The eighth Retailer of the Year competition has been launched and the nominations are coming in. 

This year's competition will culminate in a glittering gala awards evening at Club Batchwood on June 22.

And this week we are focusing on our Fashion and Accessories category, which is once again sponsored by the Maltings shopping centre.

With so many clothes shops in the city centre it is easy to see why people in the district are so well dressed.

But which one is the best?

The Dressing Room, based in High Street, was named as the winner of the Fashion and Accessories category last year .

The competition is a joint initiative between the Review, St Albans District Council, St Albans Civic Society and St Albans District Chamber of Commerce and is now in its seventh year.

You can enter traders in seven categories of specialist shops; markets trader; cafés; restaurants, hair and beauty; fashion and accessories and St Albans Neighbourhood Centres. This new category is in response to demand from traders for an award for retailers not based within the city centre.

Our STAR award will be handed out to a retailer who goes above and beyond the call of duty and the winners of the 2014 Festive Pub of the Year competition will also receive their trophy.

All nominated retailers will also be sent a window poster and all nominations should be received by midnight on May 8. After this date our team of mystery shoppers will hit the streets, putting each and every retailer to the test.

You can nominate traders by tweeting our dedicated Retailer of the Year page: @StAlbansROTY . Simply tell us the name of the shop/cafe/restaurant/trader and where they are based.

You can also nominate a retailer via text.  Just text the word ‘retailer’ followed by the name and address of the business to 80360. 

Or you can nominate a retailer by filling out the form in this week’s Review and posting it to the news desk or by emailing your entry to revieweditor@london.newsquest.co.uk

Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge. Text lines open 20/03/2015 and close 08/05/2015 at 23:59PM. Service Provided by Newsquest Media Group. Call 0207 998 0549 for help and advice on phone and mobile services.

Nominations so far:

Specialist Shops:

Addiktion Cycles

Dolce Italia

Stitch to Fit, Holywell Hill

Wilkinson's

Spec Factory, Holywell Hill

Steamer Trading Cook Shop

Chaos City Comics

Printed Clothing Co

Tomoka Spirits

Whitehall Galleries

Jigsaw

Flowers Flowers

The Green Kitchen

123 Floor

Marks and Spencers

Charlies (Cobblers in Catherine Street)

Buongiorno Italia

A&C Meats

That Design Store

Iceland

Holland and Barrett

Chloe James

Hair and Beauty

Alternative Barbering

St Albans Barbers

Fns Barbers

Sanrizz

Sarah Lovane Hair

Greys Hair and Beauty

Neal's Yard

Wacky Barber

Wilde About Hair

Fashion and Accessories

The Bridal Rack

Little Viking

Matalan

French Connection

Hobbs

Waterers Menswear

LK Bennett

H&M

Long Tall Sally

D. Copperfield

Market Traders

Estelle Hair clips

Chapman Flowers

Sammi's stall - cards and bags

Jollyhome

The Cheesewheeler

Scyamore Wholefoods

Dave's Tasty Bites

Grove Fruits

Bread and Cake stall

Anthony Lewis Photography

The Bread Stall

Poulters Fish stall

The Card Sisters

Chrissy's Cupcakes

The Golf Stall (Wednesday near Town Hall)

So Cosy (Saturday outside the White Shop)

Tylers Fruit and Veg Stall (Saturday outside Jack Wills, Wednesday outside BHS)

Cup Cake Stall (Wednesday in Market Place)

Café

West Cornwall Pasty Co

H&H, Victoria Street

The Pudding Shop

Hatch

The Waffle House

Barrisimo

The Courtyard Café

Restaurants

The Beech House

Nando's

Dylan's (at the King's Arms)

Lussmanns

Wagamamma

Carluccio's

Nando's

Prime

Italiana

La Cosa Nostra

Cote Brasserie

Fishy Delishy

Freddies

Neighbourhood Shops

The Garden House, Redbourne Rd

Alpharmarque, Russet Drive

Hair on the Heath, Sandridge Road

Mosaic Hair Studio

Lydons, Electrical Repair Shop (opposite the Jolly Sailor)

Funzone Fancy Dress (High Oaks)