Small, family run businesses in Newbury provide far superior customer service to big national chains, a study found yesterday. Nationwide research among 3,000 consumers for TheBestOf revealed 75 per cent of people in the Newbury area enjoy shopping at smaller stores and businesses because staff are 'more approachable and knowledgeable' about products and prices
Consumers branded many workers in bigger companies 'not fully equipped' to deal with questions or queries and said most lacked training. Customers love the personal service they receive at smaller companies, and appreciate that staff are knowledgeable about their field and products.
The poll was commissioned by 'TheBestOf' to launch its '14 Days of Love' campaign which invites people to ‘show some love’ to the millions of local small firms, shops and stores, across the UK. From today, TheBestOf is setting up a ‘Love-O-Meter’ on its website (www.thebestof.co.uk/loveometer) featuring the most loved businesses in each town and people can get involved by ’sharing their love’ and influencing the Love-o-Meter score for each business. At the end of the 14 Days of Love the Top 20 Most Loved Newbury Businesses and top 100 for the UK will be unveiled. And there are some fantastic prizes to be won.
The poll reveals that big businesses could indeed learn a lot from their smaller rivals operating in Newbury. For instance, 80 per cent of people surveyed, believe staff working in larger businesses often don't know as much as they should about their products and services and 60 per cent say they have had an argument with someone in a large national company due to poor customer service.
80 per cent of people polled like the fact that people who own and work for smaller businesses are more ardent about what they do. And 67 per cent believe smaller family run companies look after their staff better than the bigger conglomerates.
Whilst 57 per cent nationally say they have made the effort to compliment a small business on the good service they have received, 8 in 10 people believe smaller businesses deserve more recognition for the role they play in the community, and 82 per cent wish local businesses received more support to help them maintain their position in the community and move forwards.
So help us help the best local businesses get the attention they deserve.
Spend a bit of time in the next couple of weeks celebrating the truly great local businesses and hidden gems in the Newbury area. Tell them how you feel in person. Better still go to thebestofnewbury website and ‘big up’ the local firms that really make a difference to you. Let’s give them the recognition they deserve.
To declare your love for a local business in Newbury go to:
