Online Retailer Conference & Expo logo
24 - 25 July 2024
ICC Sydney

Congratulations to our Winners for 2019!

We're thrilled to announce the winners for the Australia Post Online Retail Industry Awards (ORIAS), which reward outstanding effort across the entire industry... click the headings below to reveal the winners for each category!

BEST PUREPLAY RETAILER

2019 Winner: Showpo

Finalists:

  • Booktopia
  • Temple & Webster
  • Appliances Online
  • The Iconic
  • Catch

Category description:
This category was open to new and established online-only retailers who demonstrate best practice in merchandising, service, functionality and customer experience. Judging will be based not on overall size but on efficiency, ingenuity, dedication to customer experience and proven business success.

Definition of a Pureplay Online Retailer: Nominations for this category will only be accepted from businesses that have originated online and with no more than one physical store / showroom.

Category sponsored by:

BEST SMALL INDEPENDENT RETAILER
(2-10 Employees, up to $10million annual revenue)

2019 Winner: Scratch

Finalists:

  • Ettitude
  • Snuggle Hunny Kids
  • Scratch
  • Arlo & Co
  • Miss Amara
  • She wear

Category description:

This category recognises the achievements of small ecommerce exemplars who have demonstrated best practice in ecommerce, innovation and growth, with an effective business strategy. Nominations for this category were only accepted from independent businesses with between 2 to 10 employees, and annual revenues up to $10 million. Businesses that form a subsidiary of a larger group of businesses with employee numbers or revenues in excess of those outlined above were not considered.

Category sponsored by:

BEST MULTICHANNEL RETAILER  

2019 Winner: Cue Clothing

 Finalists:

  • Cotton On
  • Supercheap Auto
  • Woolworths
  • Platypus Shoes
  • Forever New

Description:
Multichannel was open to retailers demonstrating best practice in integrating traditional bricks and mortar retail with digital retail in an innovative, effective way to grow the overall retail business. Judging is based on the brand’s ability to successfully integrate both its offline and online touch points to maximise the multichannel customer experience. Judging considerations will focus on the offline, online, mobile and combined overall retail experience on offer, including strength of cross-channel functionality. Entries were welcomed from former pureplay online retailers which have augmented their offer via multiple physical points of presence (eg more than a single showroom / flagship store) as part of their strategy.

Category sponsored by:

BEST IN-STORE INITIATIVE

Winner: Ultra Football

Finalists:

  • The Pop Up Collective
  • Little Designer Club
  • Showpo
  • City Beach Australia

Description:
Addressing the consumer demand of merging online and offline, this category is designed for fantastic examples of in-store technologies and integrations with digital that will add value for the customer and serve a great business need. This category is recognising innovation in physical stores, including pop-up or other live experiences and retail concepts.

Category sponsored by:

BEST ONLINE RETAIL MARKETING

2019 Winner: The Iconic

Finalists:

  • Lush Cosmetics
  • Tinyme
  • Showpo
  • Naked Wines Australia
  • Moments Condoms

Category description:
This category celebrates the most imaginative initiatives in the online retail space, whether that is in site design, usability, customer experience, service, fulfilment or any other area of the retail discipline. What we were looking for was something original, exciting and practical. These finalists were able to prove demonstrably how innovation has led to tangible, positive results.

Category sponsored by:

TECHNOLOGY CHAMPION

2019 Winner: Showpo

Finalists:

  • Appliances Online
  • Adore Beauty
  • Cotton On
  • Catch
  • Booktopia

Category description:
This award is for the best overall, multi-channel site design and integration from an aesthetic, usability and technology perspective, with specific focus on conversion optimisation features to improve shopability and the path to purchase. This category includes mobile friendly use and/or smartphone application.

Category sponsored by:

BEST SOCIAL COMMERCE INITIATIVE

2019 Winner: Tinyme

Congratulations to our 2019 Finalists:

  • Showpo
  • Meshki
  • ECO. Modern Essentials
  • St. Frock
  • Designerex

Category description:

Social media is the rocket fuel that boosts retailers' engagement with their customers, and this category will award the retailer that makes an art form out of building community engagement through any and all social channels. The award recognises the most innovative and effective social commerce initiatives - those in which the retailer leverages social networks for brand building, customer service and a sales channel, while also tying social media to the online and physical store experiences.

Category sponsored by:

CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE

2019 Winner: Brava Lingerie

Finalists:

  • Showpo
  • Birdsnest
  • Naked Wines Australia
  • ECO. Modern Essentials
  • Appliances Online

Category description:

This category rewards retailers who focus on excellence in customer service across every touchpoint - serving to add value and create an experience that instils trust in the brand. This award recognises those retailers who know that you are only as good as your last communication, your last action and your last mile.

Category sponsored by:

INTERNATIONAL CONQUERER

2019 Winner: Ettitude

Congratulations to our 2019 Finalists:

  • Showpo
  • Lovehoney
  • MESHKI
  • Jurlique
  • Tinyme

Category description:

Which retailers are taking the world by storm? This award is for Australian-based retailers who are making inroads into international markets. Judges looked for entries that demonstrated they have found overseas markets, adapted to the global marketplace, managed international shipping and logistics effectively, and built a substantial following in regions outside Australia. They also looked for innovation in how overseas presence and / or market penetration has been delivered and sustained.

Category sponsored by:

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

Winner: Wayne Baskin (Booktopia)

Congratulations to our 2019 Finalists:

  • Jason Kencevski (Speedmaster)
  • Kristy Chong (Modibodi)
  • Natalie Wakeling (Embody Women)
  • Dean Jones & Audrey Khaing-Jones (GlamCorner)
  • Shane Lenton (CUE Clothing)

Category description:
This is a special award, nominated for free by the public, for the individual who has made the most outstanding contribution to the retail ecommerce industry in Australia - including/not limited to:

  • Changed and/or significantly impacted the Australian online retail industry.
  • Shown leadership to the benefit of the broader Australian online retail industry. Examples of leadership might include:
    a) lobbied the government,
    b) created exemplary tools/technologies that have enhanced the online retail experience
    c) contributed to leading strategy thinking  or analysis of the industry,
    d)created connections between individuals and organisations for mutual benefit.
  • Set an example, promoted education and knowledge of online retail within the industry and/or mentored newcomers.
  • Made a meaningful and significant contribution to the health of online retail that may not be visible to the broader industry.

Category sponsored by:

HALL OF FAME

2019 Inductee: Showpo

In 2016, the Australia Post ORIAS Hall of Fame was introduced, an invitation-only honour bestowed upon those who have delivered sustained excellence and contributed over the life of the awards. The current Hall of Fame Inductees include: Shoes of Prey, Appliances Online and Dan Murphy’s. Once again in 2019, the judging panel debated and nominated several inductees, with each brand inducted into the Hall of Fame earning permanent status as a member.

This category is invitation-only via the Australia Post ORIAS judging panel, external submissions are not required or accepted. Once a retailer has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, it will no longer be eligible to enter a nomination for a category in future ORIAS. Hall of Fame inductees will however be offered the opportunity to provide a short update on their continued evolution, innovation and progress as an exemplar of excellence.

Category sponsored by:

ONLINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Winner: Tinyme

The Best of the Best - the recipient of this award was selected from the above categories as being the best of the best in Australian online retailing in 2019. Note that you do not enter this category, eligibility is based on your performance in one or more of the preceding categories.

Category sponsored by:

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD (SMALL RETAILER)

2019 Winner: Riff Raff & Co Sleep Toys

Finalists:

  • Dessertboxes.com.au
  • Arlo & Co
  • Seed & Sprout
  • The Macro Mike

Category description:

No matter their size, every business deserves to be recognised for their incredible online shopping experiences. That’s why we introduced a further award category in the Australia Post ORIAS People’s Choice Award in 2016 to celebrate the giants of small business retail. Koh took out top honours in this category last year ... who will take home the People’s Choice Award for Small Retailers this year?

 

Category sponsored by:

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD (LARGE RETAILER)

2019 Winner: Kogan.com

Finalists:

  • Koh
  • Pillow Talk
  • Meshki
  • The Iconic
  • Naked Wines Australia
  • GlamCorner
Category description:
The coveted People’s Choice Award is voted by the people whose opinion matters most – your customers.  

Category sponsored by: