The 2015 Cessnock Customer Service Awards have been hailed as a great success, with more than 220 people attending the gala awards night at Cessnock Leagues Club on Friday.
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Chief judge and Cessnock Chamber of Commerce president Geoff Walker said it was fantastic to see so many local businesses celebrating excellence in customer service with their staff and friends.
More than 540 nominations were received for this year’s awards, and the chamber was thrilled with the way the community has engaged with the awards.
Winners and runners-up announced in the categories of hospitality, retail, professional, trade, community services and business owner.
The overall award for excellence in customer service was presented to Kristy Brady from Video Ezy.
“Kristy articulated a strong understanding of what customer service is all about,” Mr. Walker said.
“This was right from the first greeting through to when the customer leaves the business premises and beyond.
“Kristy showed a clear connect between the customer and what they are looking for – the need behind the need.
“In this particular case, it is not the physical product itself, which is most important to the customer, but rather what it provides to the customer for emotional satisfaction.
“People involved in customer service need to understand the dynamic and changing nature of how customers want to interact with us.
“We are living in a rapidly evolving world and customers are usually time poor and looking for that personalised service in order to achieve their goals and outcomes.
“Being able to adapt to the changing business environment and exceed the customer expectations is a challenge the winner has accepted and implemented into their day-to-day activities.”
2015 CESSNOCK CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS WINNERS
Overall winner for excellence in customer service: Kristy Brady (Video Ezy)
Community services: joint winners, Jenny Field (Finding Yellow), Karen Bruce (Kurri Library)
Hospitality: winner, Kirsten Mitchell (Chateau Élan); runner-up Morgan Fay (East Cessnock Bowling Club)
Professional: winner, Sally Tindall (The Advertiser); runner-up, Chilli Bromage (Ray White Real Estate)
Trade: winner, Taneil Shoesmith (Sign Style); runner-up, Rose Howard (Bluebird Florist)
Retail: winner, Kristy Brady (Video Ezy); runner-up, Ashlee Dodds (Mathers)
Business owner: winner, Therese Mallik (Mallik Real Estate); runner-up, Lennert de Visser (Exquisite Cakes by Lennert)