Dean Salakas

We were a finalist for Customer Experience Innovation of the Year for our Augmented Reality Mirror project where people could try costumes on using Augmented Reality.

https://www.retail-systems.com/awards/shortlist24.php

This award is essentially an industry recognition award recognizing an individuals contribution to the elevating the retail industry.

The Retail Innovator awards by Retail Doctor Group

Finalist for Vendor In partnerships Ominchannel Innovation award.

This award was for the collaboration I led with Shopex, Uber, Starshipit and Stockinstore to create a new retail Multichannel Technology, the Shoppable Mirror.

ARIA - Australian Retail Innovators Awards
https://retaildoctor.com.au/rdg-white-paper/2024-australian-retail-innovators/

Finalists for the award were Myer, Penfolds, La Roche-Posay, Shhh Silk, Carma, Azura Fashion Group, Modibodi, Miss Amara, TenSevenSeven.

We were named the retailer with the Customer Experience Of The Year with our Augmented Reality Mirror project.

For our Augmented Reality Mirror we were a finalist for OmniChannel Retailer Of The Year. Rebel won the award with the other finalists being;
Chemist Warehouse
Officeworks
Winning Appliance

A finalist for the industry person of the year award with Vendors in Partnership awards.

For our Augmented Reality Mirror we were a finalist for Store Design Of The Year. Rebel won the award with the other finalists being;
Dan Murphy’s
Thankyou
Twoobs
Vinnies

Named #16 in the top 50 People in Ecommerce.

Best instore innovation for our Magic Mirror activation which allows people to try costumes (and fashion) on through Augmented Reality and then checkout having the item delivered to their house before they get home from the mall.

AI Global and Corporate Vision announced us as the winner of Most Trusted Party Supply and Rental Shop

The Australian National Retail Associations annual awards for retail.

Dean Salakas is named as number 26 in the top 50 people in e-commerce by Inside Retail magazine.

I have been asked to judge the Party Stylists Of The Year awards which celebrates various categories of party styling and suppliers. https://partystylistoftheyearawards.com.au/

During COVID19 we were down 92% so we talked to customers to find out what the 8% were buying and put a strategy in place that saw us bounce back to be up on prior year. We formulated a "Coronavirus Survival" page on our website promoted on the home page which provided heatlh related items like sanitiser but also things to do in isolation like baking, games etc.

The Excellence in Small Business Award recognises a business that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

The Outstanding Business Leader award recognises an inspirational business leader aged 36 or over who demonstrates outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business direction and innovative ideas, whilst providing leadership to the new generation.

Party Stylist Of The Year awards to recognise the best in the party industry.
PartyStylistOfTheYearAwards.com.au

Our Drummoyne store was named a finalist for best small retailer in the country by the National Retail Association. Our Store Manager Julie Anne Benge was also a finalist for Store Manager of The Year.

After a horrible start to the 2020 calendar year due to COVID19, We bounced back through a number of pivots and business model adaptations for some great results.

Named on the Top 50 Small Business Leaders list for 2020
https://insidesmallbusiness.com.au/events/top-50-small-business-leaders-2020-revealed

We were a finalist for our Halloween Alley pop up store. This was a 3000sqm Halloween Mega store concept complete with a haunted house, magic mirror and over 15,000 halloween products.

Named as a finalist for Power Retail's top innovator award. The other finalists were Officeworks, Adore Beauty, Bunnings and The Iconic. We are so thrilled to be considered a finalist in a league of legendary retailers particularly given our relatively tiny innovation budget compared to the other finalists.

Retail Doctor group named me as 2019 Inspiring Retail Leader.
See full report http://ow.ly/eqYU50wHcZJ

Our Drummoyne store was named best small retailer in the country by the National Retail Association. Our Store Manager Julie Anne Benge was also a runner up for Store Manager of The Year.

Finalist for best retailer in Australia with less than 7 stores

Dean Salakas is named as number #28 in the top 50 people in e-commerce by internet retailing magazine. This is the third year in a row Dean was named.

Best independent retailer in Australia with less than 5 stores. This is the second year in a row to win this category.

Recognized as Retail Leader Of The Year for the second year running. This is a personal award for me for my contribution to retail in Australia.

Internet Retailing named me in the top 50 people in e-commerce.
https://internetretailing.com.au/top-50-people-e-commerce-report-released/

Internet Retailing names Dean Salakas as a Rising Star in their top 50 People in E-commerce.
www.internetretailing.com.au/top-50-people-e-commerce-2017-named/

The Party People was recognized as the best retailer in Australia with less than 7 stores.

“As CEO, or as he prefers - Chief Party Dude - Dean's instrumental role in taking The Party People from small family business to employing over 40 people is nothing short of amazing,” Mr Zimmerman, ARA's Executive Director said.

"Taking the business online in 1999 as Australia’s first e-commerce party store, Dean's passion and pioneering spirit have also seen The Party People recognised as the 2017 Independent Retailer of the Year.”

“His invaluable contributions to the retail… Show more

“As CEO, or as he prefers - Chief Party Dude - Dean's instrumental role in taking The Party People from small family business to employing over 40 people is nothing short of amazing,” Mr Zimmerman, ARA's Executive Director said.

"Taking the business online in 1999 as Australia’s first e-commerce party store, Dean's passion and pioneering spirit have also seen The Party People recognised as the 2017 Independent Retailer of the Year.”

“His invaluable contributions to the retail industry include speaking at thought-leadership events and writing for industry magazines to assist small retail businesses grow through the lessons of his early failures. Dean generously shares his wealth of knowledge with others looking to replicate his success, all while continuing to write the inspiring retail story of The Party People,” Mr Zimmerman said.
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After seeing a problem with Woolworths ordering system I raised it as I project I thought we could solve. I was told that it had been tried multiple times before me and was unsuccessful and not to waste my time. So I went home, built an excel model and came back the next day and presented a solution that would save Woolworths $4m per year. 3 months later it was implemented successfully with minimal issues and delivered the anticipated benefits. The solution was then rolled out to other… Show more

After seeing a problem with Woolworths ordering system I raised it as I project I thought we could solve. I was told that it had been tried multiple times before me and was unsuccessful and not to waste my time. So I went home, built an excel model and came back the next day and presented a solution that would save Woolworths $4m per year. 3 months later it was implemented successfully with minimal issues and delivered the anticipated benefits. The solution was then rolled out to other Woolworths owned companies both in Australia and overseas. Show less

I graduated in the top 5% of graduates nationally and as such I was accepted into the Golden Key Honours Society.