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REA '09 Finalists are...

Caroline Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief -- Gifts and Dec, 7/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Caroline Kennedy,
Editor-in-Chief

This month, it is my pleasure to present the finalists of this year's Retailer Excellence Awards competition, as well as the Industry Rising Star honoree and the retailer-nominated Rep of the Year finalists.

Much to our surprise and delight, we received an unprecedented number of entries in every category — more than we ever expected considering the business climate — and all of a very high quality that made the judging very challenging, yet rewarding to see the wonderful and creative things that gift retailers are doing with their stores, events, displays and websites.

Here now, the finalists:

Store Design/Redesign: Under $1 Million: Elizabeth Allen Atelier, La Jolla, CA, and Flore, Southbury, CT.
Store Design/Redesign: Over $1 Million: Market Place, Florida Hospital Orlando, FL; The Store at the Museum of Arts & Design, New York, NY; and Vera Bradley, Ft. Wayne, IN.
Visual Merchandising/Display: Kate's Paperie, New York, NY; Slifer Designs, Edwards, CO; Watson Kennedy, Seattle, WA.
Marketing Achievement: The Scarlet Tassel, Atlanta, GA; Ten Thousand Villages, Ephrata, PA; and The Cordial Cricket, Chester, VA.
Event-based Community Service: Homeward Bound, New Milford, CT; Leon & Lulu, Clawson, MI; and The Bowerbird, Olde Lyme, CT.
Retail Internet Innovator/Innovation: Dreamy, www.shopdreamy.com, Encinitas, CA; The Cordial Cricket, www.thecordialcricket.com, Chester, VA

Retailers are proud of their hard working reps and the outstanding services they provide — many times going above and beyond their normal responsibilities — to help the retailers' businesses grow. Based on the retailers' nominations, Rep of the Year Finalists are: Deb Cabrera, Ganz USA, Cheektowaga, NY; Julia Elliman, Goetz Inc., Dallas, TX; Cheri Leos, OneCoast, Birmingham, AL.

The winner in each of the above categories will be announced at Gifts & Decorative Accessories' Retailer Excellence Awards Gala, August 16 at NYC's Marriott Marquis. That evening two other important honorees will be recognized. G&DA will present the Industry Rising Star award to Under Stella's Umbrella, Atlanta, GA, which is comprised of four divisions: Fine Whines, Bellemonde, Noble Initials and Gerard Puvis. And to close out the evening, it is our distinct pleasure to partner with Gift for Life, who will present Bobbie Gottlieb of Two's Company with the Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award.

Trophies specially designed by Italian ceramic-maker Deruta will be presented to the winner in each retailer category. Trophies for the Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award, the Rep of the Year and Industry Rising Star will be provided by Mikasa, div. of Lifetime Brands.

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