Oracle Retail Week awards

The Oracle Retail Week Awards saw the UK's top retailers come together to celebrate the very best of the retail and fashion industry over the last year at The Grosvenor Hotel on Friday. The judging panel included some of the most prestigious

names in the retail industry such as Andy Clarke - Chief Executive of ASDA Group; Mark Newton Jones - CEO of Shop Direct Group; Richard Pennycook - the finance director at Morrisons; Rob Templeman - Chief Executive of Debenhams; and Stephen Sunnucks - the president of Gap Europe. These are retail veterans who have each helped to shape the British High Street over the last decade.

Highlights of the event included honouring Sir Stuart Rose and Sir Terry Leahy for their contributions to the retail industry. Both have set the standards in retailing over the last twenty years, demonstrating that there is always a need for innovation even in larger businesses, and that a business has to adapt quickly to new technology to stay competitive.

John Lewis Partnership took home the prestigious The Oracle Retailer of the Year award for their overall dedication to excellent retailing practices. The business was also named the American Express Marketing/Advertising Campaign of the Year award for their memorable 'Never Knowingly Undersold' advert series, which included a very successful viral video and radio campaign with Fyfe Dangerfield's cover of Billy Joel's 'She's Always a Woman' used for the adverts.

Store Design of the Year was awarded to Topshop for its flagship Oxford Street store in London, which combines boutique concession-style stalls with high fashion displays and exclusive collections from leading designers. The store even has its own hairdressers and food hall, making it a truly all-inclusive fashion retail experience and a global landmark for any self-respecting international fashion shopper.

Image: John Lewis wins best ad campaign