2016 NRA Rewards for Excellence

Young Retailer of the Year

Nomination Form

The Young Retailer of the Year Award recognises and rewards young talent under the age of 25. It provides a platform to inspire and coach the future leaders of the industry, and it rewards successful applicants with professional development prizes, with the winner receiving a place on the Westfield World Retail Study Tour.

Rules for Entry

-  Submission must be entered into the template provided within this form

-  Submission must address the individual criteria of each and every question

-  Submission must be received by Friday 3 June 2016

-  Submissions must be submitted online at https://www.nra.net.au/events/rewards-excellence-sydney-2016/

-  Written submissions may be accompanied by no more than two (2) pages of items of support material (includes graphs, diagrams, photos, etc.)

-  If you choose to submit support material, this is to be included as an appendix, as such elements must not be included in the body of the written submission

-  Entrants must be 25 years of age or under as at 31 December 2016 (born on or after 31.12.1990).

-  The judges’ decisions are final. No correspondence will be permitted between any entrant/endorser and a member to the judging panel.

Judging Requirements

A judging panel will independently review and score submissions.

Finalists will be determined and notified by Friday, 15 July 2016.

Finalists will be required to submit one (1) print quality colour photo for marketing purposes.

Finalists will be required to submit a video about themselves, specifications for this will be provided if applicant is successful.

Finalists will be required to be available for the following:

1.  Submit a finalist video Friday 5 August 2016

2.  Skype interview on Tuesday 16 or Wednesday 17 August 2016

3.  Young Retailer Finalist Lunch on Wednesday 14 September 2016 at the Sydney Sofitel

4.  Rewards for Excellence Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 14 September 2016

at the Sydney Sofitel

Applicants will be judged on and expected to explain the following retail-related information, as it pertains to their own place of employment.

·  Hands-on retail skills: knowledge and applications

·  Innovation and marketing awareness

·  Leadership potential

·  Customer focus

·  Personal presentation

·  Expertise within current retail organisation

Click here for more information about the Award categories

PERSONAL DETAILS AND DECLARATION

1.  Entrant’s Details

Name
Retail Company
Business Address
State / Postcode
Phone Number
Work / Mobile
Other
Supervisor’s Name
Phone / Email
HR Manager’s Name
Phone / Email
2.  Entrant’s Declaration
I hereby submit my nomination for the 2016 NRA Young Retailer of the Year Award and acknowledge that I have read the rules and undertake to be bound by them.
ENTRANT’S SIGNATURE:
DATE: …………… / …………… / ……………
EMPLOYER:
(Name of Nominating Company)
EMPLOYER’S AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE (disregard if self-nominating):
Name Position
…………… / …………… / ……………
Signature Date

Please submit your nomination and support documentation online https://www.nra.net.au/events/rewards-excellence-sydney-2016/

or via email to Susie Cragg – Events Partnership Coordinator

For more information please visit www.nra.net.au or call 1800 RETAIL (738 245).

CAREER OVERVIEW

1.  Current Retail Experience

Current Position and any previous positions held with current employer
Length of Employment with current employer

Please respond to the following questions in 200 words or less.

1(a) Outline your main duties/responsibilities for your current position


1(b) Previous Retail Experience

List your previous five jobs (if applicable), including: company, duration, position and summary of responsibilities

1
2
3
4
5

2.  Provide details of any in-company and other courses previously completed or presently being undertaken

3.  Provide details of any awards you have received - work, personal, community etc.

4.  Provide details of any significant achievements or successes in your retail career.

5.  What are your retail ambitions for the future (over the next 5-10 years)?

How do you plan to achieve them?

6.  Why, in your view, should you be considered for the 2016 NRA Young Retailer of the Year Award? (In 100 words or less)


2016 NRA Young Retailer of the Year Award

WRITTEN SUBMISSION

Brief: Business Improvement Plan

This written submission is designed to allow you (the entrant) to demonstrate and utilise the retail skills, knowledge and expertise you have gained in your current position to improve a particular area of the business you work in (e.g. your store, department, or another area of the business for which you are responsible).

You are to choose an area of your business/store that you feel requires improvement and develop an improvement plan which will result in increased benefits for the business/store.

This should not be an initiative that you have already implemented, or are in the process of implementing.

The plan will allow you to demonstrate an understanding of current business operations and the general retail environment, in order to create a new vision for your business/store.

In this submission you will use the planning process to identify improvement opportunities, then create and implement action plans that will bring real benefits to your business/store.

The plan can focus on any area of your business/store. Examples include (but are not limited to): gaining market share, increasing sales, improving customer service, developing more effective stock management or merchandising, implementing online strategy.

You should focus on opportunities where it will be possible to demonstrate improved performance within a six (6) month time frame.

You must use the following template for your report, with no than one (1) x A4 page of 12pt Arial font for each answer.


Section 1 – Situational Analysis

Provide an overview or SWOT analysis of where your business/store currently sits in the marketplace (e.g. trading area & environment, customer profile, competitors, etc.)

Tip: Look outside the organisation so that you thoroughly understand the factors that may affect trading in the area.


Section 2 – Position Statement

Nominate the business area you have chosen for improvement

Justify this selection and detail your vision for the business, including the desired end results.

Tip: Set out the context in which you are writing the report and explain why you have selected this particular area for investigation. Provide your vision for the business.


Section 3 – Objectives

Describe the quantitative, measurable objectives & KPIs you have set for the improvement plan.

Tip: Develop the quantitative objectives for the plan which may be supplemented with qualitative aims (e.g. “KPI: 85% Mystery Shopping benchmark to reach desired level of excellent customer service”). The objectives should provide benchmarks against which to measure progress.


Section 4 – Action Plan

Outline the actions required to achieve your business goal. For every action, list the task, deadline, person(s) responsible and resources required to achieve the desired result.

Tip: Detail the activities required to appeal to your target customers for purchases, highlight where the existing offer needs to be improved to meet the service requirements of the customers and identifies the actions which will need to be taken. An action plan sets out the following:

·  what is to be done / ·  when is it due / ·  who is responsible for the task / ·  what resources are required


Section 5 – Monitor and Review

Detail the way you will monitor and review your plan to ensure you achieve your goals, outlining the process by which progress will be regularly reviewed and by whom.

Tip: Review actioned tasks as the plan is implemented against stated objectives to measure achievement