest businesses also won awards at the ceremony, including John Stevenson Jewellers, Northern Tea Merchants and Fred’s Haberdashery who, between them, have been serving customers in the town for more than 120 years.

Hair and Beauty Business of the Year

• Viviennes Hairdressing

Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Oxspring Technical Ltd

• Zebra Menswear

Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by The Pavements Shopping Centre

• John Stevenson Jewellers

Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year

• Bigwicks

Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year

• Babyluv

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt

• Northern Tea Merchants

Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year

• aGeek

Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)

• Pelican Cycles

Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

• Unstone Plant Centre

Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design

• Pelican Cycles

National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source

• M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms

Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by ChesterfieldCollege

• Pelican Cycles

Market Hall Business of the Year

• Fred’s Haberdashery

Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones

• M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms

Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

• Pelican Cycles

Destination Chesterfield manager Dominic Stevens said: “The awards were a runaway success. From the offset we were overwhelmed with nominations for so many retailers in the town. The shortlisting and judging process was incredibly difficult with so many strong contenders in each field.

“Chesterfield is envied nationally for its retail success. While other town and city centres are struggling, ours is thriving and it’s no wonder seeing the passion, innovation and customer service so many of the town’s retailers are delivering on a daily basis. These awards recognise this.”

Other supporters of the awards included Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

Find out more about the awards at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards

Source:Destination Chesterfield

29 businesses have been shortlisted from more than 1000 nominations in the first ever Chesterfield Retail Awards, sponsored by SLIC Training.

The shortlisted retailers will now go head-to-head across 15 categories, with the winner in each being announced at the Retail Awards ceremony held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18 June 2014.

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dom Stevens said: “We were overwhelmed with nominations, which highlighted the passion for so many retailers in the town. It was a very difficult task for our judges to shortlist the finalists. The field of entries was very strong, each of them with a passion for Chesterfield and delivering great customer service.

“It is little wonder, from the response to the awards, why Chesterfield’s retail offering out performs the majority of high streets throughout the UK.”

The shortlisted retailers across the 15 categories are:

Hair and Beauty Business of the Year

• Definition Hair and Beauty
• Harleys Hairdressing
• Viviennes Hairdressing

Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Oxspring Technical Ltd

• Blanc
• Toad Footwear
• Zebra Menswear

Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by The Pavements Shopping Centre

• Created Gallery
• John Stevenson Jewellers
• Libby’s

Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year

• Bigwicks
• Created Gallery
• New Dawn

Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year

• Babyluv
• Giraffe Nursery Store
• Pooky

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt

• Northern Tea Merchants
• R. P. Davidson Cheese Factor
• R. B. Elliot & Son Ltd

Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year

• aGeek
• Chips Computers
• Three

Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)

• Fred’s Haberdashery
• Pelican Cycles
• Tallbird Records

Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

• Unstone Plant Centre
• Ibbotsons Fruit and Veg
• Paul Hinds Greeting Cards

Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design

• Created Gallery
• John Stevenson Jewellers
• Pelican Cycles

National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source

• H & M
• M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms
• New Look

Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by ChesterfieldCollege

• Created Gallery
• John Stevenson Jewellers
• Pelican Cycles

Market Hall Business of the Year

• Fred’s Haberdashery
• MarketPlazaCafé
• R. P. Davidson Cheese Factor

Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones

• M Markovitz Ltd Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms
• New Dawn
• Tallbird Records

Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Retailer of the Year will be announced from the winners on the night.

Other supporters of the awards include Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

To sponsor the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards please visitwww.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/. You can also keep up-to-date with the awards on Twitter by using the hashtag #retailawards14.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s shoppers have come out in force to support the town’s first ever Retail Awards. More than 1,000 people have nominated 241 businesses across 14 categories during April, with one lucky person winning a £50 hamper from the Pavements Shopping Centre.

The nominated business have now been asked to complete a short application form which will be considered by a panel of local, regional and national retail experts. The winners in each category will be announced at a grand awards ceremony which is being held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18th June 2014.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “We are overwhelmed with the number of nominations. It’s a fantastic start to the inaugural Retail Awards. With support from the community like this it is no surprise thatChesterfieldis booming as a retail centre.”

The Awards, which are sponsored by Slic Training, celebrate the town’s ongoing success as one of theUK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops.  Only 7.7% ofChesterfield’s retail units are currently empty, which is only 0.7% behind the best performing large centre,Cambridge.

The categories include:

·         Hair and Beauty Business of the Year

·         Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Oxspring Technical Ltd

·         Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by The Pavements Shopping Centre

·         Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year

·         Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year

·         Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt

·         Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year

·         Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)

·         Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored byChesterfieldBorough Council

·         Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design

·         National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source

·         Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored byChesterfieldCollege

·         Market Hall Business of the Year

·         Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones

·         Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Other sponsors include Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

To sponsor the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards please visithttp://www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/ and you can keep up-to-date on Twitter by using the hashtag #retailawards14.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Shoppers are being called on to nominate their favourite shops and stores for the town’s first Retail Awards before voting closes at the end of the month.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “The success of the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards is very much in the hands of the general public.  They need to nominate in order for retailers to be shortlisted.

“The awards are open to every retailer operating in the Chesterfield borough. With our wealth of independent stores and national chains operating here, I am confident there will be no shortage of nominations across all the categories.”

The awards, which are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Slic Training, celebrate the town’s ongoing success as one of the UK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops.  Only 7.7% of Chesterfield’s retail units are currently empty, which is only 0.7% behind the best performing large centre, Cambridge.

The 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards nomination process is open throughout April and people can nominate online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/nominate/ or by filling in a form available from retailers throughout town.

There are 14 categories people can nominate across, plus the coveted Retailer of the Year Award, and they may even win a £50 hamper from the Pavements Shopping Centre for their trouble.

The categories include:
• Hair and Beauty Business of the Year
• Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year
• Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year
• Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year
• Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year
• Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt
• Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year
• Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)
• Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
• Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design
• National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source
• Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by Chesterfield College
• Market Hall Business of the Year
• Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones
• Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

The finalists in each category will be shortlisted from the nominations by a panel of judges.  The winners will be announced at a grand awards ceremony which is being held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18th June 2014.

Ian Benison, Chief Executive, SLIC Training (International), said:

“It is a great pleasure to be the headline sponsor of the Chesterfield Retail Awards.  As a local lad, who started a local company which is now situated in the prestigious Market Hall in town, getting involved with the Retail Awards was an easy decision.

“We see this as an opportunity to give something back to the town, to celebrate all its successes and amazing businesses.  The success of the awards will be based on how the community gets involved; I urge you to nominate your favourite retailer for each category – this is your opportunity to get your much-loved venue or company noticed and acknowledged. “

Chesterfield is becoming the go-to location for developers and we look forward to welcoming new establishments such as Nandos and Boyes to the town centre as well as the recently opened Pan-dora jewellery store gracing the town’s high street.

Other sponsors include Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council’s said: “Launching our own Retail Awards demonstrates the continuing strength and attractiveness of Chesterfield as a shopping centre, despite the declining fortunes of high streets across the country. These awards allow us to honour our local businesses and help them to continue to thrive.”

To nominate your favourite retailer, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/nominate/ and you can keep up to date on Twitter by using the hashtag #retailawards14

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s shoppers are being called on to get behind the town’s first ever retail awards and nominate their favourite high street chain stores and independent retailers.

Launched by Destination Chesterfield, the inaugural awards capitalise on the town’s success as one of the UK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops. The awards aim to seek out, recognise, celebrate and promote Chesterfield’s retailers, as well as highlighting their commitment and importance to the town and the local economy.

Nominations for Chesterfield’s best loved shops and stores are open until the 30^th April. Nominated retailers will then be shortlisted and judged by an expert panel, with the winners being announced at the Chesterfield Retail Awards being held at the Assembly Rooms on 18^th June.

The awards are open to all retailers within the Chesterfield borough and there are 15 categories in total recognising everything that is great about the town’s shops and stores – from great customer service to disabled access.

Andrew Everitt of Jumble Design, who has sponsored the Independent of the Year category, said:

“Chesterfield has a thriving retail economy which is envied nationally. Where other town centres are faced with high vacancy rates, Chesterfield is bucking the trend and attracting high street names as well as independent retailers giving us an excellent mix of shops, helping us attract visitors to our town and investors to the area who are keen to capitalise on our retail success.

“The Chesterfield Retail Awards now give everyone the chance to recognise good service and retail and business practise in our town and Jumble Design is delighted to be associated with them.”

Making a nomination is free and forms are available from 1^st April at retailers throughout the town. Nomination can also be made online now atwww.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards and you can keep up to date on Twitter with the hashtag #retailawards14

There are a number of sponsorship opportunities available. If you wish to get involved and sponsor a category or the awards event, please contact Dominic Stevens, Manager of Destination Chesterfield on 01246 207207.

Source:Destination Chesterfield