JCI Mayo hosts Friendly Businesses Awards
JCI Mayo held their annual Friendly Business Awards, recognising businesses that go the extra mile and provide an outstanding service to their customers and their community at large.
Seventy nominations were submitted with businesses from various industries all around Mayo. After secret shopping the nominees and a long judging panel discussion, the winners were announced at the awards night in The Bay Leaf Restaurant.
The overall winner was Treacy’s Pharmacy in Westport and Castlebar for their outstanding service to all who walk in their door. To many, it is a cornerstone of the community. The staff know and care about every customer, and are known for remembering your stories on return visits. This is more than a business, it’s a community.
All the local winners now go on to the national finals and you can support them by voting for them until September 16 on the JCI Ireland website – www.jciireland.ie.
The nominations were judged on seven categories that have the customer at the centre of their business and awards were as follows.
Age Friendliness - A brand new category for this year’s awards that considers if the business make services easily accessible to their targeted ages brackets and consider people of all ages. Multisport Westport came in as runner-up while Goodfellas Barber Shop in Swinford won the award.
Community Impact focusses on businesses that get involved or give something back to the local community through sponsorship, support or organisation of events. McGrath's Waste were runners-up with Republic of Fitness crowned the winners.
The Disability Access category looked at businesses that focus on inclusion, making themselves accessible for the abilities of all customers. The Salon, Westport, was runner-up as they cater for people with autism with special opening hours and ensuring it was made as pleasant an experience as possible, with The Quays Bar in Westport winning for their overall access within the bar for everyone.
Digital Experience was assessed on how well the business uses digital avenues to help its customers. There was an impressive standard on offer across the board and was clear to see the increase in digital platforms across local businesses. Jiving Juniors was runner-up and Bella Beauty scooped up the main award.
Looking after our environment is finally becoming a real priority so the Eco-Friendliness award was judged on how well the businesses serve the environment. There was an increase of nominations for this category. Leafy Greens Cafe were acknowledged as runnersup and PAX Wholefoods in Westport were named winners.
Layout and Design examined how clean, attractive and well-presented every business was. Corrib Oil came in as the runners-up with Westport Country Chalets winning this category for their impressive style and attention to detail.
Customer Care is always the busiest category, and always comes with impressive nominations of caring and understanding around the county. Looking at how helpful and courteous all the businesses were when serving their customers, it was hard to narrow it done to just two in this area. Euro Stretcher, Westport, received the runners-up award and The Movement, Castlebar, came out as the winners.
JCI Ireland national president Keira Keogh said at the award: “Someone, one of your customers, took time out of their day to nominate you as one of Mayo’s Friendliest Businesses. That in itself is something to be super proud of. It shows that you really are doing something right in this tough world of business. Every day, you the small and medium business owners work very hard to not only survive but thrive.”
The Bay Leaf Restaurant, Oliver Kelleher Ltd., Castlebar, and All In Design and Print were the sponsors of the awards night.
The national awards night will be held on October 11 in The Yard Bar, Westport, and tickets are available on Eventbrite.
This will be part of the JCI Ireland national convention, which this year will be hosted by JCI Mayo in Westport from October 11 to 13. This is a weekend of networking, training, workshops, and fun that is open to all and will have visitors from the UK, Scotland and other parts of Europe. Further details are on www.jciireland.ie.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this convention weekend, or attending any of the events, you can get in touch with Charlotte at jcimayo@gmail.com for further details.