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Best Small Shops Competition Terms and Conditions

Last updated: 29th June 2020.

1. WHO WE ARE

The Best Small Shops competition (Competition) is operated by The Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC) and administrated by Indie Retail, a division of C 2 Zero Ltd (we, us or our). We are a limited company registered in England Wales whose registered office is 2nd Floor, Hygeia House, 66 College Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 1BE. Our company registration number is 5121702 and our VAT registration number is 839636580.

You may contact us by emailing info@indieretail.uk or writing to us at Indie Retail, PO Box 5110, Hove BN52 9EB.

2. ELIGIBILTY

  1. The Competition is only open to staff members of relevant organisations that meet the criteria set out in clause 2b. The person who enters the Competition must be at least 18 years of age.
  2. The Competition is open to any independent retailer i.e. a non-corporate business selling goods or services to the public for use or consumption rather than for resale, from a business rated, bricks and mortar premises in the UK, Northern Ireland, Jersey and the Channel Islands. If you think your organisation should still qualify but it is not incorporated in this clause, please email us at info@indieretail.uk.
  3. Each Competition entry is for one retail outlet only e.g. not a chain of outlets. Only one entry is allowed per business.

3. COMPETITION ENTRY

  1. To enter the Competition visit https://www.indieretail.uk/best-small-shops/competition. Entries which are not made through the online submission system will not be accepted.
  2. Shops can enter the Competition between 00:01 on 4th July 2020 and 17:00 on 11th September 2020. Entries received after the final closing date (17:00 on 11th September 2020) will not be accepted.
  3. By submitting an entry into this Competition, entrants confirm that they hold or have obtained the authority and permission to make the entry, upload any evidence in support of their entry and that they are not infringing on the rights of any third party by making an entry.
  4. Entries may be withdrawn at any point up to 17:00 on 11th September 2020 upon written request to info@indieretail.uk.

4. THE AWARDS

  1. 1 x Overall winner
  2. 2 x Overall runners up
  3. 2 x Winner: Most innovative business during COVID-19

5. AWARD SELECTION

All valid entries (subject to moderation, see clause 7) will be reviewed by a team of assessors based on the original entry submitted. Then, the judging panel will assess the best entrants and apply their own independent score per outlet based upon the criteria detailed in clause 6.

Once the judges are confirmed their identities will be published online on https://www.indieretail.uk.

There is only one award per business. The Winner and Runners Up awards will be allocated first, then the remaining awards.

  1. Winner and b. 2 x Runners Up
    1. The judges independent scores are aggregated providing total scores for each shop against the criteria detailed in clause 6, providing a ranked order of Best Small Shops.
    2. The final shortlist invited to the reception awards are the top 30 ranked Best Small Shops.
    3. The Winner is the top ranked shop and the two Runners Up are the second and third ranked shops.
  2. 2 X Winner: Most innovative business during COVID-19
    1. The judges independent scores are aggregated providing total scores for each shop against the ‘Most innovative business during COVID-19' criteria detailed in clause 6.
    2. The winner of this award is the top ranked shop in the ‘Most innovative business during COVID-19' category.

6. AWARD CRITERIA

  1. The judges will be looking for evidence of the following:

    What makes them the Best Small Shop?

    1. Good levels of customer experience in their shop
    2. Initiatives that reward customers
    3. Width of choice of products and/or services
    4. Convenience for shoppers
    5. Charitable programmes
    6. Initiatives in place to protect or improve the local environment e.g. reducing pollution, recycling, reducing plastic use, protecting wildlife
    7. Embracing new digital technology
    8. Marketing and PR outreach, this could include links to social media and external websites.

    The local community

    1. Supporting or promoting other small local businesses in their area
    2. Improving the overall customer experience in their community
    3. Initiatives that help to drive footfall in their local area
    4. Adopting technology that has been developed for their local retail community
    5. Actively engaging with their community with events or unique experiences
    6. Providing a place for people to interact and connect.

    Tell us about your plans for the next five years

    1. Plans in place to help enhance their local area
    2. Plans in place to use digital technology to boost retail performance, footfall and connectivity
    3. Plans to evolve to meet the future needs of their local community and customers
    4. Plans for future growth or diversification

    What makes them the most innovative business during COVID-19

    1. Specific innovation to combat the impact of COVID-19
    2. Safety of staff and customers was maintained
    3. How the business diversified to maintain trading
    4. If the shop was forced to close what strategies were adopted to continue trading
    5. Plans put in place to retain communications with the local community
    6. Initiatives to reach a new customer base

  2. Judges will also take into consideration the total number of consumer nominations as well as the quality of the links and images provided.
  3. The judges are allowed complete discretion in determining the final shortlist and the final award winners.
  4. The judges' decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into before or after the judging, unfortunately it is not possible to provide feedback to unsuccessful entrants.

7. MODERATION

Entries will be disqualified if, in our reasonable opinion:

  1. contain any content that is considered likely to be offensive or could reflect negatively the name, reputation, or goodwill of Us or any brand partner;
  2. include trademarks, logos, or copyrighted material not owned by you or used without the right holder's prior written permission;
  3. defames, misrepresents, or insults other people or companies, including, but not limited to the Indie Retail (including its partners);
  4. promotes political party or affiliation;
  5. does not meet the relevant criteria.

8. WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

The winners in each category will be announced in a series of pre-recorded videos on social channels; no details will be disclosed before that time.

The videos will be made live towards the end of November, date tbc. 

9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

By entering the Competition, entrants give their permission for their entries to be used by Us for promotional purposes from the date of entry. Entrants can request such information not be used by emailing info@indieretail.uk.

10. EVENTS OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL

We will not be liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of our obligations that is caused by any act or event beyond our reasonable control.

11. DATA PROTECTION

Personal data will be held in accordance with all relevant data protection legislation currently in force. To view our privacy policy visit: https://www.indieretail.uk/general-pages/privacy-and-cookies/.

12. OTHER IMPORTANT TERMS

Notwithstanding any other clause in these Terms and Conditions, The IRC and C 2 Zero Ltd and any of its subsidiaries are not liable for anything arising out of the running and administration of this Competition.

By entering this Competition, entrants agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

13. GOVERNING LAW

Our terms, their subject matter and their formation (and any non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by English law. You and we agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.