11 Aug 2023 V&A Waterfront awards top retailers for service excellence The top 20 winners of the annual V&A Waterfront Tenant Service Excellence Awards have been announced, with premium diamond jeweller Shimansky being awarded as the Overall Winner. Held at the One&Only Hotel, the top 20 winners were selected based on results from the Mystery Shopper research conducted by an external agency. The V&A uses this research to improve customer experience, measure tenant customer service performance, identify training needs, and make informed decisions that contribute to the business’ overall success and growth. Alex Kabalin, V&A Waterfront retail executive, said: “The V&A Waterfront is the heart of where people live, work and play. The Service Excellence Awards are about recognising customer-centric service excellence; which is ultimately about ensuring consistency in high levels of customer satisfaction as well as creating opportunities for our tenants.” Founder and CEO of the platinum and diamond jewellery retailer, Yair Shimansky, thanked the V&A and said he was proud to be a V&A tenant and for Shimansky to be recognised with this accolade: “We have been a V&A Waterfront tenant for over 20 years, and we are proud to be working closely and growing together with the V&A. “We are in the people business creating happy moments for people to feel valuable and this recognition reflects that.” The V&A Waterfront Tenant Service Excellence Awards strengthen landlord-tenant relationships through a celebration of achievement, acknowledging tenants’ contributions; which ultimately leads to increased customer experience satisfaction. The V&A Waterfront has continued its rapid retail recovery from the COVID-19 downturn. It has experienced a 133% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels, as announced in Growthpoint’s third quarter business update. The V&A experienced a negligible 0.4% vacancy rate across its precincts; improving its retail tenant mix since the pandemic. In April and May this year, the V&A achieved a 45% and 49% increase in retail sales from 2022. Top 20 Retail Winners: Birkenstock (Most Improved Service Excellence Award) Browns Jewellers Mr Cobbs the Barber Christian Dior Kamaldien Jewellers Yuppie Chef Charles Greig Jewellers Luis Vuitton Dolce & Gabbana Mont Blanc La Martina Boutique Haute Horlogerie Soho L’occitane en Provence Burberry Gucci Lindt Geri Shimansky Murdocks Toy Kingdom
