The Shaftesbury charity shop, Mind Carnaby, has become the first of its kind to be named ‘Best New Store’ in the coveted Retail Week Awards, where it was celebrated for its commitment to both the planet and the country’s mental health emergency.
Celebrated for its in-store innovation and creativity in the design of the store, the charity shop impressed the Retail Week Awards judges with its carefully curated collection of pre-loved vintage designer stock donated by local communities as well as corporate partners.
“Although other charities have launched boutique formats, the judges loved the welcoming space where mental health is at its very heart, while also achieving great commercial results,” said Charlotte Hardie, editor in chief at Retail Week.
Britain’s best retailers and their staff were celebrated at a glamourous Retail Week Awards event held last week at London’s Intercontinental Hotel O2.
Attended by the biggest players in the UK’s retail sector, the evening witnessed a series of awards go to the likes of Aldi – crowned grocer of the year – and Primark who scooped two awards: Attentive Fashion Retailer of the Year and AlixPartners Best Retailer over £250m for its efforts to make its 192 stores and clothing more sustainable and for its menopause-friendly initiatives.
Primark’s ten-year sustainability strategy includes reducing fashion waste, paying workers in its supply chain a living wage, and halving carbon emissions. Last year, Primark began selling second-hand clothes in a partnership with the Vintage Wholesale Company.
It also launched a clothing range for people going through the menopause.
Retail Week’s Charlotte, added: “Primark is clearly focused on proving to its customers that it cares about the things that matter to them. While fast fashion and sustainability don’t go hand-hand, it’s impressive new initiatives and commitments underline Primark’s willingness to become a more ethical and sustainable business.”
Sustainable development, in fact, peppered the course of the evening’s awards that witnessed Currys take home the SAS Customer Experience Gamechanger award for its RepairLive platform, a two-way video repair service to provides customers repair support from the comfort of their own homes, and Pets at Home names the Salesforce Responsible Retailer award winner for its commitment to becoming the most responsible pet care business in the world.
Pets at Home has recently introduced a raft of measures including diverting 98% of waste from landfill and donating money and staff volunteering hours to good causes.
Elsewhere, The Body Shop’s inclusive hiring lead Antonia Tony-Fadipe won the Ayden Inclusion and Diversity Hero award for hiring 75% new staff from marginalised communities in 2022 – up from 12% in 2021.
