More than 2,000 votes cast ahead of Wolverhampton retail awards
More than 2,000 public votes have been received to find Wolverhampton’s ‘Favourite Retailer of the Year’ ahead of the city’s first annual Independent Retail Excellence awards.
The honour is up for grabs at the Wolverhampton Independent Retail Excellence (WIRE) Awards on Tuesday, July 18.
As well as the public vote, 147 businesses have made 359 entries across 11 categories for the WIRE Awards.
Tim Johnson, Wolverhampton council's strategic director for place, said: “It is fantastic to see the people in the City of Wolverhampton getting behind their local independent businesses and these awards.
“We very much value the presence of the small businesses in the city and the creative local people behind them.
“These are the businesses that help give Wolverhampton its own identity and character, and it is only right their efforts should be recognised by these awards.”
John Henn, chair of Wolverhampton BID, added: “The number of entries is fantastic, we have 147 companies who are proud of what they do and the people in them.
“I've walked around the city, and met some of you and it is encouraging that so many individuals share the same values. There is no doubt that a good customer experience is the answer to the internet.
“Let’s keep it going and put the City of Wolverhampton back on the shoppers’ map.”
Tickets for the WIRE Awards, at Molineux Stadium’s WV1 Suite, are available from www.wireawards.co.uk.
The awards are being led by Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the city council, and will also be supporting charity, Promise Dreams, on the night.
The other categories are Independent Retailer of the Year, Retail Personality of the Year, Excellence in Customer Service, Best Dressed Shop or Outlet, Employee of the Year, Apprentice or Trainee of the Year, Excellence in Staff Development, Hospitality & Leisure Business of the Year, Community Retailer of the Year, Most Improved Business of the Year, and New Business of the Year.
Sponsors include Corporate Wolves and Venue Catering Partner, Signal 107, Meercat Associates Ltd, Yarrington, Mander Centre, Express & Star, City of Wolverhampton College, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Ramada Park Hall Hotel & Spa, NCP, and BCRS Business Loans, and Wolverhampton Partners in Progress.
There is still time to register your vote via the website or by texting WIRE plus the name of your favourite independent retailer to 60777 - standard network charges may apply. Voting closes at midnight on Wednesday, June 28.
