Chappelle wins retailer of year award
Published 4:24 pm Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Shown are Chester Chappelle; Chet Chappelle, owner of Rountree Outdoors; Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce; and Rodney King, Mark’s Mart owner and former retailer of the year award winner.
Back in August, Rountree Outdoors owner Chet Chappelle learned his store had been chosen as one of the state’s top retailers. On Tuesday, the award was in his hands.
Rountree won the silver medal in the 2015 Retailer of the Year Awards for businesses with annual sales of less than $1 million.
“I’m very excited. It’s a huge honor for us to be even classified with these other retailers here in Alabama. It’s a huge honor for us,” Chappelle said. “It means a lot for us to get awarded for something that we do.”
The Alabama Retail Association’s banquet was held at the Vestavia Country Club Tuesday. A total of 13 retail businesses across the state were honored.
Although the businesses in attendance knew that they had won an award, they did not know whether it was going to be gold, silver or bronze.
“I just want to thank ARA for giving us this award, and I would also like to thank Sheryl Smedley with the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce,” Chappelle said as he accepted the award. “This is a huge honor, and I thank you very much.”
Smedley, the executive director of the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, nominated Chappelle for the award and was at the banquet to celebrate with Chappelle.
“It’s absolutely wonderful. It’s so exciting to be up here today and to have this honor and be a part of ARA’s day, and especially for Chet and his family,” Smedley said. “He’s invested in Selma, and making a difference in our community and he’s so supportive of the community as well.”
Chappelle said the award would be on display in the store.
“Our customers mean a lot to us. If it weren’t for our customers, we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing and we wouldn’t be here. A lot of our customers are our friends, and that means a lot,” Chappelle said. “I enjoy going to work, I enjoy helping people and I enjoy what I do.”
Past local retailers honored include Mark’s Mart, Carter Drug Co., Butler Truax Jewelers
The 2015 Retailers of the Year recipients were honored in conjunction with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business’ Retail Day.
