Spark Whanganui recognised in Top Shop awards

INVESTMENT PAY-OFF: Spark Whanganui owner Shane Nottage and retail manager Nika Letufuga with their Retail NZ Top Shop runner-up award for 'investment in people'.

The independently owned and operated Spark Whanganui store has received national recognition in the Retail NZ Top Shop Excellence Awards.

Spark Whanganui was named as runner-up in the 'investment in people' category, which was won by Rotorua's Agrodome, at the awards on Thursday in Auckland.

Shane Nottage, who has owned the Spark franchise for 17 years, said it was great to be recognised by an association that has 6000 members throughout New Zealand, ranging from large corporate retailers to small businesses like his own.

"We are the only Spark business in New Zealand that made the cut and has been recognised in the national awards," Mr Nottage said.

"It is the first time we have been nominated as a finalist and it is great recognition of the work my retail manager Nika Letufuga and I have put in with our team.

"The 'investment in people' award is about the mentoring and tutoring you give your staff for skills they need to work in your business, their interaction with other people and some life skills. It's also looking at what skills or training you can provide and what the staff can go on to in the future. It's about creating a sense of oneness and wellbeing within the team and making staff feel that they contribute and are valued. We also look at development and see where they have potential, which could be either within or outside the business."

Spark Whanganui has a team of 15 staff, with 10 in the retail arm and five on the business side.

Now in their 30th year, the Retail NZ Top Shop Awards celebrate success in the competitive world of retail.