Finalists announced for Inside Retail’s Retailer Awards 2026
Ecosa Finalist in Best Store Design, aswell as 3 other categories, finalist’s announced for Inside Retail’s Retailer Awards 2026
Published in Inside Retail January 14, 2026. Words: Thanh Nha
Inside Retail has announced the finalists for the upcoming Retailer Awards 2026, presented with Shiperoo.
Judges this year include Nick Gray, founder of IGU Global; Rachael Hockaday, MD at Haeday; Colleen Callander, founder of Mentor Me Women; Mareile Osthus from Humii; Eric Morris, co-founder of Albany Advisory; Elizabeth Liddle, chairperson at Aboriginal Retail Australia; and Nishan Wijemanne, CEO of Shiperoo.
Inside Retail Australia’s managing editor, Adam Thorn, Inside Retail Asia’s features and premium editor, Tong Van, and Inside Retail Australia’s features and premium editor, Stephanie Caite Chadwick, also served as judges for the awards.
“As one of the judges, I saw firsthand how high the standard of submissions was,” said Thorn.
“In particular, I was incredibly impressed at the level of innovation, with entrants fully embracing new technologies to both make their processes more efficient and their customer experience more human.
“While the winners will be revealed next month, all of this year’s finalists should be very proud of their achievements.”
Here are this year’s finalists:
Best Store Design
Baby Bunting
Ecosa
Freedom (New Zealand)
Snowscene
Winnings
Customer Service Excellence – In Store
Freedom (New Zealand)
Hart & Co
Petbarn
Snowscene
Weber Stores
Zoe Alexandria
Customer Service Excellence – Online
Decjuba
Delaco Panels
Ecosa
ErgoPouch
Lvly
Miss Amara
Best Customer Service Team
Appliances Online
Lvly
Petbarn
Ecosa
Winnings
Restart the Heart
Best CX Industry Partner
Kepler Analytics (nominated by QBD Books)
Shippit (nominated by Taking Shape)
The General Store (nominated by Baby Bunting)
Watermelon Research (nominated by Greencross)
Outstanding Loyalty
Platypus Shoes
Surf Dive ’n Ski
David Jones
Decjuba
Priceline
Best Online Store
Archie Rose
Freedom
Lvly
Nutrition Warehouse
Petbarn
Best Unified Retail
Freedom
Knobby
Nutrition Warehouse
Petbarn
Priceline
CX Leader
Liz Oh, associate director of digital – global, Frankie4
Nick Croydon, CEO, QBD Books
Patrick LaManna, CEO, LaManna
Sam Wood, CEO and founder, Azura Runway
CX Innovator 2025 (under $250 million)
Decjuba
Ecosa
Hart & Co
QBD Books
Maggie Beer
CX Innovator 2025 ($250 million+)
BCF
Supercheap Auto
Petstock
Priceline
Rebel Sport