The VIP (Vendors in Partnership) Awards, took place on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Gotham Hall in New York City, is a premier event recognizing innovation and excellence among retail solution providers and vendors.
This prestigious gathering brings together industry leaders for an unforgettable evening.
The following were honored at the Vendors In Partnership, (VIP). Awards Gala 2026. Partner of The Year 2026 winner, Quorso, Best Kept Secret 2026 Winner, Netcore, The VIP Challenge, 2026 winner Orderful, Retailers Favorite, 2026 Winner, Tech Miahindra, Best Longstanding Partnership, 2026 winner, Jesta I.S., Rising Star, 2026 winner, Alembic, Retail Transformation, 2026 winner Kendra Scott, Retail Partner Person of the Year, 2026 winner, Ryan Holm, Bridge Builder Person of the year, 2026 winner, Melissa Wong, Zipline, Emerging Retail Leader Impact 2026 Winner, Fazit, Nina La Bruna, The Power Dealmakers, Newsmaker, 2026 winner, Lauren Hobart, Best Unified Customer Experience , 2026 winner, Gladly, Retail Tech Disrupter, 2026 winner, Pipe 17, Best Multi-Vendor Commerce Platform, 2026 winner, Toshiba, Best Retail Insights Solution, 2026 winner, Realytics, Best Enterprise Analytics Platform, 2026 winner, Worldly, Best AI-Driven Marketing Solution, 2026 winner, Spangle AI, Best Supply Chain Innovation 2026 winner, LiquiDonate, Best OmniChannel Payment Innovation, 2026 winner, Splitit, The Retail Voice, 2026 Winner, Monks, The Retail Voice Joint Winner, 2026 winner, Offbounds, Best Security Solution, 2026 winner, Indyme.
There were many companies and each and everyone one of them were winners, offering great service for the retail communities. Keynote speakers were, Women’s USA Ruby team members and winners of 2024 Paris Olympic Bronze medal.
Which included Steph Rovetti, Lauren Doyle, and Spiff Sedrick, who shared there story of the Highwomen. A team built on trust, connection, and collective strength. Through pressure , setbacks, and triumph.
They learned to navigate stress and strain not as obstacles, but as catalysts for growth and unity. Their journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics is a celebration of resilience, reflection, and the power of partnership, reminding us that together, we are always stronger.
People in the audience stood up and go a huge round of applause, when the game was shown on the screen with the USA Women’s team winning the Bronze Olympic medal during the 2024, Paris Olympics. The session was sponsored by and made possible by STRATAINTEL.
VIP Reception took place, after that a mix and mingle reception, after that people sat and enjoyed a full course meal while watching the awards ceremony, a wonderful event, very nicely
Put together by Mrs. Vicki Cantrell, Founder and CEO of VIP Awards, and her professional staff, we also want to thank Gotham Hall Staff who did a great job, like always.
The Sponsors, of the event were: Co-Host NRF, reach partners, XC Commerce, IIELEVENLABS, Commerce Next, Coresight Research, Jumpmind and ReturnPro.
We also want to give a shout out to Dave Finnegan, of Blackfinn Partners, who was the best dressed male of the night in a Scottish Kilt.
About Vendors in Partnership Awards (VIP): Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Is a global community and organization focused on fostering better collaboration between retailers and solution providers, aiming to transform the retail industry through meaningful relationships, innovation, and shared learning, notably through their prestigious annual VIP Awards held in NYC each January to recognize top vendors and partners.
VIP’s core mission is to build a network based on transparency, trust, and mutual respect, highlighting solution providers that drive real innovation and help retailers succeed beyond mere transactions, with its logo symbolizing retailers, vendors, and industry experts working together
See Exclusive interview Mrs. Vicki Cantrell, Founder and CEO of VIP Awards, in our World Liberty TV, Retail Channels by clicking here.
Celebrating Innovation, Empathy and Excellence among the Retail Solution Provider Community.
The Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards is an industry celebration for the solution providers that are powering the retail ecosystem. In addition to celebrating great solutions, the recognized companies are those who are willing to adapt to make more meaningful partnerships with retailers, increasing the success for all.
The Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards are an industry celebration for the solution providers that power the retail ecosystem, and the new ways that partnerships were formed and challenges were overcome.
We want to acknowledge service to this industry, and will recognize and celebrate a willingness to transform from within, create deep and perceptive partnerships, and great solutions.
Having established these awards for the solution provider community, we are also giving retailers a formal way to support, influence and recognize those partners who integrate business methodologies based on shared success measures and a service level designed for mutual benefit.
Let’s recognize the brave, the innovators, the teachers, the supporters and the agitators…
The Event took place at the Gotham Hall. Located in the iconic Midtown landmark building that once housed Greenwich Savings Bank. The venue features a 9,000 square-foot Ballroom with 70-foot ceiling and an ornate stained-glass skylight.
The Keynote speaker of the night was: Manley’s love of climbing began in college. Invited by a friend to try out a beginner’s rock climb in the hills of Kentucky, he stepped up into the Vertical and was instantly hooked.
He began climbing anywhere and anytime he could. After each adventure, he would reverse-engineer the experience, evaluating what had (or hadn’t) helped him reach the summit.
The lessons he unpacked didn’t just improve his climbing, but his leadership as he helped Build-A-Bear scale from 42 stores to 425 worldwide and increase revenue from $55 Million to $470 Million.
Join Manley Feinberg as he teases the gravity of high-stakes choices amidst life’s sheer cliffs at the VIP Awards North America.
The 2024 VIP Awards Winners were all well deserving of these great iconic awards, which we saw proudly displayed at the NRF 2024, booths by the winning vendors. To see the 2024 VIP Award winners, click here.
See More Coverage of VIP Awards 2024, in our World Liberty TV, Retail Channels by clicking here.
Celebrating Innovation, Empathy & Excellence among the Retail Solution Provider Community
The Vendors in Partnership (VIP) Awards are an industry celebration for the solution providers that are powering the retail ecosystem.
In addition to celebrating great solutions, the companies that are recognized are those that are willing to make changes that are meaningful in creating a better partnership with the retailers, increasing the success of all.
Vendors in Partnership is a new awards program created to recognize innovative retail solutions providers. Vicki Cantrell, the co-founder of the VIP Awards, told TotalRetail that she helped launch this awards program to recognize solutions providers that “help keep retail evolving, exciting and engaging for customers and industry professionals alike.”
“So many solution providers that support the retail industry not only understand the value of long-term relationships, they consider it part of their mission,” Cantrell said.
“We need to reward those companies, and demonstrate that this is the best future success measure for others that are still struggling to break out of the transactional mind-set.”
I was thrilled to learn that Phil [co-founder of the VIP Awards and founder and CEO of Retail Global Events and the Retail Orphan Initiative (Australia) Ltd.] and Vicki were bringing the Vendors in Partnership Awards to life because the retail industry at large has needed something like this for a long time.
There are so many valuable service providers, experiences, industry leaders and more that help keep retail evolving, exciting and engaging for customers and industry professionals alike to enjoy. Keeping this in mind, the VIP Awards are a fantastic way to bring recognition and respect to the those leading the way in helping to shape both the current landscape and future of retail.
World Liberty TV, was making its 16th Appearance at National Retail Federation (NRF), and covering the Vendors in Partnership (VIP Awards) for the first time. See exclusive interview with Vicki Cantrell, the co-founder of the VIP Awards in our World Liberty TV, Business Channels by clicking here.
