Australia’s top3 by design has been named a finalist in the 2012 World Retail Award’s Concept Innovation category.
The design retailer is in the running for the award against global giants including Tesco, The Walt Disney Company and Maceys.
Terri Winter, top3 by design managing director, said since the business was established in 2001 ensuring customer satisfaction was always a key focus.
“top3 by design has always worked from the customer backwards. Specifically set as a business focus in a meeting in 2007, every decision has consciously been made with the customer in mind. We’ve had a clear vision and goal and it’s been about differentiating ourselves and being completely customer-centric,” she said.
“Since that day, we’ve continued to point our business in this direction in concrete detail. We carry up to three products per category, the very best in the world by merit of design. Essentially, it’s an edited selection of the coolest stuff on the planet. But for us, it’s always been about making these products accessible so we implemented a cross channel strategy that’s as focussed online as it is in our stores.
“When it comes to customer service, all lines are blurred between online, catalogue, phone order and in-store. We want our customers to have access to these incredible products in a manner that completely suits them. They can click and collect and they can use kiosks and ipads in-store to order. And no matter where they are, we are completely transparent about exactly how much stock is available and where it is.”
With a focus on pure innovation, judges examined every aspect of a business, from product assortment right through to cross channel strategy implementation.
“We are thrilled top3 by design has been recognised for its fit business practices,” said Brian Walker, managing director of Retail Doctor Group, the retail consultant for top3 by design since 2008.
“This is a very deserved recognition of a company who is consistently driven to continuously improve, with the ability to speedily react to the market and modify based upon consumer needs. We were further delighted to see another Australian client, Tyreright being name in the top 10 in this same Concept Innovation category. When you’re up against the world’s best, this is a big win for Australian retail.”
Retail Doctor Group is the elected Australian member of Ebeltoft Group. Ebeltoft representatives will be forming the jury for the WRC’12 Retail Innovation Award.
The winners will be announced on 20 September at World Retail Congress in London.