Winning the right to use the title Britain's Best Retailer can be a shot in the arm for any business, but only if you make the most of it...
That's exactly what Cadbury Garden & Leisure has done. It took home gold at Britain's Best Retailer Awards 2009, organised by DIY Week, last November - making them Britain's Best Garden Centre Retailer.

We asked centre manager Paul Butchers what it was like to win the award and how it has affected the business since.

Firstly, Mr Butchers celebrated the win with his team at the black-tie awards event itself. "I phoned [operations director] Carol Paris on the evening letting her know that we had won & that we were celebrating with some Champers!" he said. Then, once he was back at the centre, "emails were sent out to the staff as we have approx 160 of them, and the win was discussed and celebrated at our weekly managers meeting."

In terms of using the win to promote the centre and its credentials to customers, Cadbury has been very proactive with posters in all departments (including a wallpapering at the customer service desk!) and a large roadside banner to let passersby know (pictured). Meanwhile, said Mr Butchers, Ms Paris has been "spreading the word" amongst all the centre's suppliers, both current and prospective.

All in all it's been a fantastic return for the relatively small effort of putting together an awards entry. "It's a fantastic award that has bought us much recognition and pride right across our garden centre," said Mr Butchers. "It has given the place a real buzz."
For more information about entering Britain's Best Retailer Awards 2010, email the editor at will.parsons@fav-house.com.