This year’s awards have a strong emphasis on retailers or employees that have gone above and beyond during the coronavirus crisis. 

There’s a little less than three weeks left to enter the BTHA Toy Retailer of the Year Awards 2020, with entries set to close on 27th November.

The awards will be different from the usual retailer award categories of previous years. In this year’s set of unique and challenging circumstances – which have affected all areas of business – the BTHA wishes to recognise those that have undertaken special acts of altruism, charity and support with its Special Recognition theme.

The banner of special recognition is not limited to one particular achievement in 2020, and the awards this year are designed to give recognition to:

• special initiatives in the local community
• innovative ways of toy retailing during the Covid-19 pandemic
• charitable work
• help for employees
• initiatives or projects which have helped others or your businesses to succeed
• any special measures designed to assist suppliers during the year
• remodelling of businesses to meet the changing retail landscape

Suppliers can nominate retailers for consideration by emailing Matt Jones with details of the retailer they wish to nominate, along with a short explanation why. Those wishing to discuss a nomination or idea for an award for innovation or altruism are also invited to get in touch. Self-nominations are also welcomed, and those who feel they deserve nomination are encouraged to set aside their modesty and enter ASAP.

The awards are easy to enter; readers can either complete a short online form which gives the opportunity to outline what they have undertaken this year, or, if it’s easier to do so, they can contact Matt Jones at the BTHA directly. Matt says: “We want the entry process to be as straightforward as possible for busy retailers and most of all – we want to be able to recognise those that have done good things in this challenging year for their customers, their store and those around them.”

The BTHA also wants to hear from retailers with employees or team members that have undertaken heroic actions for their company. Matt adds: “This may be an employee or team member, or perhaps even a whole staff team, that has gone the extra mile for customers or local community in some way. Please tell us about them.”

Phil Ratcliffe, BTHA president, told Toy World: “We know that this year, with its unique set of challenges, that there are stories out there from retailers that have done things for the good both in their local and wider communities. This may be for charitable work, ensuring toys get to customers who otherwise would not have access or in special assistance for suppliers. Retailers will have faced uncertainty this year, as well as being confronted with local lockdowns, temporary store closures and a difficult trading environment which has not been a level playing field. It is important that, this year, we recognise those retailers whose acts of endeavour, fortitude and kindness have prevailed.”

Don’t forget that the deadline is 27th November, so entries should be made as soon as possible.