We want Recorder readers to decide who deserves to be crowned the winner of the Retailer of the Year category at the Havering Business Awards 2014.

The nominees for this year’s Havering Retailer of the Year competition have been unveiled.

Now it’s down to you to decide who you think deserves to be crowned the winner of the category at the Havering Business Awards 2014.

For the first time, the victor of the accolade – sponsored by the Recorder – will be chosen by the public vote.

The deadline for entries is Wednesday July 9.

This year’s candidates are:

CRAFTY ARTS

www.craftyarts.co.uk

Tel: 020 7993 5479

Crafty Arts have been trading since 1991 as an art and craft shop.

The very first shop was in Ardleigh Green, we were given the opportunity to have a stall in Lakeside and over the years we found that the need for hobby products was growing.

A few years later we opened a shop on Brentwood High Street, the shop began to do really well, so we decided to expand.

Bluewater Shopping Centre was opening so we took the opportunity to open there and for many years this combination worked really well.

Eight years ago the online side of the business started above the Brentwood shop, this expanded and grew just like the internet and over time we had to find a larger premises; we then moved to a warehouse in Romford.

Two years after we had moved we continued to expand by leasing the warehouse next door and in April 2014 we purchased our first property.

Our core product range has expanded over the years.

We see ourselves as a hobbyist shop, where we sell Art and Craft Materials for adults and children alike, over the years we expanded our range and branched over to puzzles, toys, garden etc.

DOGGIE DELIGHTS

www.doggiedelightz.co.uk

9 Camborne venue, Harold Hill

Tel: 01708 375152

Doggie Delights in a one stop retail shop and pet groomers combines in Harold Hill.

We offer a huge range of products for dogs, cats and other small animals.

We pride ourselves on a personal informed service and advice with a combined offer of a free of charge delivery of stock bought and collection and delivery of dogs to be groomed within the area of Harold Hill and a small charge outside this area.

Doggie Delights Grooming Salon is completely holistic with only the finest natural and organic products used. We offer a complete range of services from basic bathing for the short coated dogs to more specialised scissoring grooming and hand stripping for other breeds. There are also walk-in appointments for small treatments such as nail clipping, ears and eyes cleaning and brushing and removal of knots and mats that are causing dog’s unnecessary discomfort.

Care – we can offer and supply everything from shampoos, conditioners, dental, ear and eye hygiene, flea treatment, cologne sprays and brushes for owners to help maintain their dogs coat in between grooming.

Diet – we offer a large selection of food and treats including the finest organic and holistic food products for all animals.

New for 2014 – we not stock Natures Menu. It has been proven that a raw diet for dogs and cats is the best and most naturally compatible food for them to eat.

FLEUR UPMINSTER LTD

www.fleurgifts.com

1 Station Road, Upminster

Tel: 01708 228054

Fleur is a shop in Upminster owned by Upminster residents Chris and Kim Nicholls selling an eclectic mix of home and gift item with a “shabby chic” style. For example frames, clocks, candles, jewellery, stationery, bags, wall art, mugs, hanging hearts, signs and vases.

We also aim to give a superior level of customer service.

We love this type of shop and there wasn’t one in Upminster but there were in similar neighbouring towns.

After a summer of research and experience in finance and retail we opened in November 2012.

We live in Upminster and wanted to be part of the wider community so have actively supported local schools and charities with donations and advertising including Upminster Junior, St Josephs and Corbets Tey schools, Friends of Upminster Park and have spoken to students at Sacred Heart School on how to set up a business.

HOME INTERIORS BY ANSCOMB

www.anscomb.com

42-44 Squirrel’s Heath Lane, Hornchurch

Tel: 01708 453029

Home Interiors by Anscombs are owned by Mr and Mrs Anscomb and are Havering’s leading independent home interior design experts; retailing superb quality British & German fitted kitchens, bedrooms, home offices and media design to customers in Havering, London and Essex.

With 24 years experience in the Home Interior industry we now have our biggest ever showroom here in Hornchurch for the past 4 years. The premises include a showroom, design studio, customer car park and our large storage areas.

As a “one stop shop” for our clients we take the hard work away from them because we can design and supply all the units, wall covering and materials for the whole room. We install everything to the highest standard and we only use our trusted team of trades as well as project manage the whole job.

We inspire customers with all the newest trends, advise on the latest home appliances and treat all our customers projects with the care and attention to detail as if they were our own homes. We do this because seeing our clients’ joy and exceeding their expectation at the end of a project is worth all the hard work.

We now receive over 70 per cent of our enquiries from our existing customers recommendations!

To vote for the winner, click here: