AppId is over the quota
Once a year some of the top UK retailers come together for a celebration – to recognise and honour the talented women working in the sector. With a glamorous setting at the Savoy Hotel in London, guests arrived eager to find out more about some great new role models for female retailers. I often find the Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards are unlike any other – as it’s an evening event, the guests are donning their best dresses and the night is truly special. It’s always filled with inspirational hosts, a vibrant compere, but most of all, a group of extremely talented women working in the retail industry who have been selected as finalists – the real stars of the evening.
Opening the ceremony, Karen and Max took to the stage to welcome guests and give thanks to all of the people in the room – people who are passionate about retail and people who work so hard every day to keep the industry alive in the these tough economical times.
Following Karen and Max, Karren Brady, 2008 Spirit of everywoman Award Winner and Vice Chairman of West Ham United FC, was invited to speak. Karren,, a Non-Executive Director at Arcadia, hopes her enthusiasm and determination will encourage other women to not just enter the sector, but to excel and reach senior levels. She promised to keep the door wide open for women to reach the top level – a true ambassador for anyone either working in retail, or hoping to in the future.
After the lovely three course meal guests were treated to the fabulous Ruth Brown, a truly brilliant singer and contestant on popular TV show The Voice, who was mentored by the great Tom Jones. Very simply stated – what a voice, and judging from the crowd everyone thoroughly enjoyed her performance.
Next up, the main event – the awards ceremony. BBC presenter Kate Silverton couldn’t have been a more fitting compere for the evening. Her story was fascinating, telling the audience how she started in a career she didn’t really feel passionate about and after resigning in finance found herself thriving in journalism. She really believed that if ”you do what you really want to do, you will never fail.“
As far as I am concerned, all of our finalists are winners, a group of women who are incredibly driven and who shining examples are of how with a bit of hard work and determination anything is possible.
The group of women who took home the trophies last night are all role models – from Alyssa Smith, jewellery designer who started making jewellery at the age of five, to Jo Davies, Founder and Managing Director of Black and White Denim, a shop that has proved incredibly successful all over the nation due to their strong online presence. These women were just two of a fantastic group of winners who lit up the room with positive energy and who are exemplary role models for anyone in the retail industry.
The Woman of the Year Judith McKenna, Chief Operating Officer of Asda, is also the definition of a role model; holding one of the most senior roles in retail, her transformation of 160 Netto stores into Asda stores was nothing short of incredible.
Closing the evening Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers, took to the stage. She has a strong passion for the retail industry and a wealth of knowledge within in the sector. With 1600 stores worldwide, Dame Mary has led Specsavers to become a brand we all know and love, and it’s obvious to see it’s her drive and determination which allowed for this.
Leaving the room last night, I truly felt that with the abundance of incredible women working in the sector now – it won’t be long until the retail sector is thriving once again. UK retailers are truly passionate about what they do, and the Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards was a perfect example of how important it is to recognise those that are keeping the industry alive. Doing so will definitely create role models for the future generation of women hoping to enter the retail industry, and ultimately lead to more financial success for retailers.
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