By Chris Nicholls

SYDNEY: New South Wales’ and the Australian Capital Territory’s five best retailers have been announced today, as the race towards the Electrical Retailer Awards speeds on towards the final April 4 announcement.

Harvey Norman’s Auburn, Fyshwick and Warrawong stores all made it through to the top five, while The Good Guys were represented by the Prospect and Castle Hill stores.

Commenting on the nomination, The Good Guys Prospect proprietor Karl Holdsworth said the nomination was unexpected.

“There’s a lot of shops out there, and we’ve just gone through a total rebuild, I guess that I had a chance after ten years of trading in the original format store to get a shop that I feel is going to take us into the next ten years and I’m happy that we’ve done that. And I’m also happy to be recognised by suppliers, because it’s one thing for me to think that I’ve got a good shop, but for that to be backed up by suppliers is very good.”

He said the re-build had had the most effect on their technology section, with several times more space allocated to it compared to before the re-build. Much of the shift in priorities was designed to combat the growing connectivity trend, said Holdsworth.

“The biggest change I suppose that we’re going to see will be the interaction between IT and entertainment. Probably slightly larger than a third of my shop now blends in and runs in, so my tech zone runs in to DVD hardware, DVD recorders, which runs into TV, so it’s more adaptable to connectivity and the trends we’re going to see in the next five to six years.”

Holdsworth said he also set up a working air-conditioner display for the first time, as well as a working coffee machine area.

The nomination for Harvey Norman Warrawong this year follows up their win in the category last year.

“We won last year in New South Wales, so I thought I got my stint and that was it! So I was happy with that, and I wasn’t expecting to be in the finals this year, so yeah, it’s quite exciting,” said Warrawong principal Steve Attard. 

The ERAs will be held at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney on Friday 4 April 2008. To book tickets email Ana Melo e Azevedo at ana@intermedia.com.au or phone (02) 9660 2113.