A CUSTOMER has put forward a York department store for a Service With A Smile award as a thank-you to its friendly and helpful staff.

Joyce Hearn has nominated the home and garden store, Barnitts, for the accolade in recognition of its high standard of customer service.

It is the latest entry in our Community Pride Awards, which we are running for the seventh year in partnership with City of York Council and Benenden Healthcare Society.

Mrs Hearn, 87, of Holgate, in York, said staff at Barnitts, which is based in Colliergate, always went the extra mile to help her.

In her supporting statement she wrote: “I buy an awkward article and it will not go in my shopping trolley – ‘I’ll tape it to the handles for you, no problem’.

“I buy a chair, it comes flat pack and I can’t do it – ‘We will do it for you, no problem’.

“I buy an article, there is a fault and I phone them – ‘We will pick it up and bring you another one, no problem’.

“I need advice on which particular article to choose – they go out of their way to help, even going into the warehouse to bring me another one to compare with.

“I remark, ‘this is the best shop in town’ and the young man responds ‘it is the best shop to work for’.

“They all work together as a team, and it shows.”

The Service With A Smile category is aimed at York businesses and charitable organisations that have demonstrated outstanding customer care.

It is one of 13 categories in the 2010 Community Pride Awards, which are an annual event to honour unsung heroes living in the City of York Council tax area.

The deadline for entries is Friday, July 23, after which a panel of judges will draw up a shortlist, and finalists from each category will be invited to a ceremony at York Racecourse in October.

To make a nomination, fill in the coupon that accompanies this article and return it with a supporting statement setting out why your nominee deserves an award.