On the evening of Wednesday, September 20, Canada Post awarded eight retailers in its 2017 Canada Post E-commerce Innovation Awards. Winners included emerging companies as well as major retailers, who took home more than $1 million in prizes.

The winners were recognized for their excellence in e-commerce, omni-channel innovation, customer engagement, and social impact on communities. The sold-out sixth-annual awards took place in Toronto on the evening of September 20.

Winners were selected from a field of 32 finalists and chosen by a panel of judges who are thought leaders in the e-commerce industry. The winners will share a total prize package of more than $1 million from Canada Post, including shipping services, customized direct marketing packages with data solutions, and other marketing exposure. Since the Awards were launched in 2012, Canada Post has awarded more than $6 million in prizes to 37 different companies.

“Canada Post is proud to be an e-commerce leader and partner for Canadian retailers. The E-commerce Innovation Awards celebrate leading and emerging online retailers in Canada. The winners represent the very best of e-commerce and are delivering a superior online shopping experience for consumers,” says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. “These awards have proven to be the catalyst in the retail industry driving real change in shifting behaviours towards embracing e-commerce."

The 2017 winners are:

-Best Omni-Channel Retailer Award – Large: La Maison Simons Inc.

-Best Omni-Channel Retailer Award – Small: Rent frock Repeat

-Most Disruptive Start-Up Award: The Packaging Company

-Best Marketing & Brand Engagement Award: Poppy Barley

-Pure Play of the Year Award – Large: Article

-Pure Play of the Year Award – Small: Cook it

-Social Impact Award: Eve Kit

-Canada Post E-commerce Innovator’s Award: Zebra Technologies

The winners were chosen by judges Stéphanie Aubin of the Retail Council of Canada; Jan Gandhi of Facebook Canada; Mohit Grover of Google Canada; Jennifer Lee of Deloitte Canada; and Amit Monga of CIBC Capital Markets.

The Canada Post E-commerce Innovator’s Award goes to an e-commerce company that has made a significant contribution to advancing e-commerce in Canada, as chosen by Canada Post.

*Top photo: Edmonton-based footwear brand Poppy Barley wins Best Marketing & Brand Engagement Award. Photo: Canada Post, via Twitter.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: September 21, 2017