2009 ENTRY CATEGORIES

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

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.

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.

Convenience Store
Small grocery stores predominantly selling convenience items, including snack foods and sandwiches.

Supermarket/Grocery Store
Any store that merchandises and sells a variety of food and beverage types. May include some prepared food sections as one of many departments.

Specialty Food Retailer
Any store that merchandises and sells specialty food or beverages as its main product. This category differs from the Restaurant categories 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 and travel agencies.

Pop-up Store
Any retail environment that sells merchandise or services in a temporary installation of three months or less. This category may include tented spaces, moving vehicles, barges and other mobile retail, as well as seasonal and special promotional events held in retail or non-retail buildings. This category may be further segmented at the judges' discretion.

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 devoted to various product classifications or brands, which might include apparel, cosmetics, home goods, linens, electronics, etc.

Discount/Mass Merchant (New or Remodeled)
Any store that sells merchandise, especially consumer goods, at a discount from the manufacturer's suggested retail price. This category includes warehouses, dollar stores, outlet stores, hypermarkets, discount department stores and big box specialty stores known for discounted rates.

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)
A store specializing in one or more product lines, generally but not necessarily incorporating both hardline and softline goods. A.R.E. reserves the right to further sub-divide this category as necessary in order to ensure accurate, equitable store comparisons.