Jarrold – the family owned department store in Norwich – is celebrating being the UK gia (Global Innovation Award) winner for 2019-2020. The prestigious accolade coincides with the store’s 250th anniversary next year.
The announcement of the gia winner was made at the recent Excellence in Housewares Awards night, where Jarrold also scooped the Best Department Store (Independent) Award.
As the UK’s gia winner, Jarrold wins a trip to Chicago to attend the gia awards night next March, where its gia UK trophy will be presented, with time to explore The Inspired Home Show (March 14-17) and the city itself. The show will showcase all of the gia winners from around the globe in its Hall of Global Innovation, representing the best housewares retailers in the world.
Chris Parson, Jarrold’s housewares and deli manager commented: “We are honoured to have won both the Excellence in Housewares for Best Department Store and the Global Innovation Award 2019-20 and wish to thank all those who nominated us. These awards showcase all the hard work of our colleagues who make sure that the customer experience here at Jarrold is as special as it can be.”
He continued: “Winning these accolades have come at the perfect time as we are celebrating our 250th anniversary in 2020, so to go into this year with the honour of being the best independent department store gives us even more reason to celebrate.”
The gia programme is organised and internationally sponsored by The International Housewares Association (IHA) and The Inspired Home Show in Chicago (previously known as the International Home +Housewares Show). Its UK sponsor is Progressive Housewares magazine and HousewaresNews.net.
Of around 30 national winners, five national winners will also win the ultimate international prize for housewares retailing – the Global Honoree awards, which are judged by an international jury and presented on March 14.
* gia (IHA Global Innovation Awards) is the world’s leading awards programme honoring overall excellence, business innovation and creative merchandising in housewares retailing. See housewares.org/show/gia-retail.
* For more information about The Inspired Home Show visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com or Housewares.org.
Top: The cookshop team with their gia certificate Josey Connor, Kerry Allen, Chris Parsons, Jo Read, Mandy Jackson.