10:08am Wednesday 16th May 2007
By Roan Fair
POOLE'S finest retailers were the toast of the town at last night's Top of the Shops Awards. Both independents and multiples triumphed in the annual awards to celebrate Poole and Parkstone's leading traders:
Best Overall Multiple in Poole - Winner: The Perfume Shop (Runner-up: Sainsbury's)
Best Overall Independent in Poole - Winner: Beads 47 (Runner-up: Cycle Paths)
Best Overall Independent in Parkstone - Winner: Guitar Mania (Runner-up: Oswald Bailey)
Best Window Display (Multiple) - Winner: Beales (Runner-up: Millets)
Best Window Display (Independent) - Winner: Truly Scrumptious (Runner-up: Lumin-Essence)
Best Customer Service In A Retail Environment (Multiple) - Winner: Millets (Runner-up: Halfords)
Best Customer Service In A Retail Environment (Independent) - Winner: Lumin-Essence (Runner-up: Rocks)
Best Customer Service Individual (Multiple) - Winner: Angela Greny
Best Customer Service Individual (Independent) - Winner: Jean Clift
Safe Retail: Paul Shorrocks and Mike Jesse.
Winners were announced at a glittering awards dinner at the Quay Thistle Hotel, Poole.
In their second year, they were again sponsored by Poole-based Sibbett Gregory and Breeze Volkswagen and organised by Poole Town Centre Management and the Dorset Retail Skillshop project, supported by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) and the European Social Fund.
Poole town centre manager Gaynor Forryan said: "Top of the Shops is really important for Poole.
"It is the culmination of over eight weeks of a mystery shop process which included product knowledge, point of sale, best window display and customer service.
"The awards highlight the excellent retail skills we have in Poole town centre and Parkstone."
The evening was compered by Daily Echo editor Neal Butterworth and Wave 105 FM breakfast presenter Steve Power.
The Echo and Wave 105 FM were joint media sponsors.
See this Saturday's Echo for a full report and photos from the event.
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