Monks Cross Shopping Park is delighted to be given the opportunity once again to sponsor this important category in the Evening Press Business Awards.

Last year saw the "birth" of this new but highly overdue category of Retailer of the Year. We felt that our sponsorship was extremely worthwhile in order to showcase and encourage the huge diversity of retail offerings throughout the region.

We were overwhelmed with the response to the initiation of this category last year.

Entries came in from such strong retailers as The Japanese Shop, Overland Underwater, Ainstys Farm Shop and many others. The overall winner (which was extremely difficult to choose) was the well-established Browns department store.

This year we are hoping for a similar response from retailers throughout the circulation area of the Evening Press and look forward to the same diverse entries from the region. As with last year, the judges of this category will be looking at the business concept, general business operation and marketing, including how the customer base is researched and catered for.

Diversity of the offer is an important element together with how business plan objectives are met. Of course, customer care will figure high on the list. Last year, the three finalists demonstrated wide-ranging customer care initiatives which linked strongly with strategies set in place for nurturing of colleagues in order to meet their objectives.

York, along with North and East Yorkshire, is thriving and continuing to evolve positively. At Monks Cross Shopping Park, we feel that rewarding those businesses which play an integral role in the success of the region is vital.

By ensuring our high standards of retailing are kept to the fore, we will maintain continued growth and prosperity. Go on... you can do it! Complete your Retailer of the Year entry and make your contribution count.

Updated: 09:54 Tuesday, June 01, 2004