The Rewards of Awards

As a company we have always been somewhat media shy, we always seemed to be far too busy to be entering awards, filling out application forms or being interviewed by all and sundry about how well we may have done in the past. I like to think we are a very forward thinking company and as for me, patting myself on the back has never been my style. All that being said, I am starting to change my mind.

Our first external recognition as a company was last year in The Sunday Times Fast track awards and although the thought of hanging out with Richard Branson and the other 99 fastest growing businesses in the country brought me out in a cold sweat (I don't know much about golf or the property market), everyone in the office seemed to be really excited. The uplift in morale in the company from being featured was surprising, there was a genuine excitement among everyone here.

Last week I was very pleased to pick up the company's second award, the Barclays Commercial & EDP Business of the year award for 2009. This award, which was kept under very close wraps until the end of the business awards dinner, was a great surprise and a huge boost to the company. Spaces were limited but I was shocked to receive celebratory texts from lots of the team well into the early hours of Saturday morning who had heard through the grapevine that we had won.

It was great for everyone here to get the recognition they deserve for their hard work, in what has been a very difficult year, and it is also brilliant to see the enthusiasm for the success of the business is so engrained in the whole team.

So back to the original question - does it pay to enter awards? Well I think it pays in bounds. The team are walking with their heads a little higher and everyone seems to be more focused and determined than ever. We are getting some positive press in the media, which can only ever be good. And finally I hope that the recognition helps you, as our customer, realise that we genuinely do want to be the best online furniture retailer and we aim to leave you delighted with your experience of dealing with us.

Will we be entering anymore? Well, in all honesty I am leaving that up to the team. There has been some talk from different departments about going for individual awards/recognition and I will be sure to keep you posted as to their progress.