Vote for your favourite retailer

Vote for your favourite retailer

19 July 2023

SHOPPERS across the district are being urged to vote for their favourite business in this year’s Retail NI Street Hero Awards.

Nominations can be submitted until the end of the month, with shoppers across Newry, Mourne and Down urged to take part and vote for their favourite online to help them win a coveted award.

A record 10,000 votes from across Northern Ireland were registered in last year’s competition which saw Newtownards and Coleraine named joint winners of the prestigious High Street of the Year award. 

Online voting is officially under way for 13 categories, including two new ones – best green retailer and best generalist retailer – so there’s plenty of chances to ensure retailers in every town and village get recognised in what promises to be the biggest and best annual retail initiative yet.

Winners are determined solely by public nominations which must be made online by Monday 31 July 2023. For more information on how to cast your vote, visit www.RetailNI.com/High-Street-Heroes.

Retail NI chief executive, Glyn Roberts, explained the awards are open to local retailers right across Northern Ireland and will identify those local independent retailers who are taking a lead. 

“Whether it’s a local butcher that’s a cut above the rest or a fashion retailer with exceptional style, it’s time to vote for your top favourites in Newry, Mourne and Down Council area,” he said.

“Independent retail is the lifeblood of communities right across Northern Ireland and our annual High Street Heroes NI campaign represents the biggest celebration of our thriving local retail sector.”

Retail NI, which represents the independent retail and wholesale sector in Northern Ireland, launched the High Street Heroes NI campaign to recognise and reward local retailers and their impact on local communities – 70p in every £1 spent with a local independent retailer is ploughed back into local the economy, supporting local producers, suppliers and staff.

The hugely successful High Street Hero NI Aawards is a joint initiative powered by Retail NI and supported by Camelot, Roam, Strategic Power Connect and Belfast Live. Shortlisted nominees will be announced in early August.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairwoman Valerie Harte is encouraging local people to nominate their favourite businesses across the various categories.

She said: “Our high streets and neighbourhoods define the great places we live in and are vital for doing business, shopping and socialising. 

“An intrinsic part of our life, the towns and villages across our borough contribute not only to jobs and the local economy – they are the very heartbeat of every local community.”

The competition categories include best coffee shop, convenience store, deli/bakery, fashion independent retailer, forecourt, generalist independent retailer, green independent retailer, healthcare independent retailer, high street of the year, best homeware independent retailer, off licence and overall independent retailer.