'It's your job to make them feel welcome'

Margaret Bluck, of Bridge News, in Foregate Street, Worcester, was placed third in last year's inaugural Worcester Welcome Retail Awards.

Now the bubbly 64-year-old who loves her job is urging other sales assistants to get behind the scheme, which she says puts Worcester "up front" in the eyes of visitors.

Mrs Bluck, from Grafton Flyford, near Worcester, started her first job in retailing straight from school, aged 15, at Boots the Chemist, in Worcester.

In almost half-a-century of standing behind her till, Mrs Bluck, who is married and a grandmother of two, says she hasn't become jaded, and claims you get out of the job what you put into it.

Since winning the award last year, she has been swamped with congratulations from her regular customers at Bridge News, the newsagency she has worked at since it opened six years ago.

"I love it, I love the people, the contact with customers," said Mrs Bluck, who received more than 30 nominations.

"I like being busy and the shop is always busy. The customers are like personal friends."

Her tip to shop assistants was to "give customers your all".

"Be pleasant and give them all you've got, even if they just buy a box of matches. It's your job to make them feel welcome, whether they're spending 10 pence or £10.

"You've got to give it that extra mile - put your all into it."

She said the award ceremony at Huntingdon Hall last year had been "a lovely evening" and she had enjoyed spending her £160 vouchers on her grandchildren and on a new trouser suit for herself.

After working at Boots she moved to Frederick White Tobacconists in St Swithin's Street, Worcester, and then went to House of Bewlay, The Cross, Worcester, which she managed for 21 years. She was at WH Smith for two years before moving to Bridge News.

"After 49 years working in a shop, it was fantastic to get the award," she said.

"I would urge other people to enter. I'm hoping to win again this year, though there are a lot more entries this year. If I win, it will be a bonus!"

The deadline for nominations for the awards, organised by Worcester City Centre Forum, is this Monday, May 12.

Your chance to choose best shop assistant

SHOPPERS in Worcester have just three days to get their nominations in for someone who they think is an outstanding shop assistant, using the leaflets found in shops throughout the city, or the coupon on this page.

All nominations will go into a draw, with one lucky shopper receiving £25 in vouchers.

Entries will be shortlisted and a selection of shop assistants will be visited by "mystery shoppers" to come up with four category winners and an overall winner.

The awards are organised by Worcester City Centre Forum, in association with the Evening News, the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the Lychgate Shopping Centre and the city council.

Post or deliver nominations to: Worcester City Centre Forum, Farrier House, Farrier Street, Worcester WR1 3ER.

How I won the award for best shop assistant last year

THE winner of last year's Worcester Welcome Retail Awards has revealed her secrets of success.

Hannah Smith, who works in the ladies' fashion department of Marks & Spencer, in Worcester's High Street, recommends treating customers "how you would want to be treated yourself".

"If you treat customers consistently, and how you would want to be treated yourself, it's the best way," said the

27-year-old, from Perdiswell, Worcester.

"You can't go wrong, because you're giving them the service you would like to receive."

Mrs Smith, who has been with Marks & Spencer for five years, said she "never dreamt" she would win the award.

'Fantastic'

"Obviously it was fantastic. The store was really proud of me and it was a lovely boost to have my work recognised."

Following her win, and publicity in the Evening News, which supports the Worcester Welcome Retail Awards, Mrs Smith was surprised and thrilled by how many customers congratulated her.

"When it first happened a lot of customers who saw it in the paper said 'well done'. They were coming up to me and saying, 'we always thought you were really helpful'. It's died down now but there was a lot of recognition at the time."

Mrs Smith's prize included a trip to the Eden Project, in Cornwall, donated by the Evening News.

"It was lovely - I took my mum as my husband was ill at the time and we had a really lovely weekend."

So far, five shop assistants who received nominations last year have been nominated for the awards again this year.

The deadline for nominations is this Monday, May 12.