For the second year in a row, Harts of Stur’s acheivements have been recognised at the Good Retail Awards. The Dorset based retailer was presented with the Sustainability Initiative Award at the virtual awards ceremony, which took place yesterday (February 8) during Springfair @ Home. Meanwhile, fellow Dorset housewares retailer Salamander Cookshop (Wimborne) won the Bricks ‘n’ Clicks Award, which was won by Harts last year.
The Good Retail Awards shine a light on those in the retail industry who have achieved success in spite of all the challenges faced over the last 12 months. Whether through strategy, creativity, the use of technology or otherwise, the judges looked for positive innovations that benefit both retailers and their customers.
The judges were impressed with the overall commitment to sustainability shown by Harts, especially its implementation of replacement LED lighting, air source heat pump and solar paneling on its new store extension (in Sturminster Newton) which will save over 46.2 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Moreover, in its highly successful online and mail order business, Harts has substituted non-recyclable packaging to a biodegradable alternative at its dispatch centre. The retailer has used biodegradable packing chips for around two years and replaced bubble wrap with hexcel, a sustainable bubble wrap alternative, around 12 months ago.
Managing director Graham Hart commented: “Winning this award recognises all the hard work we have done to reduce the impact our business has on our surroundings and shows that lots of little changes can make a big difference, both for the environment and the success of our company. I would also like to thank Low Carbon Dorset, Dorset Energy Solutions and Green Light Packaging, suppliers of our biodegradable loose fill, who have helped us so much along the way.”
Winning this year’s Bricks ‘n’ Clicks trophy, Salamander Cookshop’s online developments ‘demonstrate an intelligent blend of digital and in-store to provide an enhanced customer experience,’ according to the Good Retail Awards. The cookshop has successfully moved its classes and communities online during the pandemic. It is offering Zoom personal shopping appointments, and keeping customers engaged with competitions, such as its current Pancake Flipping Competition.
* To see all of the winners of the Good Retail Awards, organised by Modern Retail and presented at Spring Fair, go to https://www.springfair.com/news/the-good-retail-awards-2021-meet-the-winners
Top: Valentines window at award winning Salamander Cookshop.
