The Boutique Star Awards will return for its fifth year in 2025 with several new categories added for retailers and their suppliers. Among this year’s additions for boutiques include Manager of the Year, Online Shop of the Year and Loyalty Programme of the Year. Meanwhile, suppliers will be able to enter new categories such as Womenswear Brand of the Year, Family Founded Brand of the Year and Emerging Label. There will also be a special award for Favourite Supplier voted by Boutique magazine readers.
Entries will open online at the end of March where retailers and suppliers will be invited to answer questions about their business, ethos and strategy. Submissions will be deliberated by a judging panel of impartial industry experts and the shortlist will be announced in August.
This year’s winners’ party will take place in Central London on Thursday 13 November with the venue to be confirmed.
Entering the competition is free and business owners can put themselves forward for as many categories as they’re eligible for until the entry deadline. Industry insiders are also invited to nominate inspiring colleagues and peers for recognition across all categories.
Boutique magazine owner Julie Neill says this year’s awards will be an important celebration of the independent retail industry: “We all know that times are tough for a lot of retail and wholesale businesses, so awards that recognise the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes are absolutely crucial. We have added some extra categories this year so we can celebrate even more independents and suppliers that are leading the way and going the extra mile for their customers. We hope you’ll put your business forward for an award and join us to raise a glass to this amazing, resilient sector in November.”
First launched in 2019, the Boutique Star Awards celebrates the industry’s best independent retailers, agents and brands. The competition is open to all fashion and lifestyle indies across the country operating bricks-and-mortar businesses as well as brands and individuals working in the industry. It is the only competition of its kind in the UK and highlights the triumphs of fashion indies while giving recognition for their hard work and achievements.
Last year’s event was held at The May Fair Hotel in London and winners included Velvet for Fashion Independent of the Year, Artichoke for Social Media Strategy of the Year and Chalk for British Brand of the Year.