Virtual Worlds has announced it is a a finalist in the Kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2021, in the one-off Lockdown Support Special Award category

Focusing on how suppliers have looked after their retailer networks during the lockdowns, the category was the perfect fit for Virtual Worlds, which has supported its network of retailers in a number of ways since the beginning of the pandemic.

An important part of this was a lead-generation campaign helping retailers to capitalise on the reported increase in number of homeowners looking to improve their kitchen or bathroom during and post-lockdown. A nationwide social media campaign drove leads directly to retailer showrooms in an expansion of the company’s £100k ‘Making your home perfect’ consumer marketing drive.

Consideration was also given to some of the specific benefits of Virtual Worlds products and how they could help during the pandemic, particularly with more people working from home. As lockdown hit, Design Cloud and Pro Suite licences were issued free of charge, enabling retailers to conduct remote sales presentations of 3D interactive designs. Full technical support also remained available, with the Virtual Worlds team of product trainers and IT professionals available throughout for any remote one-to-one training sessions and to handle any technical customer queries.

Finally, with one of the biggest obstacles for retailers during the pandemic being cash flow, the Virtual Worlds COVID-19 care programme saw over £140,000 worth of financial support being given, via payment breaks for its retailers.

“2020 was a year in which the KBB industry had to pull together like never before and we were pleased to be able to support retailers to get through what was an extremely challenging time,” comments Virtual Worlds Managing Director Nathan Maclean. “To be a finalist in the Kbbreview Retail & Design Awards is all the more special because it follows such a difficult period.”

For more information on Virtual Worlds, please visit www.virtualworlds.co.uk