Scooping a top title has rounded off an eventful year for CHIPS Dudley store owner Gav Pearson.
Gav, who opened his CHIPS video games store in Dudley’s Trident Shopping Centre in August 2006, has just scooped the chain’s Store of the Year Award at its seventh annual conference.This is the second year running he has walked off with a top trophy.
ALL SMILES: Gav, right, with his staff at CHIPS Dudley
The last six months have been quite a rollercoaster ride for the 31-year-old. In July, Gav narrowly escaped death with his fiancée Sharon and fellow CHIPS franchisee Ant Meehan, who runs CHIPS Ormskirk, when his car overturned on the A1M and was run over by a lorry.
Miraculously, all three escaped with their lives and just two months later Gav and Sharon became man and wife, and the wedding was attended by fellow CHIPS franchisees Ant and James Tildesley, who runs the CHIPS Consett and Chester-Le-Street stores.
Winning the Store of the Year award from CHIPS, the biggest independent video games specialist in the UK, has delighted Gav, who lives in Worcester with wife Sharon.
“This is the second year running I have won one of the top three CHIPS awards,” said Gav. “Last year I scooped the Newcomer of the Year Award which was surprising as I had only been open a year.
“For CHIPS Dudley to be named top shop out of the 30 CHIPS stores nationwide is great, as it recognises all the hard work my staff have put in over the last two years.”
“Lindsey Richards and Phil Lowe work very hard to give great customer service and the trophy will take pride of place alongside the one we won last year.”
Gavin, who is originally from Hartlepool, opened his store after spending eight years working as a systems and software consultant for the MOD.
The award, sponsored by publisher Faragher Jones, was presented at the CHIPS Annual Conference held at Ramside Hall, Co Durham. Gav received a store plaque, an engraved trophy and £250 from Steve Faragher, of Faragher Jones.
The award was presented to the team which, in the judges’ opinion, gives the very best customer service. The store, choice of stock and presentation must be first class.
CHIPS Joint Managing Director Nik Agar said: “CHIPS Dudley arranges lots of promotion days, raises money for charity and gives fantastic customer service. Gav is a very good franchisee and he and his staff have made a great success of the store.”
CHIPS Dudley buys, sells and trades new and second-hand consoles, games, DVDs and accessories for all major platforms and retro.
It is open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm, and sells all the latest Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo consoles, games and accessories plus a host of PC, retro and second-hand products.
CHIPS, which is based in the North-east, has more than 30 stores across the country from Glasgow to the south coast and an award-winning e-commerce site, www.chipsworld.co.uk.
NOVEMBER 2008
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For further information and high-res photographs contact Debra McCabe on 01642 658001 or Gavin Pearson on 01384 458531.
Please contact CHIPS Dudley regarding any local advertising. There are no funds set aside for colour separations.
