One Grand Prize will be selected as the Store of the Year from the following Categories:

Restaurant/Fine Dining
Any store that serves meals prepared on-site for immediate consumption and creates a fine dining experience that features a high level of service, comfort, and décor.

Restaurant/Casual Dining
Any store that sells meals for immediate consumption at moderate prices, including casual and family restaurants, delis, cafes, fast food restaurants, and food court vendors.

Convenience or Grocery Store
Any store that merchandises and sells a variety of food and beverage types as its main product. This category differs from the Restaurant/Foodservice category in that the food product sold is not generally for immediate consumption, with the exception of some supermarkets that offer prepared food sections as one of many departments.

Food Retailer
Any store that merchandises and sells specialty food or beverages as its main product. This category differs from the Restaurant/Foodservice category in that the food product sold is not generally for immediate consumption, with the exception of some food retailers that offer food and drink bars as an added service.

Service Retailer
Any establishment that sells a service rather than a product, such as banks, brokerages, financial services, hair salons, spas, business service centers, travel agencies, and generally speaking, telecommunications retailers.

Hardline Shop Within a Store (New or Remodeled)
A specialty department or shop of branded product within a larger store where at least 50 percent of the merchandise is hardlines, such as toys, electronics, audiovisuals, hardware, eyewear, cosmetics, jewelry, appliances, equipment, furniture, automobiles or auto accessories, or variations thereof. Additionally, floral, bath and body products, and books are defined as hardlines.

Softline Shop Within a Store (New or Remodeled)
A specialty department or shop of branded product within a larger store where at least 50 percent of the merchandise is softlines, such as apparel, shoes, textiles, and linens.

Department Store (New or Remodeled)
A traditional department store with several distinctive areas of the store devoted to various product classifications or brands, which might include apparel, cosmetics, home goods, linens, electronics, etc.

Hardline Specialty Store (New or Remodeled)
(up to 3,000 sf; 3,001-25,000 sf)
Stores, including themed environments, where at least 50 percent of the merchandise is hardlines, such as toys, electronics, audiovisuals, hardware, eyewear, cosmetics, jewelry, appliances, equipment, furniture, or variations thereof. Additionally, floral, bath and body products, and books are defined as hardlines. Stores in this category are further divided by square footage.

Softline Specialty Store (New or Remodeled)
(up to 3,000 sf; 3,001-25,000 sf)
Stores, including themed environments, where at least 50 percent of the merchandise is softlines, such as apparel, shoes, textiles, and linens. Stores in this category are further divided by square footage.

Specialty Store over 25,000 sf (New or Remodeled)
(Big Box Category)
A store specializing in one or more product lines, generally but not necessarily incorporating both hardline and softline goods. NASFM reserves the right to further sub-divide this category as necessary in order to ensure accurate, equitable store comparisons.