SPRAA joins giant industry award night at SPLASH! 2014
The Swimming Pool Retail Association Australia (SPRAA) has joined the excitement of SPLASH! on the Gold Coast by presenting five national retail awards at the inaugural SPASA Australia Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner.
The gala will be held on 17 July at the 2014 SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, and will now include 24 categories of SPASA Australia Awards, two categories of the SPLASH! Environmental Awards and five SPRAA Awards.
The SPRAA awards, which are only open to SPRAA members, are:
• National Pool Store of the year
• National Spa Retailer of the year
• Technician of the year
• Retail Salesperson of the year
• Retail Supplier of the year
Gary Nye, SPRAA President, says that for the first time there will be a range of national, retail-related awards for pool stores.
“These awards help showcase the growth and development of this sector of the pool and spa industry and the professionalism to be seen,” he says.
“We appreciate SPASA Australia supporting these awards at their gala dinner.”
Brendan Watkins, SPASA Australia CEO, says the retail awards complete what is going to be the most comprehensive spread of industry awards ever.
“We are pleased to include these retail categories in our Awards of Excellence program. The night was already destined to be one of the most significant industry events ever held and with the inclusion of these retail awards the historic nature of the evening is assured,” he says.
The awards will be judged by a panel of industry and retail specialists. Award winners will receive a unique digital Awards logo, listing and links from industry association websites as well as a framed Winner or Highly Commended Award.
Sponsorship and entry enquiries can be directed to Greg Every on 0418 110 350.
Award details and definitions
How will people enter these awards?
In the first quarter of the new year, entry forms will go up on the SPRAA website. Entrants will fill out the entry form which will define the criteria and evidence required to support the entry. People will be able to self-nominate and because some people are shy about entering competitions – in some cases they will be invited to enter based on the views of industry observers.
Who will the judges be?
They will be specialists in their fields and discussions have already commenced with potential judges.
How is a National Pool Store defined?
What this does not mean is that the winner has to be a franchise operation of a national franchise operator. The winner of this category could be a one-store outlet, a business that operates a few stores or it could be a store within a franchise group.
How is a Technician defined?
He, or she, is person who works in a pool or spa store or from one of a pool store’s mobile service units or who operates alone from a mobile service van servicing the needs of retail and industrial customers. As an example a Technician is a person you would expect to see care for a person’s backyard swimming pool or spa.
How is a Retail Salesperson defined?
A retail sales person is someone a retail customer would find ‘behind the counter’, or ‘on the floor’ of a pool or spa store.
How is a Spa Retailer defined?
A retail business primarily selling spas to the public.
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