Bedroom Expert, Feather & Black Announced as National Business Awards Finalist

CHICHESTER, England, August 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- WorldPay Online Business of the Year -

Bedroom expert, Feather & Black has been announced as a finalist of WorldPay Online Business of the Year in the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange.

Feather & Black is a leading lifestyle multi-channel retailer with 36 showrooms nationwide, a comprehensive brochure programme and lifestyle ecommerce website. Experts in bedroom solutions, the brand supplies a wide range of exclusively designed and manufactured products including bedroom furniture, mattresses and bedlinens for adults and children. Recent diffusion lines include bathroom and homes office collections as well as kids' pyjamas.

Gabriel Hopkins, Head of eCommerce Products at WorldPay, said:

"The Online Business of the Year award provides welcome recognition for some of the UK's leading online retailers, highlighting that organisations of all sizes and across all sectors are continuing to thrive, despite difficult economic times. In the fast and ever evolving worlds of ecommerce and m-commerce, it is essential that businesses continually strive to improve customer experience, while offering simple and secure ways to both pay and interact online.

The finalists in this category demonstrated true innovation and flexibility, showing an eagerness to adapt and diversify to meet the ever changing needs and demands of their customer base. Feather & Black is a great example of a cross channel retailer focussing on customer satisfaction and sustainability".

The 2011 WorldPay Online Business of the Year finalists are:

• Chemist Direct, London
• Cloggs.co.uk, Birmingham
• Door-Stop, Nottingham
• Entertainment Magpie Ltd, Macclesfield
• Feather and Black, London
• Global Personals Ltd, Windsor
• LOVEFiLM, London
• Lovehoney, Bath
• Naked Wines, Norwich
• Quidco, London

"The economic climate continues to present UK businesses with an unprecedented challenge:  it is therefore particularly encouraging that the entries in this year's National Business Awards have shown no drop in quality or performance. Congratulations to all finalists for demonstrating tremendous strength in their ability to adapt and innovate which no doubt reflects the resilience and optimism that are the hallmarks of UK enterprise", said Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, Chair of Judges, the National Business Awards.

Finalists will now prepare to make presentations in person before an independent, expert judging panel in September and October at the offices of Coutts & Co at 30 St Mary Axe.

The judges are:

• Mr Gabriel Hopkins, Head of eCommerce Products, WorldPay
• Mr Rob Hawthorn, Managing Director Client Service, Barclays Corporate
• Mr Kevin Riches, Principal, Carteme
• Mr Keith Tilley, EVP & MD, SunGard Availability Services (UK)

Winners will be honoured at the National Business Awards gala dinner, organised by UBM plc, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, Tuesday 8th November, where George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver this year's welcome address.  Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all 2011 finalists.

Notes for editor:

1. Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all 2011 finalists.
   
2. About the National Business Awards
   Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK, the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange is the UK's most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business.  Now in its tenth year, the National Business Awards connects the nations' professionals through its annual awards ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events; and is UBM plc's flagship awards programme. Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information.
   
3. National Business Awards Categories 2011 are:
   The Transformational Change of the Year; The Huawei Customer Focus Award; The Croner Employer of the Year; The Excellence in Marketing Award; The ICAEW Sustainability Award; The BlackBerry Growth Strategy of the Year; The Orange Innovation Award; The Entrepreneur of the Year Award; The BlackBerry Business Enabler of the Year; The Small Online Business of the Year; The WorldPay Online Business of the Year; The Santander Small to Medium sized Business of the Year; The 3i Private Business of the Year; The Grant Thornton Mid Cap Business of the Year; Coutts & Co Large Cap Business of the Year; The Daily Telegraph Award for a Decade of Excellence in Business; and The Orange Leader of the Year.