Seafresh wins customer service accolade

The winners have been announced in this year’s Livingroom Customer Service Awards. Following a six-week voting process, in which the general public was able to nominate the individual or team they felt deserved a customer service accolade, the winners were announced in an open-air ceremony in Market Square on Thursday 3 July. Hosted by Island FM’s James Bentley, over 300 people attended the event to find out if their nominees were winners.

From over 5,000 entries, 10 category winners were chosen. From each of these winners, an overall winner(s) was chosen as Guernsey’s very best in customer service excellence, and the winners for 2014 were announced as Bernie Le Gallez and his team at Seafresh.

Bernie said ‘We are all ecstatic. To know that our customers have voted for us and to be recognised in this way is beyond belief. We have the best customers in the world.’

There is also a judges’ special award this year, given in recognition of someone who has consistently given a ‘WOW’ factor in the course of their role, and this was awarded to Archana Sharma, events manager at La Grande Mare Hotel.

All the winners are listed below:

Self-Employed: Debbie Duport, Dance teacher

Employee of a small business: Louise Dunn, trainer at Storm Force Fitness

Employee of a medium-sized
business: Gary Bougourd, Babbe McCathie

Employee of a large business: Jan Lilley, Co-Operative, St Martins

Best team: Lloyds Bank

Best overall customer experience: Seafresh fishmongers

Tourism/hospitality: Philippa Ward, Rousse Kiosk

Aspiring star: Sean Corlett, Paws Petcare

States/Public sector worker: Robbie Dover, Guernsey Police

Humble volunteer (charitable): Helen Holmes, GSPCA

Barry Cash, director of Guernsey’s Chamber of Commerce, commented:

‘For any business, attracting – and then retaining – customers is vital. Having your customers take the time to vote for you and recommend you for an award is something to which every business in Guernsey should aspire. All the winners have shown they excel at what they do. Seafresh is a worthy winner – I am delighted for Bernie and his team.

Deputy Kevin Stewart, who presented the Tourism/hospitality award, commented:

‘It is a pleasure to attend these awards each year, as it shows just how much emphasis businesses need to give to customer service excellence. I commend all the finalists and winners who have shown unswerving dedication to their customers.’

Julie Todd, founder of the awards, summarised, ‘The Livingroom Customer Service Awards are a showcase for the customer service excellence that exists in Guernsey and we are looking forward to growing the event further in years to come.’

For more information, and a gallery of images from Thursday night’s awards ceremony, visit www.thecustomerserviceawards.com