Rochdale Town Centre Business Awards: Best Independent Retailer and Best Service Provider

Rochdale Town Centre Business Awards 2010/11

For the past week, members of the public have been voting on Rochdale Online for the Rochdale Town Centre Business Awards 2010/2011. The Awards, which are organised by Rochdale Town Centre Management, have been running since 2007 and celebrate customer service and excellence in the town. Over 50 businesses have applied for this year’s awards which involved filling in a detailed self-nomination form.

This week we feature two more awards: the Best Independent Retailer and the Best Service Provider award. These awards recognise and reward our top performing independently owned stores and providers of various services.

Best Independent Retailer is sponsored by Rochdale Development Agency whilst Best Service Provider is sponsored by Rochdale Town Centre Management.

To be involved, owners and managers had to fill in a detailed application form, fulfilling the following criteria for Independents: 

• Demonstrate you are a stockist of specialist goods and give examples.
• Showing individuality and innovation in merchandising.
• Showing originality in promotional activity.
• Excellent customer service (e.g. training, personal service, repeat purchase and product knowledge). 

And the following for Service Providers: 

• Understanding diversity of customers – e.g. from professionals to pensioners, students to tourists.
• Why the service you provide adds something to Rochdale.
• Excellent brand values and clear evidence that the business has moved forward over the last 12 months.
• Excellent customer service (e.g. training, policy, personal service). 

Each person that votes will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 to spend in Rochdale town centre.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency, said: ““Rochdale Development Agency recognizes the importance of supporting our local independent retailers, especially at this time, and that is why we are proud to sponsor the Best Independent Retailer award.”

Debbie O’Brien, Chief Executive of Rochdale Town Centre Management, said: “We have a wide range of service providers in this town, all of whom contribute to the shopping experience. Some of our hairdressers have won national awards, whilst our banks are known for their excellent customer service. This is why Rochdale Town Centre Management is proud to sponsor this Award.”

In addition to the public vote, mystery shoppers have also been visiting all the stores over the last few weeks and scoring them on various aspects of their service.

The Award will be presented at the Rochdale Town Centre Business Awards 2010/2011 on Friday 13 May at The Broadfield Park Hotel.

If you would like to vote, tell us why you think the Independent Retailer or Service Provider deserves to win. It is important that you indicate your reason for voting for that person, as the winners and runners-up will be chosen by judges for the best reasons given. The closing date for all votes for the Business Awards is Wednesday 27 April. Please note that only one vote per person will be accepted.

To view the nominations and to vote visit: http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/competitions/town-centre-awards-2011