ORIA Fashion Finalists Shining Stars of the Australian Retail Landscape – Shoes of Prey Brings Reality Online with 3D Shoe Designer While ClubQT Attracts $500K Investment

Melbourne, Australia, September 23, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Shoes of Prey have proven its ongoing commitment to e-commerce innovation and technology, with the launch of the beta version of its new 3D shoe designer – bringing reality online. At the same time, fellow "Best Aggregation Channel" finalist, ClubQT has announced that it has received a $500,000 investment, giving the aggregator an undoubted mandate to grow its already popular business.

“One of the most common requests we receive from our customers is, 'Is there a way I can see a more realistic image of what my shoes are going to look like when they're made?’ So we're expecting this new designer to have a positive impact on our conversion rate,” says Shoes of Prey Co-Founder and Director, Michael Fox on his blog 22Michaels.

“One of the best investments an e-commerce site can make to improve their conversion rate is in their product photography. Allowing customers to see exactly what they're going to buy, from lots of different angles is critical,” he advises.

Shoes of Prey are previous winners of the 2010 ORIAs for Best New Online Retailer, Most Innovative Online Retailer, and Best Online Retail Marketing Initiative. The pureplay shoe retailer has been nominated as a finalist for Best Pure-Play Online Retailer, Best Use of Technology and Best Customer Experience in 2011.

Fox, who will be presenting at the Online Retailer Conference & E-Commerce Expo, is also in the running for the 2011 ORIA Industry Recognition Award.

With just under two weeks to go, the stage is set for Australian retail’s night of nights, which is expected to be the single biggest social gathering of local and international retail influencers in the country.

The Gala Awards Ceremony for the ORIAs will be held at the Parkside Ballroom, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour on Tuesday, 27 September at 7.00pm.

Event details:
Name: Online Retail Industry Awards Gala
Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Time: 7.00pm to 11.00pm
Venue: Parkside Ballroom, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Official Website: www.orias.com.au

For further information on booking tickets or tables, visit www.onlineretailer.net/awards.

For all enquiries regarding the ORIAs, email nirosha@mediapad.com.au or call 03 9585 9872.

2011 Online Retail Industry Awards Finalists

Best Pure-Play Online Retailer
Sponsored By: ExactTarget
· Appliances Online | www.appliancesonline.com.au
· SurfStitch.com | www.surfstitch.com
· Kogan | www.kogan.com.au
· Shoes of Prey | www.shoesofprey.com
· Mooo | www.mooo.com.au
· OZScopes |www.ozscopes.com.au

Best Multichannel Retailer
Sponsored By: Salmat
· Big W | www.bigw.com.au
· Dick Smith | dicksmith.com.au
· Ted’s Cameras | www.teds.com.au
· Bing Lee | www.binglee.com.au
· ABC Shop | shop.abc.net.au
· Barkers Online | www.barkersonline.co.nz

Best New Online Retailer
· Dan Murphy’s | danmurphys.com.au
· StyleTread | www.styletread.com.au
· BoutiqueAccessories.com.au | www.boutiqueaccessories.com.au
· Le Domaine | www.ledomaine.com.au
· Joe Button | www.joebutton.com

Best Use of Technology
Sponsored By: IBM
· Appliances Online | www.appliancesonline.com.au
· Shoes of Prey | www.shoesofprey.com
· SurfStitch.com | www.surfstitch.com
· Mooo | www.mooo.com.au

Most Innovative Online Retailer
Sponsored By: Macquarie Telecom
· Joe Button | www.joebutton.com
· Kogan | www.kogan.com.au
· Appliances Online | www.appliancesonline.com.au
· Sportsgirl | www.sportsgirl.com.au
· BoutiqueAccessories.com.au | www.boutiqueaccessories.com.au

Best Online Retail Marketing Initiative
· Appliances Online | www.appliancesonline.com.au
· Catch Of The Day | www.catchoftheday.com.au
· Big W | www.bigw.com.au

Best Customer Experience
· Appliances Online | www.appliancesonline.com.au
· Big W | www.bigw.com.au
· SurfStitch.com | www.surfstitch.com
· Shoes of Prey | www.shoesofprey.com
· StyleTread | www.styletread.com.au

Best Aggregation Channel
· ClubQT | www.clubqt.com.au
· Getprice | www.getprice.com.au
· StyleTread | www.styletread.com.au
· Buyii | www.buyii.com.au

Best Site Optimisation & Design
· Appliances Online | www.appliancesonline.com.au
· Ted’s Cameras | www.teds.com.au
· ABC Shop | shop.abc.net.au
· OZScopes |www.ozscopes.com.au
· Le Domaine | www.ledomaine.com.au

Industry Recognition Award
· John Debrincat, CEO, eCorner
· Ruslan Kogan, Founder and CEO, Kogan and Milan Direct
· Paul Greenberg, Executive Chairman, DealsDirect.com.au
· Michael Fox, Co-Founder and Director, Shoes of Prey
· Peter Pakarinen, Owner, Niche Fashion Technology
· John Winning, CEO, Appliances Online
· Gabby Leibovich, Director, CatchOfTheDay.com.au

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