AN OKEHAMPTON fashion shop which offers a friendly chat, armchairs to take a rest, coffee and even biscuits for the dog has been shortlisted for a national award for customer service.
Teazles in Red Lion Yard is one of six stores competing for the excellence award which is organised by the leading fashion magazine Drapers Record.
Jean Swift, who has been running the shop for four years, will now have to wait until October 10 to see if she makes the final three and books her place at a glitzy gala evening at London's Natural History Museum in November.
'I am chuffed to pieces to get this far,' said Jean. 'We were told there were hundreds of entries in this section so to make it down to six is pretty good.'
The Drapers Record Awards, which also have categories for best new store, womenswear and lingerie, are the fashion equivalent of the Oscars, but this is the first time Teazles has put itself forward.
'We thought it was worth having a go, and after sending off a portfolio of photos we were visited by a mystery shopper but they were so convincing we still do not know who it was,' added Jean.
Jean said she had always looked after her customers: 'The coffee is always on and we have the dog biscuits at the ready. There is one dog who cannot walk past this shop without making his owner stop and come inside.
'Customers tend to tell their friends and family about Teazles and the service they get here so we see people from all over the country — our customer base is quite wide.'