Announcing Paper Plus winners

The Paper Plus Group conference went off with its usual brio – though the glamorous and exotic masks worn for the Awards dinner were taken off for official photographs!

The Trade Show was bigger than ever, with 500 trade suppliers and members at the Telstra Events Centre in Manukau, as was conference attendance with over 300 franchisees and staff.

A Tropical Night at the Hilton Hotel with principal sponsors was the conference’s opening celebration.

IMAGE: Rod Hayman of PaperPlus Kaikohe was the star grabbed from the audience by the Topp Twins

Polynesian dancers and drummers set the scene, the Topp Twins were Camp Mother and Camp Leader and Rob Smith informally interviewed Paul Henry – the pair in beach chairs

IMAGE: Rob Smith and Paul Henry lei'd

Some amazing and inventive costumes (Jared Raines of Northlands – you’re a star) made sure the night was hugely entertaining.

IMAGE: Jared Raines

A Books and Bubbles / Rugby World Cup Quiz Night at Eden Park with trade colleagues was also a rip roaring success. Kerre Woodham was at her witty best hosting a panel of celebrity authors Phil Kingsley-Jones, Mike McRoberts, Wendyl Nissen and Justin Brown.

A sumptuous Gala Awards dinner celebrating excellence concluded the Conference. Themed black and white masquerade and ‘Revealing our Best’, guests were entertained by burlesque dancers and treated to stunning performances of Phantom of the Opera and pop-opera band Lyrica.

Paper Plus Major Awards
Paper Plus Opotiki took out the award for Paper Plus Store of the Year beating 105 other stores in the group to claim the title.

IMAGE: Paper Plus Group Chairman Mike Paardekooper, Paper Plus Opotiki store manager Amy Hennessy and franchise owner Jenny Johnston with Paper Plus Group CEO Rob Smith

They won the trophy for superior levels of sales, store presentation and compliance, community involvement and support. Owners Wayne and Jenny Johnston were thrilled with their win. Despite a difficult year, hit by floods, the Johnston’s went ahead with the new ‘green brand’ format. Jenny said, “We really do try and go the extra mile for our customers on a daily basis. Our customers really appreciate the work we do and it is wonderful to be recognised for this.”

“To be named the store of the year is a tremendous achievement and well deserved by Wayne and Jenny,” said Rob Smith, chief executive of the group.

Paper Plus Merivale was tops in national book sales at the Awards, showing that despite a year full of ups and downs, Cantabrians are still enjoying a good read.

IMAGE: Mike Drummond, Regional Business Manager with  Paper Plus Merivale team Simon, Rodger and James Grant, winners of the top book sales award, Rob Smith.

Rodger, James and Simon Grant, Paper Plus Merivale owners, appreciated the recognition.

“The past six months have been especially testing for all Cantabrians so to win this award is a tremendous achievement, and a real credit to our staff,” said Simon.

“We really do try and go the extra mile for our customers on a daily basis and realise that in darker times, sometimes a friendly face or light-hearted conversation goes a long way towards making someone’s day.

“A combination of embracing national book initiatives, passionate staff who love their books, and keeping a close eye out for any new book trends has helped us achieve outstanding book sales in the last 12 months. Not to mention our fantastic customers who just keep coming back to support us,” Simon concluded.

A final Paper Plus Award was made for community spirit and store presentation with Birkenhead store owners Jeanee and Malcolm Hughes (pictured below) receiving top place.

IMAGE: Regional franchise manager Murray Young (left) and CEO Rob Smith with Birkenhead PaperPlus owners Jeanee and Malcolm Hughes who won the PaperPlus Presentation and Community Award.

“We see it in pretty simple terms,” says Malcolm. “The wider Birkenhead community supports us by shopping at our store for all their books and stationery needs. It is therefore our responsibility to support them in every which way we can.”

Take Note Winners
Take Note Te Kuiti took out the award for Take Note Store of the Year at the annual Paper Plus Group Awards, as well as being awarded the top prize for overall sales in 2011. Davina and Terry Davey were thrilled with their win, acknowledging the store’s staff and customers as vital to their success.

IMAGE: Paper Plus Group Chairman Mike Paardekooper, Paper Plus Group CEO Rob Smith with Take Note Te Kuiti franchise owner Davina Davey

Take Note Foxton won the Community and Presentation Award. Robyn and Glen Blandford, (pictured below)  are hugely passionate about their small beachside community and like to get involved with local sponsorship and initiatives.

IMAGE: Ian Robertson, Glen and Robyn Blandford of Take Note Foxton. The store won the Take Note Presentation and Community Development Award.

“The way we look at it is, the people of Foxton support us and allow us to drive our business forward so it makes perfect sense for us to give something back to them,” says Glen.

The successful and hardworking Te Kuiti and Foxton stores are part of Take Note’s 47 stores under that brand.

At the Awards night, the Supplier of the Year for Books and magazines was David Bateman Ltd.

A special presentation for ‘Book of the Year’ could go to no one else but Annabel Langbein for the book everyone in the country adores The Free Range Cook.