Hawke's Bay jeweller sparkles in national retail awards

The owner of the best shop in New Zealand, Robert Griffiths of Grieve Diamond Jewellers, is celebrating the national Supreme Award for retailers following previous regional success.

Hawke's Bay firms have dominated the nation's top retail awards, with Grieve Diamond Jeweller receiving the national Supreme Award at the Retail NZ Top Shop Awards for retail excellence, with Kilt also receiving accolades.

Retail New Zealand general manager for public affairs Greg Harford said the award recognised outstanding omnichannel outlets for a "fantastic customer experience".

"Grieve Diamond Jeweller was first established in 1934, so has a long history, and Hastings should be proud that one of its longstanding retailers has received a national honour," he said.

Owner Robert Griffiths said the national award was "huge" for the business "and it is huge for Hawke's Bay as well - that little old Hastings can hold off the rest of the country".

He said the Supreme Award encompassed all parts of the business: product, service and online channels.

The business was doing well "but we work very hard at what we do".

With son James he leaves on Monday for a gem-buying trip in Hong Kong.

"It is an international trade fair and there will be about 3500 exhibitors, so there is a huge resource to be tapped."

Buying their own diamonds was a point of difference "and we can provide better quality stones".

"After 30 years we like to think we know what we are doing."

Coming in third for the Supreme Award was Kilt Napier. The women's clothing chain is headquartered in Onekawa and its Napier store also won the Best Large Retailer Award and the Omnichannel Award for Large Retailers. Its New Plymouth store was runner-up in the Large Retail Award, its Dunedin store was runner-up in the Best Large Retailer Award and the Dunedin store was also highly commended for the Customer Experience Award.

Kilt was the 2015 Supreme Award winner of the Westpac Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Grieve Diamond Jeweller aslo won the Small Retailer Omnichannel Award.

Wallace Cotton in Napier won the national Visual Merchandising Award and Beaukayes Florist in Napier was highly commended for the Best Small Retailer Award.

The bi-annual awards were their 30th year and "all about celebrating success in the competitive world of retail", Mr Harford said.

"Across New Zealand, more than 209,000 people are employed across 27,000 retail businesses. Retail is increasingly diverse, and retailers increasingly need to be engaging across physical and online channels, and providing outstanding service, as well as great products and prices to be successful."