Alabama Retail honors 2019 Retailers of the Year, Centennial Retailers

October 22, 2019

Photos upon request
Media releases for the individual winners linked below

BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Retail Association today recognized 17 retail businesses with operations in 23 Alabama cities as Alabama Retailers of the Year or Centennial Retailers. Together, these businesses employ 791 people at 51 locations in Alabama. More than 70 nominations were submitted for the 2019 Retailer of the Year awards. These are the winners. The presentations were made in Birmingham during the 2019 Retail Day luncheon. This marked the 20th presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999 and the 15th Alabama Centennial Retailer awards presented since 2002.

2019 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL RETAILERS

Those Previously Honored as Centennial Retailers

ALABAMA RETAILERS OF THE YEAR
A panel of judges chose the Alabama Retailer of the Year winners in four categories based on annual sales volume. Bronze, silver and gold awards were presented. The winners have been in business for at least five years and an average of 22 years. The judges also selected an Emerging Retailer of the Year, who has been in business for less than five years. A Facebook contest determined the Customers’ Choice Award.

ANNUAL SALES LESS THAN $1 MILLION (Watch Category Video)

  • GOLD AWARD: Jacqueline T. Smith, owner/operator of The Coffee Shoppe in Selma; nominated by Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information.
  • SILVER AWARD: Wesley Lassen, owner of The Cook Store in Mountain Brook; nominated by Suzan Doidge, executive director, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.
  • BRONZE AWARD (Two-Way Tie):
    • Mary Beth Greene, owner of and designer for mb greene llc in Fairhope; nominated by Danette Richards, director of small business development for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, and Casey Williams, president of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.
    • Kasey Hope, owner of P’zazz Art Studio in Prattville, nominated by Patty VanderWal, president, Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce.

ANNUAL SALES $1 MILLION TO $5 MILLION (Watch Category Video)

  • GOLD AWARD: Brian Kane and Jim Foley, managing partners of Fairhope Brewing Co.; nominated by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.
  •  SILVER AWARD: Jim Moeller, owner of two locations of the New York Butcher Shoppe in Birmingham; nominated by Karen Odle, president and chief executive officer of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce
  • BRONZE AWARD: Dr. Jenny Sobera, founder, owner and president of Village Dermatology in Mountain Brook with satellite offices in Birmingham and Oneonta; nominated by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce

ANNUAL SALES $5 MILLION TO $20 MILLION (Watch Category Video)

  • GOLD AWARD: Jamie Pursell, proprietor of Leaf & Petal with four locations – Vestavia Hills (2), Mountain Brook and Birmingham; nominated by Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
  • SILVER AWARD: David Dawoud, pizza maker, president and owner of nine Domino’s Pizza locations in Vestavia Hills (2), Fultondale, Gardendale, Dora, Hueytown, Fairfield, Oxford and Anniston; nominated by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
  • BRONZE AWARD: Jimmy Wright, president of Wright’s Market in Opelika; nominated by Pam Powers-Smith, president of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.

ANNUAL SALES MORE THAN $20 MILLION (Watch Category Video)

  • GOLD AWARD: Mike and Lee Vinson, president and co-owners, respectively, of Adams Drugs with 12 locations in the River Region – Montgomery (8), Prattville, Millbrook, Wetumpka and Pine Level; nominated by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.
  • SILVER AWARD: Jim Whaley, chief executive officer of the seven locations of Jim Whaley Tires Inc., in Dothan (3), Ozark, Enterprise, Troy and Eufaula; nominated by Hayden Camp, director of membership, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce

GEE EMERGING RETAILER OF THE YEAR (Watch Video)

  • John “Jay” G. Newman II, founder, owner and chief executive officer, and Matt Tietz, chief marketing officer, for Ugo Convenience Delivery in Tuscaloosa; nominated by Jim Page, president and chief executive officer, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

CUSTOMERS’ CHOICE AWARD (Watch Video)

  • Jennaration Boutique Inc. in Northport, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham; Jenna Powell, owner; nominated by customer and former employee Caitlin Shuttlesworth. Jenneration Boutique received 1,526 votes, or 12.5% of the 12,191 votes cast.

“It is an honor to be able to recognize such an outstanding group of retailers. Each retailer honored is a credit to their community and the retail industry,” said Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association.

Previous Retailers of the Year

The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,200 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nancy King Dennis | 334.868.2195 | 800.239.5423

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