New Look Scoops Top Prize
New Look is celebrating today as one of their sales assistants, Emily Platten, was announced winner of Counter Skills: Hitchin 2010, a competition to find the most skilled retail employee in the town.
Emily beat 40 other hopefuls to win the overall prize and a cheque for £1,000. The announcement was made on Thursday (10th June) at a highly charged awards ceremony held at the Hitchin Priory.
Counter Skills measures the talents of non-managerial staff working in shops and services as they participate in seven, thirty-minute challenges over a two week competition period. Amongst other things competitors are required to serve a mystery shopper to demonstrate their customer service ability, demonstrate one of their favourite products or services to a Counter Skills Judge, balance a till and create an attractive display of merchandise.
Delivered by Retail Revival Ltd, Counter Skills in Hitchin was a real partnership affair sponsored by North Herts College, Hertfordshire County Council, Hitchin Bid Ltd, Concilium Financial Planning, Chamberlains Accountants, The Town Fryer and Your Media Hertfordshire.
‘The Counter Skills Competition measures consistency and accuracy and it really highlights how many diverse skills a successful retailer needs to have to do their job well’ said Sally Williams, Managing Director of Retail Revival Ltd. “The standard in Hitchin was very high, Emily didn’t have a weak area, she performed each task with expertise.”
Keith Hoskins, Hitchin Town Centre Manager, said: “The standard of entries in this competition showed just how vibrant the shops are in Hitchin. If this is what shoppers experience when they come to town, then I am confident they will keep coming back for that personal touch. The awards evening was a great chance to celebrate that. Well done to everyone who took part.”
The prizes were presented by Dushy Getty, Management Training Consultant at North Hertfordshire College. Second prize and a cheque for £500 was won by Shanie Denbymore from The Ivory, and Rebecca Basford from La Senza won third prize and a cheque for £250. Amy Pritchard, from the Home Extension Team, won the accolade of best newcomer, which was awarded to the competitor with the highest score that has worked in the retail and service industry for less than a year.