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FINALISTS
This award recognises outstanding young professionals aged 32 years or under. Entrants will be department managers, store managers or even shareholders of a hardware retailer or builders’ merchant.
YOUNG RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Hayden Finlayson
PLACEMAKERS RICCARTON
Branch Manager Hayden Finlayson has had to think outside the box in leading PlaceMakers’ largest trade store through Covid and out the other side. His “ability to tack and jive” during the recent constrained market has delivered positive results for Riccarton, says Christchurch Hub Ops Manager Malcolm Ross. Hayden is a manager
of high calibre, dedicated in every aspect of his role and “consistently finds ways to help his team and ensure they understand the important roles they
all play. His willingness to assist others and his commitment to PlaceMakers is unequalled.”
Dylan Mckee
MITRE 10 MEGA TE RAPA
Store Manager Dylan Mckee makes no bones that he’s “in love with the pace, volume, and beast that is big box retailing,” and it shows. Indeed, with the COVID lockdown coming just a month after Dylan started as Retail Manager in 2020, he nevertheless “played a pivot role” in converting Te Rapa to a click & collect online retail business. CEO Hayden Camp adds: “Dylan has an exciting future ahead of him, his passion, commitment, and knowledge of retail I believe will see him deliver amazing results for our business going forward.”
Brendon Putt
MITRE 10 MEGA HAMILTON
Recently promoted to role of GM Sales – Trade & Commercial across both the Te Rapa and Ruakura stores at the tender
age of 32, Brendon Putt is aiming to be the #1 Mitre 10 trade store in 2023. Having achieved significant growth in the two stores’ GP%, and built strong supplier relationships, says CEO Hayden Camp: “Brendon is a true people leader; he recognises the strengths and opportunities in each of his team and develops them accordingly. He can adapt his leadership style to ensure he gets the best out of his team members.”
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