Premier Retailers of the Year announced

Two outdoor retailers, one in North Wales and one in Keswick have won the ‘Premier Retailer of the Year' by outdoor gear company, Páramo® Directional Clothing Systems. Stewart Cunningham Outdoor Centre of Betws-y-Coed and Rathbone of Keswick were selected from Páramo's Premier Outdoor Retailers. Whalley Warm & Dry of Clitheroe is this year's runner-up for the Northern Region and Complete Outdoors of Hemel Hempstead for the South.

Páramo's Premier Retailer Programme is a nationwide initiative to recognise and support high levels of customer service and advice plus the retailer's knowledge of and commitment to the Páramo brand.

The winners of the North and South regions, who excelled on all the “Premier of the Year” criteria of range representation, staff knowledge, marketing innovation and sales growth, were presented with a framed certificate by Páramo's Demand Team Leader Rob Cook on the 3rd of July. He said “It's very heartening to do our annual assessment before awarding the Páramo Premier of the Year –so many of our independent retailers do a fantastic job for us, and more importantly for their customers. Through them outdoor enthusiasts can tap into a deep vein of knowledge and experience on outdoor gear in general, and understanding about and enthusiasm for Páramo.”

As traditional since the introduction of the Programme in 2002, Páramo visits the winners, surprising them with news of their win. Upon receiving the award Wendy Cunningham, manager, said “Retaining the Páramo Retailer of the Year 2006 for the second consecutive year is a fantastic achievement for Stewart Cunningham Outdoor Centre, Betws-y-Coed. Our dedicated sales advisors continue to strive for excellence in customer service both in store and on-line, supporting Páramo's innovative concept and designs.”

The winner for the South, Stewart Cunningham of Betws-y-Coed, Gwynedd, opened in 1994. The shop started life as a small specialist outdoor shop. Since then it has at least doubled in size, and is now one the most respected outdoor shops in North Wales.

The Northern region winner, Rathbone of Keswick, is an award-winning family business with over 40 years of retail experience. It comprises two shops, both conveniently situated in the pedestrian friendly centre of Keswick and both quite different in their product range. Paul Rathbone said “The Premier Retailer of the Year award is a huge achievement for all the staff at Rathbone's. Given the extensive competition throughout the Northern region we are exceptionally proud as an independent family business to receive such high profile recognition of our friendly and knowledgeable service.”

The North region runner up, Whalley Warm & Dry of Clitheroe, operates from the converted stables of a Grade II listed house in the Ribble Valley. It has only been six years in business. This is the third time that this shop has been included in the Premier Retailer winning line-up.

The South region runner up, Complete Outdoors of Hemel Hampstead, has established itself as one of the biggest independent shops in the South East.