Chamber of Commerce announces its annual customer service winners.

Honiton Sports Shop finished ahead off 23 other nominated local businesses to take this year’s Pride of Honiton award.

The prize, awarded annually by the chamber of commerce, recognises the very best of customer service.

Announcing the results, Chamber chairman Tony McCollum said: “We are delighted with the number of nominees this year, more than any other year. This is the seventh year the award has been run and proves that Honiton businesses really care about giving good levels of customer service. Maybe that’s one of the reasons so many independent shops and businesses thrive in Honiton. The winner of this award is chosen by the public and that gives the competition even more credence and gravitas.”

Paul Newman, of Honiton Sports Shop, was delighted to receive the award. He said: “We have worked hard to please our customers and to advise them well. We would rather not sell something than have someone leave the shop with a product that is not right for them and their needs. I would like to think that shoppers in our store buy, safe in the knowledge that they have been sold the most appropriate thing for them, whether that is a new pair of trainers for the gym or a swimsuit for triathlon training. I cannot express how grateful we are to all those who voted for us, it really does mean a lot and is genuinely appreciated.”

The competition was close with Honiton Sports Shop finishing just six votes ahead of Alan Rowe, the barber who, in turn, beat Thyme into third place by another eight votes.

Tony added: “The Pride of Honiton Award is now well established and is just one of many projects the Chamber of Commerce undertake to improve the commercial environment of Honiton and its surrounding district. We have many more initiatives under way, which we will announce in due course.”