GAMA and the Retail Division revealed the winners of the 2021 Power Retail Awards through an online ceremony. The Power Retail Awards honor the best in retail innovation and creativity, and are given out annually.

Every current GAMA retailer is a winner in 2021 in addition to being a survivor of the COVID-19 pandemic. GAMA and the GRD announced that now all GAMA member retailers can proudly claim that they are winners of the 2021 Retailer of the Year Award.  

"Go back to your community, stand up, and say that you won this award," said GRD Secretary Dave Salisbury during the online ceremony. "You deserve this. Not just for what you did, but what you are about to do."

The GRD also handed out three additional awards, two of which were new to the Power Retail Awards. The first-time awards were the Outstanding Contribution to Games award and the Innovation in Games (Retail) award. The Outstanding Contribution to Games award is given to a retailer that owns and operates a remarkable store and has been called on to represent the games industry in the media. This award went to Kathleen Donahue of Labyrinth Game Shop in Washington, D.C.

The Innovation in Games (Retail) replaced the Organized Play category, and is given to someone that comes up with the next big gaming retail innovation. The 2021 award was given to Board Gaming with Education (BGE). They are an online games marketplace for educators that also offers resources in the form of  professional development courses, a podcast, and an active YouTube channel. Their objective is to promote games as learning tools.

The Outstanding Store Design award went to Hitherto Coffee & Gaming Parlor in Greenfield, IN.

Check out last year's award winners (see "GAMA Announces 2020 Power Retail Award Winners").

Click Gallery below for photos of the Outstanding Store Design winner!