Tauranga Mitre 10 Mega manager Wayne Mansell's service with a smile now comes with award winning backing after he won Retailer of the Year at this year's Hardware Awards overnight.

Wayne walked away with the top prize at last night's awards ceremony at Auckland's Langham Hotel due to what the judges describe as 'outstanding service and exceptional leadership skills”.

Wayne Mansell was awarded Retailer of the Year at last night's Hardware Awards.

'I was absolutely thrilled and it is the highlight of my career,” Wayne told SunLive today.

'I've been in retail over 25 years and to be acknowledged by your peers and acknowledged as an industry leader is certainly the most exciting thing for me.

'The whole of New Zealand's and all of the hardware stores and I'm the best; it's not bad.”

As the general manager of Mitre 10 Mega, a position he has held for the last seven years, Wayne looks after a team of 120 staff at the Gate Pa store, all of whom he knows by name.

Last month the store was also awarded Mitre 10 Mega store of the year for 2013.

But the Mount Maunganui resident is not boasting of his success too loudly, instead opting to lay the plaudits squarely with the 120-strong team behind him.

'To be honest it's all about our team and our work. I might be the leader but it's all about the team effort, so I don't want to take anything away from my team – they do a great job.”

Leading up to last night's announcement, Wayne and two other finalists were put to their toughest test yet, giving a formal presentation to the judges, followed by a quick fire round.

The 10 minute formal presentation required the trio highlight the recent highs and lows of the building sector during the last three years.

'The formal presentation was pretty hard and then the quick fire round was even more intense. In the presentation I talked about our team and what we do as a team for our customers. It is about delivering the delight making sure customers are happy with what we do all day every day.”

Now in its 18th year, the Hardware Awards celebrates excellence in New Zealand's hardware, builders' supply and home décor retail, as well as supply sectors of the industry, acknowledging the hard work and commitment of everyday New Zealanders.