Pet retailers are now being urged to enter the second PetQuip Awards which will take place later this year at PATS Harrogate. There are seven categories, including Retailer of the Year, which was won by Not Just Pets in Bath (Independent) and Just For Pets (Group) in 2013.
Organiser Pat Flynn, PetQuip’s association manager, commented: “These awards for the pet industry are aimed at bringing together suppliers and retailers in the UK and overseas markets. They were held for the first time in 2013 and we were overwhelmed by the number of entries and the positive feedback we received; and the winners were thrilled at the wide publicity generated for their organisations both in the UK and overseas”.
The 2014 awards are now open for entries in all seven categories, which are:
1) UK Pet Retailer of the Year
2) International Retailer of the Year
3) Supplier of the Year
4) Wholesaler of the Year
5) Pet Product Innovation of the Year
6) Pet Product Exporter of the Year
7) Lifetime Achievement Award
Entry for the awards is completely free of charge and companies or persons can enter as many categories as they wish. Nominations need to be emailed to pat@petquip.com by 30th June 2014. Nominations can come directly from the entrant or be submitted by another party. The application needs to provide full contact details of the entrant and stipulate which category they wish to enter. Applications need to include brief information on the reason for the entry and why the particular product, company or person qualifies for an award. On receipt of an entry, PetQuip will forward a simple form for the entrant to complete that will provide entry information for the judges. The form will be accompanied by the Terms and Conditions.
The entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges during August and the winners will be announced at the PetQuip Awards Party on 14 September 2014, which is being staged in association with Impact Exhibitions, the organiser of PATS Harrogate.
Pat Flynn commented: ‘”PATS has proved to be a fantastic trade show for the industry, and our awards are intended to recognise some of the major achievements of the past season, whilst also bring an element of fun to the event. We have been fortunate to recruit The Rockits, the resident band from the Cavern Club in Liverpool, to provide the entertainment at the event, which is being held in the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. The Rockits are a fantastic group, and their performance at a recent industry event resulted in eight encores!”
Further information on these prestigious awards, details of how to enter and the booking form to secure Early Bird Discount tickets for the awards and party night are available from Pat Flynn on telephone (+44) 07778 313623 or e-mail: pat@petquip.com; or from the PetQuip secretariat on 01959 565995 or e-mail: info@petquip.com
Companies wishing to explore the commercial and publicity opportunities available in sponsoring an award should contact Pat Flynn.
Pictured: Jo Lapidge of Litter Kwitter receives the Exporter of the Year gold award from Amanda Sizer Barrett, PetQuip’s director general at last year’s awards.
