RESIDENTS, shoppers and visitors to Tavistock are being asked to vote for their favourite stores and services as the town launches its first ever Customer Service Excellence Awards today in collaboration with the Tavistock Times.

An initiative between the Totally Awesome Women’s Network, Tavistock BID (Business Improvement District) and the Times, the awards will give recognition to great customer service in the town, while at the same time promoting all that is good about the high street and the uniqueness of Tavistock.

The idea was the brainchild of Rhiannon Spurgeon, the founder of the Totally Awesome Women’s Network and manager of the business centre, The Hub, in Tavistock town centre. She said she wanted to do something to flag up the great service that could be found in the town.

‘The idea was hatched when I found it nigh on impossible to get recognition for the ladies working in Superdrug,’ she said. ‘I called their head office to nominate them for their internal recognition scheme and was astonished to find that no such scheme existed. The best they could do was notify the store manager, who funnily enough already knows how amazing they are.

‘It got me to thinking that if they couldn’t get any recognition for great service working in a national chain, how were any of our other customer service diamonds going to get any?’

Rhiannon said she would rather support a local business than shop online: ‘There is no comparison, when you shop locally you get a conversation, a big smile and someone who knows what they are talking about and who knows you.

‘I could get my cosmetic products anywhere but I go to Superdrug because the staff talk me through each product and whether it will be right for me.

‘The high street will live or die based on customer service. Trying to compete on price with online shopping is always going to be difficult but we can win on customer service and charm and that’s what Tavistock has buckets of.’

Voting opens today (May 16) and will close on October 1. Members of the public can nominate an individual or business in four categories — retail, well-being, hospitality and services. Winners will be announced at the switch-on of the Tavistock Christmas Lights on November 16.  

Fill in the voting form on page 4 of this week’s Tavistock with the name of the individual or business you are nominating, why you have chosen them and your details. Alternatively, the form will be available from the Tavistock Times Facebook page.

The completed forms can be dropped into the Times office in Brook Street or be posted (the address is on the from).

Voting can also be done online at www.visit-tavistock.co.uk/awards

BID Manager, Janna Sanders said: ‘We are really excited by this new initiative to celebrate the amazing customer experiences delivered by the people who work in Tavistock.

‘It’s another great way to support and focus attention on the town centre and the businesses that make up our wonderful high street.

‘The different categories mean that it is a really inclusive scheme that will highlight the great work done by the vast majority of businesses in town.

‘Showing locals that we value them through good customer service can boost the numbers of people choosing to support local businesses and having a reputation for good customer service will make Tavistock a town worth visiting.’

General manager of the Tavistock Times Lianne Hunt said: ‘The Times is delighted to be involved with the Customer Service Excellence Awards.

‘Good customer service leads to greater customer satisfaction and we want people to come back to Tavistock based on the good experience they have had here.

‘This is a great town with wonderful services and people, let’s shout about it and give those people the recognition they deserve.’