Disruptive wine retailer people's favourite in smart business awards
Innovative online retailer Naked Wines has won the top prize in the 2011 Smarta 100 awards.
The business, whose customers invest in independent winemakers and help bring new wines to the market, received the most number of votes among a list of 100 companies shortlisted by Smarta.com. The prize was £10,000 donated by telecoms company O2.
Also in the top five were Childcare.co.uk, online city guide Great Little Place, Tutor2u, which provides resources for teachers and students and purveyors of stylish wellies with a heel, Wedge Welly.
Dragons' Den star and Smarta board member Deborah Meaden said: "This year's Smarta 100 has unearthed some of the most exciting and innovative firms in the UK.
"It has also showcased the power of the crowd. The winner of this year's O2 Smarta 100 Business of the year, Naked Wines, received over 3,500 votes from customers, suppliers, fans and followers. It's a true credit to entrepreneur Rowan Gormley and his team that Naked Wines has built such a vast loyal and dedicated network."
In addition to the main prize, gongs were awarded to Great Little Place for the Use of Resources category, to Plumen for Innovation, to Umi Hotels for People, MyParcelDelivery for Technology, while Tutor2u picked up the award for Marketing and CoaST scooped the Social Impact category
The special awards were decided by the Smarta 100 judging panel consisting of King of Shaves founder Will King, Bebo founder Michael Birch, PR guru Lynne Franks, TV’s Sarah Beeny, creator of MySingleFriend.com and Tepilo.com, Smarta's Shaa Wasmund and O2's Simon Devonshire.
Devonshire said: "From clever online businesses like Tutor2u and Great Little Place and disruptive models like Umi Hotels, to eco-initiatives like CoaST and Plumen and technology-forward ventures like MyParcelDelivery, it is clear that a diverse and exciting spread of businesses are still thriving, despite the economic turmoil."
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