J'Adorn wins Retailer of Distinction award from Canadian Gift Association

J'Adorn in downtown Kincardine and Hanover, has been named a Retailer of Distinction by the Canadian Gift Association (CanGift).

The lifestyle boutique, owned by Corinne Robertson-Brown and her husband, Bill, opened in Kincardine in 2010 and expanded to a second location in Hanover earlier this year. Both stores carry a distinctive mix of home furnishings, garden décor, children’s items, home décor, giftware and more.

“We feel so lucky to be surrounded by beauty and be able to give free rein to our creativity every day,” says Robertson-Brown. “Since we opened our doors five years ago, our customers have continually inspired us to be the best we can. It is thanks to our loyal customers and terrific team that we are doing what we love. Accepting the Retailer of Distinction award is the icing on the cake.”

The Kincardine store is located in a heritage building, which was built in 1877 and has always housed a gift or china shop. In Hanover, J’Adorn can also be found in a heritage building with main street exposure.

Robertson-Brown and her staff seldom use traditional retail display fixtures, opting to merchandise products on top of other items to show how pieces can work together and tell a story. While the stores carry hundreds of products, each is carefully handpicked to ensure it becomes a distinct find. This helps create a beautiful, serene and inspiring place for customers to find the perfect item for themselves or friends.

"I'm so excited to win this award," said Robertson-Brown. "We've been in business five years and expanded into Hanover this year. I'm very proud of our accomplishments. A lot of the success is thanks to our staff who go above and beyond, in the name of customer service."

CanGift runs the Canadian trade shows, connecting wholesalers and retailers across the country, and providing best practices and advice to businesses. Each year, it presents a Retailer of the Year award, and two Retailer of Distinction awards.

Robertson-Brown said her business and the Retailer of the Year, both stock Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

J’Adorn is a member of the Kincardine and Hanover Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Downtown Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) in both locations. The store proudly sponsors local events from theatre, music and the arts to local sports teams and student fund-raisers.

Winners in other categories for 2015:
 

• Overall Canadian Retailer of the Year: Dini & Co.
• Retailer of Distinction: Cindy’s Home and Garden
• Large Supplier of the Year: Abbott
• Medium Supplier of the Year: Lug Canada Inc.
• Small Supplier of the Year: DecorSense Imports
• Sales Representative of the Year (Independent): Eric Jacobi
• Sales Representative of the Year (Corporate): Darlene Depaepe

For detailed information on all 2015 award winners, visit the CanGift Awards page at cangift.org.

CanGift is a not-for-profit association that acts as the voice and entrepreneurial spirit of Canada's $10-billion giftware industry. It runs three bi-annual trade fairs to connect its members (giftware wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, importers and exporters) with retail buyers.