Local Shop Crowned Community Hero
02 May 2007
Martin and Aileen Lovell, owners of Shobdon Village Stores, in rural Herefordshire, have been crowned the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) Community Heroes 2007, scooping the £1000 prize.
The Awards, sponsored by Procter and Gamble, recognise the work that neighbourhood retailers do in their local communities.
Martin and Aileen, who operate under the Premier symbol, were, for the very first time, voted for by ACS members after an online poll on ACS’ website, www.thelocalshop.com.
Martin and Aileen’s entry proved how they have immersed themselves in community life since they took over the store three years ago. The couple have recently launched a website www.shobdonvillage.co.uk to provide a one stop access point for information about the Parish. They also sponsor and support numerous local events including the local junior rugby team, which Martin is a volunteer manager of, and offer extra services for their customers including delivering shopping and gas cylinders to their elderly residents and distributing medicines on behalf of the local Doctor’s surgery.
The winners were announced at the Gala Dinner of ACS’ annual conference, Summit 07, on 1 May.
The Lovell’s held off strong competition from the two other finalists, who won free places Summit 07, were Kishor Patel, a Nisa retailer from Bedfordshire, Nigel Dowdney, a Red Orange member from Norwich.
James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “All three entries were fantastic examples of how local shops can be a major part of communities. Martin and Aileen’s entry has shown how important the services and care they provide are to their local community, and they really do epitomise exactly what the Community Heroes Award is all about.”
Martin Lovell said: “I am delighted to have won ACS’ Community Heroes Award. I am proud of our staff and neighbourhood, and without both our shop wouldn’t survive. We have gone the extra mile to make our shop the centre of our community and winning this Award recognises all the hard work we have done.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton Grappa PR
020 74864448
Notes:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. To enter the Awards entrants had to answer the following questions:
1) In the last year, what specific actions did you take to play a central role in your community?
2) Why did you take this action?
3) Did you work with other groups and organisations on these initiatives?
4) What role did your staff play in these initiatives?
5) What were the tangible results of this work? Where possible, please give measurable results.
6) How is this work sustainable for future years? What has been put in place to ensure the community continues to benefit?
3. The Awards were sponsored by P&G as part of their sponsorship of the Gala Dinner at Summit 07.
4. The web poll closed on 20 April.
The Awards, sponsored by Procter and Gamble, recognise the work that neighbourhood retailers do in their local communities.
Martin and Aileen, who operate under the Premier symbol, were, for the very first time, voted for by ACS members after an online poll on ACS’ website, www.thelocalshop.com.
Martin and Aileen’s entry proved how they have immersed themselves in community life since they took over the store three years ago. The couple have recently launched a website www.shobdonvillage.co.uk to provide a one stop access point for information about the Parish. They also sponsor and support numerous local events including the local junior rugby team, which Martin is a volunteer manager of, and offer extra services for their customers including delivering shopping and gas cylinders to their elderly residents and distributing medicines on behalf of the local Doctor’s surgery.
The winners were announced at the Gala Dinner of ACS’ annual conference, Summit 07, on 1 May.
The Lovell’s held off strong competition from the two other finalists, who won free places Summit 07, were Kishor Patel, a Nisa retailer from Bedfordshire, Nigel Dowdney, a Red Orange member from Norwich.
James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “All three entries were fantastic examples of how local shops can be a major part of communities. Martin and Aileen’s entry has shown how important the services and care they provide are to their local community, and they really do epitomise exactly what the Community Heroes Award is all about.”
Martin Lovell said: “I am delighted to have won ACS’ Community Heroes Award. I am proud of our staff and neighbourhood, and without both our shop wouldn’t survive. We have gone the extra mile to make our shop the centre of our community and winning this Award recognises all the hard work we have done.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton Grappa PR
020 74864448
Notes:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. To enter the Awards entrants had to answer the following questions:
1) In the last year, what specific actions did you take to play a central role in your community?
2) Why did you take this action?
3) Did you work with other groups and organisations on these initiatives?
4) What role did your staff play in these initiatives?
5) What were the tangible results of this work? Where possible, please give measurable results.
6) How is this work sustainable for future years? What has been put in place to ensure the community continues to benefit?
3. The Awards were sponsored by P&G as part of their sponsorship of the Gala Dinner at Summit 07.
4. The web poll closed on 20 April.