By Craig Zammit & Sarah Falson
SYDNEY: The five finalists in the small appliances category for the 2007 Electrical Retailing Awards (ERAs) have been officially announced, building excitement in the lead-up to the awards-night’s second consecutive year.
Breville, De’Longhi, George Foreman, Kambrook and Sunbeam will battle it out for the top prize on Friday 13 April at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney.
Held last year for the first time, the ERAs is the only dedicated awards night that rewards companies for market-leadership in generating both unit volume and dollar value within the Australia electrical retailing industry, and is run by Appliance Retailer magazine and Current.com.au in conjunction with GfK Australia.
The winning manufacturer will be a market leader in design and innovation, profitability and margin, promotional and advertising support, with sales representation and service backup supporting it.
With the small appliances market growing by 3.5 per cent all up in the 2006 fiscal year compared with the corresponding period in 2005, with the espresso machine-market growing a large 19.9 per cent and the food steamer category surging a major 507.3 per cent, the small appliances award will be an important feather in the winning supplier’s cap.
Four major ERAs will also be presented for the Best Product, rewarding excellence in product manufacturing.
The winning product and company in both these categories will be judged by a panel of electrical retailers who have had extensive contact with the company.