Staff
District businesses were in the spotlight yesterday evening as the Rainy River Future Development Corp. unveiled the winners of its 2010 Customer Service Champion awards during the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s “Business After Hours” deck party at La Place Rendez-Vous.
This year’s top 10 champions were (in alphabetical order) Boston Pizza, Cloverleaf Family Foods (Emo), Fort Frances General Supply, Kreger Sales & Service (Rainy River), Northern Lights Credit Union (Rainy River branch), Northwoods Gallery & Gifts, Service Ontario (Fort Frances) Super 8 Motel, The UPS Store, and Warehouse One–The Jean Store.
Honourable mentions went to Fort Frances Clinic Dispensary, Norlund Oil (Emo), The Ear Clinic, the Fort Frances Enhanced Hearing Centre, and Vianet Internet Solutions.
Plaques and certificates were handed out by RRFDC director George Emes.
A total of 25 businesses from across the district participated in the program this year.
Consultant Wanda Botsford again co-ordinated the challenge, which included the evaluation of participants’ customer service on-site, over the telephone, and via the Internet (for businesses with a website).
“Secret shoppers” conducted the evaluations starting in late March and wrapped earlier this month.
Customer service survey results will be sent out to participants so they be able to tell how they did.
This is the seventh year for the RRFDC’s customer service program, the purpose of which is to let local businesses gauge their level of customer service, as well as figure out how and where they can make improvements.
In related news, the next Chamber of Commerce mix-and-mingle will take place in the Shaw Communications room at the new Fort Frances Technology Centre on Tuesday, June 22 from 5-7 p.m.
Guest speakers will be Wendy Newman and Dr. Kelly Lyons from the University of Toronto, who will talk about business applications of the technological capabilities at the new facility.
There will be appetizers, draws, and a cash bar.
