The Creative Retail Awards and Save The High Street have formed a partnership to promote the importance of design and display in independent retail.
Save The High Street is sponsoring the ‘Best Independent Store’ category at the 2022 awards, which span a number of disciplines including store design, surfaces, omni-channel, technology, sustainability, lighting, and more.
Save The High Street is an industry movement formed to ensure successful high streets now and for the long term by supporting over 25,000 local businesses. John Abbate, the retail design and visual merchandising expert on the Save The High Street advisory board, is a staunch believer that effective design and display can provide a real competitive advantage to independent retailers: “Independents are the heartbeat of our high streets. Their ability to provide a more personal touch, together with the individual look and feel of their physical space, adds character and diversity to our high streets. Many large brands often try to emulate the spirit of an independent shop, but no one can do it as authentically as the real thing. And that's what we need more of in the retail design and display world, the real thing. To be inspired, creative and quirky - making retail fun. To offer a personal experience and become a ‘destination’ - even on a small budget. SaveTheHighStreet.org are proud to be associated with this award.”
Antony Behiels, director of SDEA and co-organiser of the Creative Retail Awards added: “With ever more competition to attract consumers to the high street, effective VM, design and display is imperative. When it is done correctly it will engage and attract more customers, help increase sales and give customers a reason to return in the future. This is especially important for independent stores who often lack the budget for large scale marketing campaigns.”
The Save The High Street team will provide the winner of the ‘Best Independent Store’ award with access to its business support platform JO, and provide a mentoring session with one of its high street experts.
The awards will be presented on 22 September at Proud Embankment in London’s West End.