BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Retail Association, in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business, today recognized outstanding Alabama retailers representing 12 retail businesses with operations in 72 Alabama cities and 31 states as Retailers of the Year. The 12 winning Retailers of the Year were chosen from almost 50 nominees. The presentations were made at The Club in Birmingham during the 2013 Retail Day Luncheon. This marked the 14th presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999.

Georgia Ziglar, president and owner of two locations of Home Gallery, Home Gallery Dining Furniture and First Impression in Troy, earned the Bronze Retailer of the Year Award in the Annual Sales $1 Million to $5 Million category. Earlier this year, the Ziglar Inc. businesses received the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Outstanding Customer Service Award. Ziglar Inc. has been an Alabama Retail Association member since 1993.

The Alabama Retailer of the Year judges were most impressed with the personal touches and family feel of the Ziglar retail stores. They marveled that “she has all of her customers in a box.” Ziglar offers customer credit accounts, which she finances herself. She does her own accounts on 4×6 index cards with an in-house payment/no interest plan fit to match each customer, said Kathleen Sauer, president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, who nominated Ziglar for the award. The box of customers for each of her four stores goes home with Ziglar each night. The boxes even take shelter with employees whenever there is a tornado warning.

Ziglar, a former bookkeeper for a 10-store clothing chain, bought her first store 28 years ago. She started with a grocery store and now operates three furniture and home accessory stores and one gift shop/ladies clothing store, employing 12. At one time, she owned five different stores in downtown Troy.

“Customer service and appreciation for customers is at the top of the list for what is most important for Mom in her business,” Ziglar’s daughter, Sherry Ziglar Helms, said in her hand-written letter in support of her mother’s nomination as a Retailer of the Year. “Mom works hard to be a vital part of Troy.”

Ziglar gives back to the community in expected and unexpected ways. “Many, many times, I have seen her ‘slip’ $100 into the hand of someone in need,” her daughter said.

Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown said, “Georgia Ziglar is a retailer of the year EVERY year to her customers, her 12 employees and the entire Troy community.”

>> Full list of this year’s Retailers of the Year

>> Previous Retailers of the Year

Media Contact: Sherry Helms, Ziglar Inc. | 334.268.2233

Media Contact: Nancy King Dennis | 334.551.0643 (d) | 800.239.5423