Proud of My Store, the competition from Critizr that celebrates stories of pride from frontline retail workers is being extended until the end of July, to give more stores a chance to gain recognition and reward for their outstanding service during Covid.
Nearly 150 entries are already featured on the competition website from all over the UK, telling tales of dedication, community spirit and customer service that went above and beyond during the pandemic – from big name supermarkets to small regional boutiques and cafes.
Initially scheduled to close at the end of June, stores now have an extra month to get their entries in, before an overall winner is crowned ‘Proudest Store 2021’ – winning a luxury hamper for the whole team and £300 for the store’s favourite charity.
To help make that tough decision, Critizr will be calling on a prestigious panel of industry experts who have been unveiled today. They include Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium; Antony Hawman, Co-founder & CPO at TheIndustry.fashion; and Steve Collinge from Insight DIY; with others to be confirmed.
Hazel Morton, UK Head of Marketing at Critizr, explains that, with momentum building for the competition, they wanted to keep entries pouring in for an extra month. She commented: ‘I think #proudofmystore has struck a chord with retail teams and we’ve been humbled by the time and effort many people have taken to tell us their incredible stories, all of which are posted on the competition website. There are tales of store teams working hard in their communities to support vulnerable customers; of service with a smile when business models were being turned upside down behind the scenes; and of sheer hard work and determination to keep serving shoppers through the most difficult times imaginable. It has made us extremely proud to read them and be able to share them with a wider audience.
‘For businesses that haven’t yet entered, there’s now time to share your ‘store story’ with us and celebrate the pride you have in your own team. Entering is easy. Anyone working in retail – supermarkets, convenience stores, independent boutiques, pharmacies, bars, restaurants, gyms, salons – can log on to write a few sentences about why they are proud of their team at www.proudofmystore.com. We look forward to hearing from you!’
