Three Champion of Champion Winners claim titles in Retail, Lifestyle and Food and Drink
The independent stores with the best customer service have been unveiled in the first Customer at the Heart Awards. Three Yorkshire businesses took the titles in three categories, with an honorary mention for a fourth shop in Cambridge. It marks the first time the public have been able to vote for the best independent stores on their doorstep.
The winners are;
Anon Lingerie in Elland, winning in the Retail section
Hinchcliffe’s Farm Shop in Huddersfield in Food and Drink
Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge in the Lifestyle category.
There was a special commendation for Lighthouse Toys in Cambridge, a toyshop that specialises in selling educational toys and for children with learning difficulties.
All four are independent shops who had been nominated by their customers for a Customer at the Heart Award. The awards, established by retail expert and co-founder of Insight with Passion, Kate Hardcastle, are designed to celebrate the best in customer service. After listening to negative stories about the high street, Kate decided to turn the tables and celebrate those doing a great job.
This year, to mark National Customer Service Week, the Champion of Champions were voted for in three categories by members of the public. For the first time it has allowed people to decide and name.
Kate is delighted for the winners, “Independents really are the life blood of our local communities and high streets. They’re the ones run by local people and entrepreneurs, going the extra mile for their customers adding character and colour to our town centres. The Customer at the Heart Awards were designed to celebrate exactly that and now that we have our first Champion of Champions I hope they’ll be able to inspire others to push themselves forward, to make their store stand out and offer a little extra for their customers”.
Maria Rules-Hazzard from Anon Lingerie with Kate Hardcastle receiving the Champion of Champions Customer at the Heart Award for Retail. Based in Elland, Anon Lingerie was set-up by 22 year old Rebecca Sedgewick who wanted to create a quirky and inclusive boutique shop that caters for every woman. Maria says, “Becky didn’t like the adverts she was sent by manufacturers to advertise different styles of underwear so she hired her own models, real women, to model them. She goes a step beyond to make people feel beautiful and confident. When I got married she was happy for me to take different sizes and styles of lingerie to try on under my wedding dress to make sure it looks right. That’s the level of service you get at Anon and what makes it stand out”.
<<ENDS>>
Notes to Editors
Customer at the Heart is a free award established in 2011 and designed to celebrate the best in customer service by independent business.
The brainchild of retail expert and co-founder of Insight with Passion, Kate Hardcastle, the awards were set-up against a barrage of negative headlines about the high street. Understanding that independent business could develop its own reputation and standing by making itself a destination and championing great customer service and experience, Kate set-up the awards to highlight those doing it best and also to provide a benchmark for others to aspire to.
For pictures, contact details for each winner or further information contact Laura Brown at laura@lauramariebrown.com, 07739321279 or the awards at @Customer_Heart
