Nomination: Pavers (From York Press)

Nomination: Pavers

9:01am Saturday 8th August 2009 in Shop of the Year competition By Jeremy Small

ABOUT 30 years ago, Cathy Paver opened a shoe shop in York. Today, there are dozens of Pavers stores across the British Isles and although Mrs Paver, who is now in her 80s, has officially retired she still keeps a hand in the business, going to the company’s head office every day.

The firm is now in the frame for further success after Kimberley Ellis, a customer adviser at the Piccadilly outlet, nominated the store for The Press Shop of the Year award.

The 25-year-old, who has worked at Pavers for a year-and-a-half, said: “I am nominating the shop I work in for the competition as we all work so hard to provide a good service.”

“We give one-to-one service to fit our customers up for wide-fitting shoes.

“We do our best to make sure all customers are satisfied with the service we provide. It is a very busy store and we try to acknowledge everyone even if it’s just to say ‘we will be with you as soon as someone is free’. Then the customer doesn’t mind waiting.

“The staff vary in age and get on so well – it’s like a family. We work and have fun all at the same time.”

The Shop of the Year contest is intended to boost the retail sector and was launched as part of The Press’s York Means Business campaign, which aims to support and promote local businesses through the global recession.

We are asking readers to nominate their favourite shop – and also shopkeepers to nominate their own business – because of the exceptional quality of service.

The winners will enjoy the fabulous prize of a luxury night for two at York’s Dean Court Hotel, followed by a champagne breakfast.

They will then be whisked to York Racecourse in a limo from White Stretch Limousines to attend The Press’s Family Raceday on Sunday, September 6, where the shop owners can be joined by members of their staff.