January 2024
ertonline.co.uk
ERT AWARDS 2023
Best Independent Electrical Retailer Shopfront Winner
Coopers Home Appliances 28
“Winning the shopfront category is a fantastic achievement and it’s great to know that all our hard work has been recognised,” Darrin Christan, Director of Coopers, tells ERT. “Over the years we have built up quite a reputation for our window displays! “As an independent retailer on an iconic street in Bath, it’s always felt important that we go that extra mile and produce something that everyone feels proud of. To have this recognised makes it all worthwhile and gives us more incentive to create even bigger and better displays!” Coopers has been
trading since 1948. Its 2,000sq ft showroom is set over two floors of a listed Georgian building in the heart of the historic city; the retailer has become famous for its eye-catching and sometimes crazy shop displays over the years.
He says that passers-by always stick their heads in and say “I love your windows!” and with a constant stream of foot and car traffic outside, it’s the perfect marketing tool, he adds. Mr Christan also strives to remain relevant by producing fun displays, sometimes with a little tongue-in-cheek imagination, with inspiration being taken from all over – from politics to his staff’s favourite TV shows. Picking up his trophy, Mr Christan says: “This event is the leading platform to see where the industry is at as a whole. Competition is always a good excuse to put yourself out there and see where you can improve, and having an establishment like ERT bring so many retailers together in an arena to do so is invaluable.”
L-R: Layla Christan, Emma Louise Smith (Moxie Business Marketing), Darrin Christan, and Shaun Williamson
The judges said that Coopers was a stand- out winner this year; they did not award a Highly Commended in this category
Best Manufacturer/Supplier Customer Service Winner
Bluestem Group
Bluestem Group has supplied the independent retail sector through its distribution channel, Pik-a-Pak Distribution, for over
30 years and currently distributes many leading consumer brands. It has a dedicated in-house Customer Service Team which not only deals with daily customer enquiries, including requests for spare parts, but also provides support to Bluestem’s team of Area Sales Managers. Emma Siswanto, Customer Service Manager at Bluestem Group, comments: “Delivering an excellent standard of service is a cornerstone of our business, so it’s great to see this effort acknowledged by the ERT Awards and the industry. We are over the moon to have won this award for Customer Service. We are extremely proud of our Customer Service Team, which consistently delivers above and beyond for our customers.” The Group’s ethos is about putting customers’ needs first by supporting its customers in-person, online and on the phone, whilst making sure it has great stock availability. “Our Team comprises a friendly, helpful and conscientious group, who consistently deliver excellent levels of service across all communication platforms – and with empathy and kindness,” adds Ms Siswanto. Rebecca Batchelor, Group Manager of Bluestem Group, says: “Acknowledging excellence is key to driving innovation within the industry. Giving businesses something to strive for as well as a bit of healthy competition inspires growth and prompts companies to keep aiming higher. It’s especially important to highlight the hard work of this essential area of the industry, Customer Service.”
L-R: Shaun Williamson, Bluestem’s Andy Wilson, Howard Saycell from Retra, and Bluestem’s Allan Glass
Haier was awarded Highly Commended in this category
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