in addition to financial aid, BCF will also play an important role in raising awareness of the Coast Guard, encouraging volunteering through their extensive customer network and playing host to local Coast Guard fundraising, education and recruitment events.
COAST GUARD HISTORY
The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard is a national marine rescue organisation run entirely by volunteers. Their volunteers work hard to raise funds to deliver marine rescue and education services right across Australia, from Port Vincent SA to Cape York QLD.
Founded in December 1960, the Coast Guard has 3,600 volunteers across Australia all dedicated to marine safety and helping other boaties when they get into trouble. The four key areas the Coast
Guard focus on are:
• Patrol of local and coastal waters
• Marine Radio Services
• Search and Rescue
• Public Boating Education.
For more information about the Australia Volunteer Coast Guard, their services, flotilla locations and their history visit www.coastguard.com.au/.
Runner up was Myer for its new Melbourne flagship and Sydney's Wedding List Co received an honourable mention.
The Telstra Online Retailer of the Year title was won by Oroton with an honourable mention going to innovative online shoe retailer Shoes of Prey.
Supercheap Auto won the Advertising/Marketing Campaign of the Year for its Bathurst 1000 promotion last year.
"At the end of the day, Supercheap Auto's campaign was 100 per cent aligned to its core market and was supported by sales results. Job well done," said the judges.
Runner up was Shoes of Prey.
Sarah Taylor, senior director of Oracle Retail, said in challenging times for the Australian retail market it becomes even more important to acknowledge the achievements of successful retail organisations and individuals who strive for excellence and spearhead innovation, creativity and value to their customers.
"We hope the innovation and creativity that has been seen in tonight's winners and finalists will encourage you to enter next year," she said in a message to the dinner guests.
The awards were held in conjunction with the Retail World conference in Sydney this week. The judging panel of 13 retail leaders was headed by Myer CEO Bernie Brookes and included IdeaWorks CEO Jon Bird, Red Communication CEO Peter James Ryan, Luxottica CEO Chris Beer, The Warehouse CEO Ian Morrice and Inside Retail head of content Robert Stockdill. Judges excluded themselves from voting or commenting on any entry they were personally associated with.
Source: http://basil/NewsDisplay.aspx?news=133
BCF signs national sponsorship agreement
BCF is pleased to announce a national partnership with the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard.
From 19 June 2011, BCF stores nationally will begin raising money for the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard through a ‘roundup’ function where customers can simply ‘roundup’ the value of their transactions to the dollar value they nominate. All proceeds will be donated to the Coast Guard at the end of the year.
By shopping at BCF and using the ‘roundup’ function, every customer can show appreciation for the work of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and know that, regardless of how big or small the donation, it will make a great difference.
Supercheap Auto takes top retail award - 28/06/2011
Super Retail Group's Supercheap Auto was named Australia's Oracle Retailer of the Year - Large at a gala dinner in Sydney last night.
It edged out fashion and accessories chain Oroton in one of the closest-fought categories in the inaugural awards. The revitalised Salvos store chain received an honourable mention.
"On every level, Supercheap Auto is a 10", the judges concluded, paying tribute to the retailer's strength in a challenging retail environment, its sales growth and all round performance.
Super Retail Group CEO Peter Birtles credited the chain's culture in a brief acceptance speech. "Other retailers can copy our products, other retailers can copy our stores, but our culture is something no one else can copy."
Drakes Supermarkets, with 48 supermarkets across South Australia and Queensland trading under the IGA banner, was named Visa Retailer of the Year - Medium.
"Drake's is an inspirational example of how to grow a successful business when confronted by not one but two Goliaths," the judges commented.
The Visa Retailer of the Year - Small honour went to silver jewellery chain Magnolia which tripled its turnover and doubled its store network in the last 12 months. An honourable mention was made of Sydney Street Casual of SA.
The Inside Retail Store Design of the Year award was won by Luxottica for its Eye Hub store in Melbourne.
"The Luxottica store is a world class store concept that breaks new ground for this category," concluded the judges.