Award Winners
Press Release
30 November 2007
Shobdon PO & Stores show passion and commitment to win UK best shop award
Martin and Aileen Lovell are local retailers who have been honoured as the UK's most exceptional independent retailers, as part of the second Independent Achievers Academy (IAA) awards.
Over 250 guests attended the awards dinner in London last week which was hosted by BBC Breakfast News Business presenter Declan Curry. The night marked the end of a rigorous six month entry and assessment process aimed at recognising the outstanding performance of independent retailers in categories such as customer service, availability and staff development.
The Lovells, who run Shobdon Post Office and Stores, wowed in-store assessors with their passion and commitment to the business and their local community. The couple scored highly across 12 retail disciplines including customer service, availability and staff development. This top performance saw them named Overall Best Shop at the IAA awards, beating 11 other category winners and hundreds of UK entrants.
As well as receiving the top gong, the store won the IAA Technology award for its successful adoption of virtually every effective retail technology available. The expert judges were particularly impressed by the store's website www.shobdonvillage.co.uk
"The response to the website has been incredible," said Martin Lovell.
"We saw an opportunity to do something which, to the best of my knowledge, no other store offers their community. The site offers information about the shop and the products we sell, but it also gives information on things like local hotels and attractions, schools, clubs and churches.
"It truly is a website for the whole village and places us well and truly at the centre of what's going on around here," said Mr Lovell.
It is a shop that is deeply involved in its community, using EPOS to support its customers and providing a range of services including DVD rentals, ATM and bill payments, and in the near future, internet ordering.
Martin and Aileen Lovell both changed careers three years ago to take over the running of Shobdon Post Office and Stores. Mr Lovell gave up his job as a sales and marketing director and Aileen quit hers as a nurse to enter the retail business.
The IAA awards proved to be a great motivating factor to the retailers. After getting to the Independent Achievers Academy finals in 2006, the Lovells developed their store even more, determined to progress in the awards.
"These retailers provide inspiration to all of us in the independent trade," said Nick Shanagher, Managing Director of organiser Newtrade Publishing.
The success of local shops is important as most UK adults visit them every other day [1] and like to be able to quickly find what they want.
"While the Independent Achievers Academy shines a light on great independents supporting local communities throughout the UK, collectively they act as a beacon for the sector."
[1] UK adults visit their local shop 3.5 times a week and 81% of shoppers choose to call on their local store because they want to save time. Source: HIM Convenience Tracking Programme Spring 2007
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