Page 9 - BOSS Today Issue 63
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BOSS Today    #63  BOSS AWARDS 2025                                                      BOSS Today      #63










 Independent Retailer Award,   Professional of the Year,    Rising Star of the Year,    Sustainable Leadership –    honour to have my work recognised and   Sally Beach, Banner
 Axminster Printing  Julie Hadley, evo Group  Amy Mettam, Banner  Most Improved, ExaClair   acknowledged in this way. The award   “It means an awful lot and I was
                                            validates the effort, commitment, and   absolutely surprised (and delighted)
                                            passion I put into what I do every day,   when I heard about the award. I have
                                            and it motivates me to continue striving   been in the industry for over 30 years
                                            for high standards and making a positive   so to be recognised and nominated by
                                            impact.”                           fellow colleagues meant so very much.”

                                            Jonathan Crosbee, YPO              Vicki Gordon, Hamelin Brands
                                            “In winning this award, I felt shocked and   “I was put forward for the award by the
                                            honoured for being recognised by the   management team of Hamelin Brands.
 “We pride ourselves on delivering          trade that I have worked in for nearly   It wasn’t really about the winning for
 exceptional, community focused service   “Winning this award means the world to   “Winning the Most Improved Sustainability   39 years and especially for the amazing   me but I just felt honoured that they
 to Axminster, offering a personal touch   “evo Group winning the Sustainable   me. I was not expecting to be make it to   Leadership Award reflects how far   team at YPO who took the time to put me   felt I was worthy of being put forward
 that simply can’t be replicated online.   Leadership Award 2025 was an incredibly   the shortlist let alone win on the night!   ExaClair Ltd. has progressed in embedding   forward and collect all the endorsements   in the first place. That in itself was a
 Being recognised at such prestigious   welcome surprise!  It’s a case of   I have been in the industry seven years   genuine sustainability into our products   and recommendations. We work in an   ‘win’.  Actually, winning the award was a
 awards, alongside so many outstanding   progress, not perfection, so seeing that   now and witnessed many deserving   and practices. It is a proud reminder that   amazing industry and if you embrace the   bonus.”
 businesses, is truly an honour.”  journey recognised by our industry was   winners of this award over the years. To   the work we are doing is both meaningful   industry and what it can offer, it will give
 incredibly rewarding.  Coupling that win   now be one of them still doesn’t seem real   and making a visible impact.”  you a wonderful life, plenty of friends and   Sarah Whale, VOW Wholesale
 New Product of the Year, ACCO    with Professional of the Year Award on   but receiving the recognition as well as   great memories and the icing on the cake   “Being nominated by my SLT was
 Brands – Leitz IQ OptiMax shredder  the same evening was a real shock and   the congratulations from friends across   Wholesaler of the Year,   is to get a BOSS Award.”  a wonderful surprise and honestly,
 made it even it more significant.  With   the industry shows that even though   VOW Wholesale  quite humbling. To me, this award is a
 so many talented colleagues nominated,   it may not seem it at the time, you are   Neil Empson, ExaClair Ltd  validation of the hard work and passion
 it was especially meaningful not only   making an impact.”  “The appreciation of being recognised   I put into my role every day. Knowing
 to have my work in sustainability          from the business for time, effort and   that my leadership team recognises my
 recognised, but to see this vital subject   Service Provider of the Year,    willingness to drive operations forward,   contribution is enough for me.”
 receive the acknowledgement it needs   Prima Software  positively affects my mindset to achieve
 and deserves.” - Julie Hadley.             more and continually improve our
                                            business.”
 Sustainable Leadership Award,
 “We entered the awards to showcase   evo Group  Henry Barker, Paperstone      We both have so much
 our new products & campaigns,              “It was great to be honoured and   respect for everyone
 gain independent recognition, and   “We were delighted to be named   recognised for my work leading our   in the industry, so to be
 benchmark our work against industry   Wholesaler of the Year, recognising   Progress to Horizon ERP migration. It
 standards. We really do value the BOSS   our efforts to diversify, understand   was a big project with a hard deadline   acknowledged by them
 Awards and what they stand for. It   our customers’ needs, and provide the   and I really enjoyed working with   all is so special.
 also felt important to recognise the   consistent, reliable support that helps   both our internal team, ECi and the
 collective team effort by entering. The   “Winning the BOSS Service Provider of   our customers succeed.”  wholesalers. We’d built our proprietary   Arthur Hindmarch,
 development of our products and the   the year award is a huge moment for us   webstore and operations platform like a
 delivery of the marketing campaigns   because it recognises something we deeply   Unsung Hero Awards  glove around Progress over the past 20   Lifetime Achievement Award
 involve significant contribution from   care about at Prima – how we treat our   years so updating to Horizon had some
 many individuals, and it is important to   customers as partners and are genuinely   real complexities. We went live on time
 celebrate and recognise that work.”  passionate about their success.  This   and had very few major issues so it was
 award is not just about one department,    a big success.”
 Outstanding Team of the Year,    product or individual, it’s recognition of a
 Exertis Supplies Operations Team  In our 35th year, winning   culture that we have built around trust,   Rahid Quereshi, VOW Wholesale
 Dealer of the Year again   long-term partnerships and doing the   “It gives me a great sense of pride and
    right thing, even when it’s harder or takes   appreciation for the work I have been
    feels like validation   longer to achieve the right outcomes. This   doing in the last two years regarding
    of who we are. Small   award belongs to our entire team, from   paper sales.”
    enough to care, agile   support and onboarding to development
    and account management, everyone   George Kourti, Dynamic
    enough to act.  plays a huge part in Prima’s customer   Office Solutions
 Aston & James   experience. To have that recognised by the   “Winning the Unsung Hero Award is
 industry means a great deal to us.”
          incredibly meaningful to me. It’s a real

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