On Saturday evening, trade in Umeå was celebrated when the Trade Gala was held for the eighth time at Umeå Folkets Hus. Prizes were awarded in the categories of Store of the Year, Grocery Store of the Year, Store Salesperson of the Year, Leader of the Year, Hairdresser of the Year, Sustainable Solution of the Year, Young Star of the Year and New Business Model of the Year.
The New Business Model of the Year Award is a newly established prize and was awarded to a company that has shown the courage to explore new business models to meet future opportunities and create sustainable trade. The award has by eXpression Umeå.
Winners of the prestigious award New business model of the year became Childrenshouse.se, which early on identified the importance of the hospitality industry for and opened a pop-up shop in the Avion mall. Soon they will also open the possibility for Finnish visitors to shop via the online shop.
The reasoning was:
Together with committed employees, business models for the sustainable trade of the future are being explored sensitively, courageous and informed. Behind this year's new business model is also a good understanding of the changing and consumption behaviour and how digital tools can be used to support throughout the customer journey.
It was a happy and very taken duo consisting of Maria Asplund and Noomi Enfält from Childrenshouse.se who were welcomed on stage to receive the award.
To be rewarded for hard, bold and focused work feels absolutely fantastic. And so important! Now we are steering ahead together and at full speed ahead, said Maria Apsplund, Childrenshouse.se
Also on the phone was a noticeably surprised and arrested Simon Norberg, CEO of Childrenshouse.
This is not a step for humanity but a huge step for us! It feels like we have made a moon landing in the last few years, laughs Simon Norberg, Childrenshouse.se
Among all the different award categories of the Retail Gala, there were as many as five companies from the eXpression Future Retail Lab accelerator programme. Annakarin Nyberg, eXpression Future Retail's Business Development Programme Manager, emphasises the importance of the gala for the city and the retail sector.
Participating in the Handelsgalan is important in view of our new accelerator programme eXpression Future Retail Lab, where we have been working together with driven entrepreneurs in the retail sector in Umeå. Among other things, we have sought to create the conditions for skills development and to develop new and existing business models in light of the changes that new customer and consumption behaviours entail. We are extremely pleased with all the nominations and share the joy with all the winners, not least with Simon and his colleagues at Childrenshouse.se, says Annakarin Nyberg.
Already during Friday's breakfast lecture with Anna Ricknell, it was possible to learn about the experiences of the accelerator program eXpression Future Retail Lab where Dr. Annakarin Nyberg and Dr. Elin Nilsson talked about insights into Umeå retail and outlooks towards the research front.
Trade is one of Umeå's most important industries with over 6,000 employees in more than 600 companies. In order to celebrate and these, Handelsgalan Umeå is organised by Umeå Handel, Visit Umeå and Umeå municipality.
The eXpression Future Retail Lab programme is a joint venture with the Swedish Retail Federation via the Swedish Merchants' Association Foundation and is also part-financed by EU structural funds.
