27 Feb Independent shops should ‘make some noise’ and enter the awards
Southwark’s small independent retailers should make “some noise about the great range of shops” in the borough by entering the new business awards.
Designed to cover to all types of businesses, from start-ups and SME’s to international corporates, the inaugural Southwark Business Excellence Awards in association with Lewisham Southwark College have a wide appeal.
However the organisers are particularly keen to encourage Southwark’s many small businesses, and retailer Leona Janson-Smith (pictured above, centre) thinks this is a great opportunity for the “brilliant” shop owners of Dulwich, in the south of the borough.
“The new awards are a great idea – anything that helps to promote Dulwich and the businesses here has to be good,” said Leona, who has owned the card shop and stationers Postmark in North Cross Road, East Dulwich with husband Mark since 2009. “There are a lot of independent shops in Dulwich that perhaps people don’t know about and this is a good way of making some noise about what we do here and the brilliant range of shops we have to offer, from clothes shops, to DIY shops, and butchers and bakers, to cafes and restaurants.”
Postmark employs five local people – including Manager Graham Leese (pictured above, left) and Sales Assistant Sophie Fisher (right). It specialises in design-led greeting cards at an affordable price, has already won UK national awards as a top independent card retailer. Now Leona and Mark are entering the business into the Best Independent Retailer category of the Southwark awards – and she hopes other businesses, particularly in North Cross Road and Lordship Lane, will participate too.
“There has always been a fantastic community feel to Dulwich – a real sense of neighbourhood – and we have always found it really friendly and a great place to do business,” said Leona. “The area has changed over the years, with people moving out and others moving in, so it’s good to let people know, for example that there is a great market on in North Cross Road at the weekend, and that there are also great independent shops and lovely cafes here too. It’s a lovely place to come and visit and spend your money to support these little local businesses, and entering the awards is a good way to let people to know that.”
The closing date for award entries to the Southwark Business Excellence Awards is Friday, 29th March.
Backed by Headline Partner, Lewisham Southwark College, and Awards Partners, Southwark Chamber of Commerce, Southwark Council, and White Label Creative, the awards are sponsored by British Land, Grosvenor, UAL London College of Communications, and Sellar. The programme is supported by Shangri-La Hotel, Jensen’s Gin and Media Partner, Southwark News.
The highlight of the six-month awards programme will be the glittering, black-tie Gala Dinner and Charity Ball awards ceremony for 400 people on 21st June, hosted by a celebrity compere.
To enter the awards register via this site – www.southawards.co.uk – instructions on the home page.
The Southwark Business Excellence Awards 2018 – Categories:
1. Business of the Year
2. Entrepreneur of the Year
3. The SME Excellence Award
4. Best Business for Customer Service
5. Independent Retailer of the Year
6. Business Commitment to Education and Skills
7. Best Employer
8. Best New Start-Up
9. Best Business for Hospitality and Food Excellence
10. The Award for Excellence in Leisure and Tourism
11. The Southwark Cultural Commitment Award
12. Best Charity or Social Enterprise
13. Best Business for Tech and Innovation
14. Award for Diversity and Inclusion
15. Commitment to the Community
16. Best Woman in Business
Interested in sponsoring or supporting the awards? Please contact: Joanne Horton at jhorton@wlcreative.org.uk or call 0208 726 7968