For the 17th consecutive year, DIRECTION BUSINESS NETWORK and RETAILBUSINESS magazine are staging the RETAILBUSINESS AWARDS, first launched in 2002 and now the most important event of Greek retail sales and industry.

Along with the 17th RetailBusiness Awards begins the large celebration of Retail and Industry in Greece, which looks to the future. With a “futuristic” concept with regard to communication and always following the trends, needs, and developments in the market, the tradition is renewed with new categories and other innovations related to the competition portion of the event.

The period for making submissions has already begun, and awarding of prizes to the Best in Retail Trade and Industry is scheduled for February 2019.

Faithful to their engagement

The RETAILBUSINESS AWARDS 2019, for yet another year, keep their engagement and reward sound forces in Greek Retail Trade and Industry which continue to demonstrate their potential. Those who continue to invest, to create jobs, that reduce prices despite increasing charges. Those who wage their daily battle for growth, within and outside Greece, driving the industry forward and demonstrating all the more that Retail Trade continues to be a powerful pillar of growth.

It is worth mentioning that the Awards Ceremony during which the top awards for Retailer of the Year and Retail Manager are awarded are honoured each year by the participation of Ministry leaders and more than 800 guests that include senior executives of Greece’s largest retail enterprises and major industries.

The RETAIL BUSINESS AWARDS are held under the aegis of the Ministry of Economy and Development in cooperation with the Hellenic Retail Business Association (SELPE) and the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE).

The Process

The process begins with the submission of nominations per award category. The awards are given by the Evaluation Committee, upon the approval of submission folders by the Organising Committee. The Evaluation Committee is comprised of the market’s leading personalities, academics, individuals from the research field and representatives from institutions of the Greek business world, while KPMG will again this year be the auditing firm that will oversee the entire procedure so as to ensure the credibility and validity of the results.

The categories

RETAILER OF THE YEAR

The event’s most significant award which showcases the top retailer of the year. Selection criteria include its total position on the market, its momentum for growth, the health of its financial results, its relationship with and image towards the consumer, as well as the overall progress in the Greek retail sector.

RETAIL MANAGER

The winner of this category is the most effective manager in Greek Retail for 2018, who stood out this year, based on the criteria of successful strategy and the decisions they made for the benefit of their company.

RETAIL FRANCHISOR OF THE YEAR

Many retail chains invest in franchise systems, and the related concepts are constantly improving and becoming more efficient. In this category, the Retail Franchisor who has stood out during the current year is awarded, criteria such as the size of their network, the growth they have recorded over the current year, the power of branding, the geographical coverage achieved and introduction of their brand on the market.

CSR RETAIL STRATEGY

Award for the best CSR practices. At a time when the environment is ever-changing, and the concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility seem to shift on almost a daily basis, we believe that the role of companies in the industry is very important. The aim is to highlight, to showcase, and to reward those “best practices” of every company in the Retail sector that has already invested in a Corporate Social Responsibility program and campaigns with specific activities and actions.

RETAIL CAMPAIGN

An advertising campaign on television, radio, in print and on-line advertising. The industry’s best promotional campaign is awarded, with a view to increasing the efficiency and the impressions made on the public over the past year.

SOCIAL MEDIA RETAIL STRATEGY

As Social Media become more and more both a part of consumers’ everyday lives as well as an invaluable tool for information, promotion, and communication for Retailers, this category awards the industry’s best campaign, taking into account the effects and the impressions left on the public over the past year. Nominations may be submitted by Retailers for their campaigns on social networks.

NEW CATEGORY OMNI RETAILER (complete Physical & Digital presence)

Super Market

Electrical goods-Electronics3

Clothing and footwear

Restaurant services (Restaurants + Coffee stores + Fast Food etc.)

Telecoms

Banks

GAS Stations

Dry Cleaners

Vapour Stores

The aim is to promote an integrated strategic approach to company consumers-customers in their respective categories of chains in which they do business, in order to provide an integrated experience and satisfaction, both with regard to offline and online markets through Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service actions.

Submission of applications should present, in a comprehensive manner, the Omni Channel strategy and, in particular, the practices for the customer experience & satisfaction throughout its whole range, which is defined by: brick-and-mortar shops, e-commerce, web portals, mobile applications, chat boxes applications, social media, call centers.

NEW CATEGORY (ONLINE) Ε-SUPER MARKET

This new category pertains solely to purely online super markets without the existence of a brick-and-mortar shop.

The following parameters will be assessed and awarded: innovation, breadth and depth of product categories, offers, ease of navigation, ease of making a purchase, flexibility with regard to the time and place of order delivery, reliability, and level of safety of purchases.

NEW CATEGORY LOYALTY REWARD CARDS/PROGRAMS

A new category with a view towards highlighting the “smartest”, most effective in terms of increased sales, and most popular cards of all Retailers.

RETAIL STORES

RETAIL STORE SUPER MARKET

The 3 best shops in the domestic organised food retail market are awarded. Basic criteria for evaluation include the implementation of innovative solutions for customer service, accessibility of the point of sale, the level of services provided, the interior design for the consumer’s “journey”.

RETAIL STORE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND ELECTRONICS

The 3 best shops are awarded. This distinction pertains to the top shops with regard to service, performance and overall image, in the extremely important field of electrical equipment/electronics for the domestic market, which is dominated by “smart” technology and innovative points of sale.

RETAIL STORE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY (RESTAURANT CHAINS – COFFEE STORES – BAKERY – FAST FOOD)

The 3 best shops are awarded from each sub-category in the food service industry, which remains a particularly important area of the domestic retail market, with the main selection criteria being design, functionality, location, level of service, and the importance of the point of sale for the financial performance of the winning chain.

RETAIL STORE CLOTHING/SHOES

The 3 best shops in the particularly demanding field of clothing and footwear are awarded, with the criteria for awarding being design, location, level of supplying innovative and technologically advanced services vis-a-vis customer service, and the importance of the point of sale for the financial performance of the winning chain.

NEW CATEGORY RETAIL STORE TELECOMS

The 3 best shops with regard to customer experience are awarded, with friendly innovative functional services that aim towards rapid customer service and multiple provision-access to telephony products (fixed and mobile) as well as entertainment services.

NEW CATEGORY BANK RETAIL STORE

The 3 best shops with regard to issues of technology and digitalization, environmentally friendly, innovative, functional, and easily accessible, that aim towards rapid customer service and multiple provision-access to banking products and services.

NEW CATEGORY RETAIL STORE GAS STATIONS

The 3 best shops with regard to their functionality and their accessibility, with innovations in customer service, a wide range of additional services, environmentally friendly, and with a high level of customer satisfaction.

NEW CATEGORY RETAIL STORE VAPOUR STORES

The 3 best shops are awarded that have the widest range of products, level of service, interior design, level of customer experience.

NEW CATEGORY RETAIL STORE DRY CLEANERS

The 3 best shops are awarded with the most comprehensive level of service, both direct and complementary, delivery time, technological equipment, ease of access, and customer service methods.

RETAIL MALL & PARK

Awards the one which is the most functional, easily accessible, with a variety of shops of various types, environmentally friendly, customer experience. An important criterion is their role in the development of retail, in attracting investment for the creation of new shops and jobs, as well as the promotion of good practices in the field of Real Estate.

THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WILL SELECT THE WINNERS IN EACH AWARD CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The “SUPPLIERS OF THE YEAR” awards in the categories FOOD & DRINK, NON-FOOD, TECHNOLOGY and APPLIANCES and RADIO/TELEVISION EQUIPMENT are awarded through research processes in collaboration with the Athens University of Economics and Business, Department of Business Administration. Mr. Georgios G. Panigyrakis, Professor of Marketing, is the Scientific Head. To carry out the investigation, a specially designed questionnaire is sent to the Purchasing Managers of chain stores. The questions pertain to the overall quality characteristics that govern to the entire range of customer-supplier cooperation.

The new categories of awards pertain to the brands of suppliers in the following markets:

Food & Drink, Non Food, Technology, Appliance – Radio/Television Equipment.

NEW CATEGORY SUPPLIER’S CSR CAMPAIGN

The 3 best CSR practices are awarded as a recognition of the importance of the role of companies, particularly during the economic crisis that we are experiencing. The aim is to highlight and promote those “best practices” of all suppliers that belong to Trade and Industry, who have already invested in a Corporate Social Responsibility program and campaigns with specific actions and activities.

NEW CATEGORY SUPPLIER’S BRAND CAMPAIGN

Awarding of supplier’s brand campaign on television, radio, in print and on-line advertising, exclusively for the brand(s) they wish to highlight. The 3 best advertising campaigns in the industry are awarded, with a view towards increasing the efficiency and the impressions made on the public over the last year.

NEW CATEGORY SUPPLIER’S BRAND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

As Social Media become more and more both a part of consumers’ everyday lives as well as an invaluable tool for information, promotion and communication for all brands, this category awards the 3 best campaigns that pertain to brands, taking into account the effects and the impressions left on the public over the past year. Nominations may be submitted by suppliers for their brand campaigns on social networks.

NEW CATEGORY OF SUPPLIER’S BRAND BTL ACTIVITY

Awarding of the 3 best strategies and practices in BTL actions, according to the criteria of effectiveness, creativity, ingenuity, innovation, and art design. The importance of these actions is reflected through an increase in sales and Brand awareness for the products promoted.

THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WILL SELECT THE WINNERS IN EACH AWARD CATEGORY

The monthly magazine on Greek and international entrepreneurship

With an extensive tribute to the future of mobility, in Greece and internationally, the fourth edition of the monthly magazine Business News Magazine is in circulation, bearing the signature of businessnews.gr, of the editorial team of Direction Business Network, as well as that of important freelancers. Entitled “The Future of Mobility”, the tribute deals with the new era on the horizon for the auto industry, but also the industry of leasing vehicles, which inter alia includes autonomous vehicles, green and sustainable mobility, new interface technologies and, of course, the various needs for consumers. Through the views of experts in the field, research data, and information from the magazine’s mission to the recent Global Fleet Conference in Rome, Business News Magazine outlines the trends and developments in the field, presenting everything that is expected in a few years.

In addition to the tribute and loyal to its philosophy of showcasing the protagonists of entrepreneurship who make a “difference” and decisively contribute to the Greek economy’s recovery, Business News Magazine features Spyros Poulidas on the cover of its latest issue, President and General Manager of IBM HELLAS. In the interview that he grants, he speaks about how IBM has evolved into one of the companies that is leading the way internationally in developments in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, as well as the dynamic presence it enjoys in our country, contributing to a radical restructuring of business.

In addition, the package also includes other interesting interviews, such as one with Dutch Ambassador Caspar Veldkamp, who refers to the need for more foreign direct investment in our country and, at the same time, the need for improving its competitiveness, an interview with Dimitris Maggioros, Deputy General Manager of Autohellas Hertz and Chairman of STEEAE, who speaks about the Greek car rental market, the flaws in the sector, and what is to come in the future, but also an interview with Leonidas Vrettakos, Executive Director of AB Vassilopoulos, who refers to the course of the chain’s growth as well as to the Greek supermarket market.

Also, the Greek Shipowners appearing on the VesselsValue list are presented, as well as those occupying the top positions in the Top 100 in world shipping for 2017 according to Lloyd’s. Finally, through its pages, the magazine “bids farewell” to the patriarch of the Greek pharmaceutical industry and sports, Pavlos Giannakopoulos.

Five thousand senior executives and leaders of the 1,500 largest businesses in Greece receive the magazine, as well as those who are actively interested in the developments and trends of the modern business world within and outside Greek borders. It includes presentations by companies, sectoral research, exclusive interviews with CEOs, views and reporting as well as retrospectives of historic Greek companies, covering a wide range of domestic and international entrepreneurship.

Guided by the belief that only healthy entrepreneurship can serve as a catalyst for Growth, Business News Magazine represents Direction Business Network’s new undertaking, complementing the latter’s effort to support entrepreneurship in our country with the business portal businessnews.gr, the annual edition of “The Strongest of the Greek Economy” and the “Protagonists of the Greek Economy” awards.

For more information, please contact Direction Business Network, Panagiota Georgiadi, 210 7712400 (223) Georgiadi@direction.gr.

The Awards Ceremony will top off MiXX Awards 2018, an international event which will take place today, Thursday, 12 July, at the Bonboniera Cinema in Kifisia, for the second consecutive year, organised by IAB Hellas in collaboration with Direction Business Network.

The MiXX Awards are a celebration and recognition of the year’s best videos in the Greek digital ecosystem, with the task of evaluation being undertaken, again this year, by an 11-member international jury which, as always, is composed of distinguished and experienced IAB network professionals The Greek market’s most significant digital marketing videos have been evaluated on the basis of international standards of creativity and effectiveness and, based on the Committee’s scoring, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be awarded for the event’s various categories, as well as the Best in Show Award, the highest distinction, which will go to the submission to receive the highest score from among all submissions in every category.

In more detail, the award categories include the following: 1. Brand awareness & Positioning 2. Direct Response & Lead Generation 3. Best Brand / Product Launch 4. Experimental & Innovative Campaign 5. Cross-Media Integration 6. Branded Content & Native Advertising 7. PR Campaigns 8. Mobile Advertising 9. Social 10. Search and 11. Effective Use of Data.

It should be noted that, for the second year in a row, the IAB Ηellas Members’ Awards will again be awarded, presented with great success for the first time at last year’s event. More specifically, a prize will be awarded for each category following a vote, in which every member of IAB Hellas shall participate equally.

For the second consecutive year, the 2nd Amstel Radler Media House Beach Volleyball Tournament was carried out with great success at YABANAKI in Varkiza.

Groups participated from the following companies: 24MEDIA, DIRECTION BUSINESS NETWORK, BOUSSIAS COMMUNICATIONS, PLAN A, U-girl and the joint MSCOMM – Athenian Brewery team.

The event was aimed at supporting the efforts of the Charity “Ergastiri” in its mission of ensuring a decent life for the intellectually disabled.

After rough matches in the hot sand, the Winning Team proved to be DIRECTION BUSINESS NETWORK (consisting of: Marios Papalios, Giorgos Sakellopoulos, Alexandros Karampatsos, Themis Patrinos, and Giorgos Mavromatidis), which beat BOUSSIAS COMMUNICATIONS in a 2-1 set.

We thank the Athenian Brewery for successfully organising the event, and we are already preparing for the next!!

Aegean Airlines is the Enterprise of the Year
More than 550 business executives attended the Awards Ceremony

 

The leading enterprises which have driven the efforts for return to growth and paved the way for a better tomorrow, were honored at the Awards Ceremony for Greek entrepreneurship excellence, “Protagonists of the Greek Economy”, organized for the fourth time by Direction Business Network on Monday June 11, 2018.

Enterprises were awarded for their protagonistic role in the field of real economy with sustained success, demonstrating growth and overcoming challenges within a generally dire business environment. The Ceremony took place at the Banqueting Hall of the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, attended by more than 550 top executives.

The awards bestowed were based on the official financial results of the companies, as reflected in the balance sheets which were collected and analyzed by Direction Business Reports and are included in the publication “The Strongest of the Greek Economy” by Direction Business Network which has just been released.

In particular, initially the Protagonists by Sector were awarded, and they were comprised of the leading companies within important sectors of the Greek economy, based on turnover, profit before tax and cash reserve. In this category, the companies that were distinguished were Amvyx S.A. (Alcohol Beverages – Trade), Iaponiki S.A. (Automobile Spare Parts), Toyota Hellas (Automobile Representatives), B&F Commercial & Garment Group (Clothing Industry), Kri Kri S.A. (Dairy Products), Lamda Development (Shopping Malls for the Company Lamda Olympia Village Α.Ε), Public Power Corporation S.A. (Energy), Athens Brewery (Brewery), Samsung Electronics Hellas (Electric and Electronic Products – Importers & Distributors) Bioiatriki S.A. (Medical Services), Ηousemarket S.A. – IKEA (Household Goods Stores), Pavlides Marbles-Granites (Marbles – Granites), Cavino S.A. (Winery), MEGA Disposables S.A. (Personal Hygiene Products – Τissue), AB Vassilopoulos (Supermarket), Accenture (Business Consultancy), ΑCS Courier (Courier Services) και PEIFASYNPE (Medicine Sector).

Also, Coca-Cola Tria Epsilon, ΟΤΕ S.A. and GR. SARANTIS S.A. were honored for their significant strategies in the area of Growth and Investment, whereas MEGA Dispasables S.A. and Pharmathen were awarded for their distinction in the area of Entrepreneurial export-led development.

The Turnaround Business Awards were presented to the companies Genesis Pharma S.A., DODONI S.A., MEVGAL S.A. and Wind Hellas, for their achievement to recover and grow despite the difficult economic environment.

The Greek Business Champions Awards were bestowed to companies with annual turnover exceeding 10 million Euros and as reflected in the 2016 financial statements, they succeeded in that particular year to simultaneously increase the turnover and profit before tax by over 20%.

Specifically, in this category, the companies which were awarded were: Amvyx S.A., Anastasopoulos Vasileios  S.A., ΑΝΕDIΚ Kritikos S.A., Armos Prokataskeves S.A., ΑΤΕSΕ S.A., Βandai Namco Entertainment Ηellas, Viacar S.A., Gefsinous S.A., DSV Hellas S.A., Elinoil S.A., Hellenic Brewery of Atalanti  S.A., Ernst & Young, FCA Greece S.A., Frezyderm S.A., IFET, Inventor A.G. S.A., Landis + Gyr, Leaseplan Hellas S.A., Manessis Travel S.A., Mavrogenis D. Nippon S.A., Mineral Trade Ltd., Novo Nordisk Hellas Ltd., Novastar Ltd., Nuntius Brokerage and Investment Services S.A., Dromeas S.A., Piraeus Direct Services S.A., Pescanova Hellas Ltd., POTPAN Foodservice S.A., Selonda Aquaculture S.A., Shire Hellas S.A., Toyota Μaterial Handling Greece S.A., Vestas Hellas Wind Energy Technology, Vicko Ilias Triantafyllidis S.A. and West S.A.

The enterprise Petros Petropoulos S.A., active since 1922, was presented the Historic Greek Enterprise Award, and the Excellence Award for European Contribution was presented to Panos Karvounis, who worked 35 years at the European Commission and headed the Greek Delegation during 2010-2017.

Finally, the highlight of the evening, the Enterprise of the Year Award was awarded to Aegean Airlines, resulting from the vote, taking place for the second consecutive year, among 6,500 top executives from the largest Greek companies. The candidates included 20 significant Greek enterprises with a positive performance and dynamic growth strategies, who were nominated following a preselection procedure executed by a special Awards Committee of the organization.

The presenter of the Awards Ceremony was the journalist Mr. Georgios Kouros, and the evening was opened by the publisher and Managing Director of Direction Business Network, Mr. Evangelos Papalios, who stressed that “those who are awarded as well as those who are included in the publication “The Strongest of the Greek Economy” represent the center for growth and optimism, from which the country’s economy will recover.”

It is worth noting that just before Mr. Papalio’s opening speech, a minute of silence was kept for the three very important representatives of Greek entrepreneurship who recently passed away: Stelios Sklaventis, Theodore Vasilakis and Pavlos Giannakopoulos.

The “Protagonists of the Greek Economy 2018” was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy and Development and of SEV – Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and was made possible by our Major Sponsor Piraeus Bank. Sponsors also included Wind, Goodrive Technologies and Mobileye while Supporters were Amvyx (Glenfiddich), ΒΝΙ Greece, Hellenic Wine Cellars, The Design Agency, Zazoo, ImagePro and Future Μodels & Management. The event was also supported by Weber Shandwick (Οfficial Partner), Pressious Arvanitidis (Printing), Polichromo (Digital Printing) and eventora (Voting Platform). Media sponsors included the websites advertising.gr, ΒusinessNews.gr and euro2day.gr, the magazine Business News Magazine and the television channel SBC.