Northallerton furnishing and lifestyle store, Barkers Home, has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards. The family-run business on Yafforth Road has been named among the UK’s best retailers for its display for products for the kitchen, table and home, after reaching the finals of the Excellence in Housewares Awards 2016.
The Excellence in Housewares Awards, now in its 17th year, recognise and reward the UK’s top housewares retailers. Barkers Home has been shortlisted in two categories – Excellence in Retail Display and Best Independent Department Store. The winners will be announced on 5th October at an awards ceremony in London.
The double shortlisting comes only six months after Barkers Home underwent a major £3.5m redevelopment – the biggest investment by Barkers, which also has the eponymous department store on Northallerton High Street.
Barkers Home was expanded by 20,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet – almost an acre-and-a-half - to create a section for contemporary furniture, gifts, bigger linens department, new cook, wine and dine section, while there was also a revamp of the first-floor bedroom furniture and soft furnishings section.
The store has introduced new brands in contemporary furniture, linens, gifts and cookware, including Cath Kidston, Ted Baker, Poole Pottery, Joules, the Mary Berry collection, Jamie Oliver bakeware, Fama, Stressless and Collins and Hayes.
Julie Poynton, Homewares buyer for the Cook, Wine and Dine section, says: “To be shortlisted for the awards after such a short time of the department opening is wonderful news. The Cook, Wine and Dine department was a brand new section in the Barkers Home so it’s a marvellous achievement to gain this recognition in the first six months. Everyone at the store has worked very hard to hopefully create both an enjoyable shopping experience and a unique lifestyle store that Northallerton can be very proud of.”
Barkers Home employs 60 staff, after the expansion created an extra 15 full and part-time jobs.
It is not the first time the new-look store has been shortlisted for major awards. Only recently, Barkers finished third in the Association of Independent Stores Awards – a national award voted for by suppliers on how Barkers operates behind the scenes and in store, including the way it buys and selects items, sends out orders, displays goods and the skill and knowledge of sales staff.
Following the redevelopment in March, Barkers won in the commercial building category at the North and East Yorkshire Building Excellence Awards.
Barkers Home director Ian Barker says: “The whole redevelopment has transformed Barkers Home into a modern, vibrant store. We are delighted to have been recognised as an outstanding store. It is a testament to the hard work of all our staff.
“Being shortlisted in two categories at the Excellence in Housewares Awards caps a remarkable year for us.”
The Excellence in Housewares Awards are organised by Progressive Housewares magazine, in conjunction with the Cookshop and Housewares Association. The Awards recognise and reward the UK’s top housewares retailers, as well as the best new housewares products.
Jo Howard, editor of Progressive Housewares magazine, says: “The Excellence in Housewares Awards are widely recognised as the ‘Oscars’ for the housewares industry. There was an unprecedented level of competition this year, and the high calibre of all of our finalists goes to show how retailers are upping the game to provide service and customer experience.”
