* * * * *
* Brent Cross Press Releases *
*
*
<<<Back to Press Releases
recieving award 21 September 2005

Local Lady wins �1,000 as Brent Cross Sales Assistant of the Year 2005

Nothing makes a shopping trip more complete than being served by a friendly and helpful sales assistant and Premila Patel, whom has worked at Waitrose for 19 years is officially as good as they come. Premila, from Mill Hill, scooped first prize at the first annual Sales Assistant of the Year Award, winning £1,000 in Brent Cross Gift Cheques, a £500 photo shoot at Venture Portraits, flowers, a certificate and a trophy. Runner up was Ellen Ward, from Hendon who works at John Lewis and received £250 in Brent Cross Gift Cheques, while second place Runner up was Dee Sehmi, from Southall, who works at Regis and won £150 in Brent Cross Gift The award winners were chosen by the customers and staff of Brent Cross. Each Brent Cross store nominated a member of staff for the Award. A special committee drawn from retail experts in the Centre assessed all nominations and selected 10 finalists. Brent Cross customers then cast their votes for the Sales Assistant of the Year Award, by completing a voting form in centre, or online at www.brentcross.co.uk. The panel then picked the winner based on votes, individual mystery shop results and interview answers.

The winner of the Sales assistant of the year award was an extremely excited (and very polite & helpful) Premila Patel. Premila, a check out supervisor, has worked at Waitrose in Brent Cross for 19 years. Premila claimed 'Serving customers is my priority and I always do it with a smile on my face. I believe nothing is too much trouble for our customers.'

Premila said the prize money would go towards house improvements 'obviously bought at John Lewis!!'

Ellen, who has worked at John Lewis for 5 years, said that she would be spending her money on 'a new fridge freezer and maybe some nice treatments for myself.'

Dee Sehmi from Regis planned to spend her money on treats for her children. Dee has worked at Regis for three years; however she has worked within Brent Cross for 13 years.

The awards are part of a wider reaching twin track service strategy which Brent Cross has undertaken over the past 18 months focussing on the service given by shopping centre staff and retail store staff. All of Brent Cross' 150 own employees' receive customer service training and have been accredited with the British Tourist Authority's, 'Welcome to Excellence' standard. Retail staff are also invited to receive 'Brent Cross' customer service training, while stores not performing to the required standard in Mystery Shopping visits are invited to work with the Centre through a customer service action plan.

Retailers as well as individuals are rewarded for excellent customer service via the Brent Cross Customer Service Awards. The awards are sponsored by, MITIE (Engineering Services) and Amber Arch, the leading mystery shopping agency and were supported by retail property organisation BCSC.

Tom Nathan, General Manager states, 'By rewarding those who achieve excellent customer service we are offering an added incentive to improve performance. The awards will also serve to highlight positive role models for retail stores and staff to emulate.'

There are three main Brent Cross awards: Retailer of the Year (prize £1,000 to be split between the store employees), Best Improver Award (prize £250 to be split between the store employees) and Sales Assistant of the Year (prize £1,000 for the individual).

The retailer of the year award went to Abbey National, while the Best improver was awarded to The Link.