Now in its fourth year, Braintree Offers Best Service, (BOBS), has a new manager who aims to make the scheme the best its ever been.

Launched as a training an awards scheme, BOBS is designed to bring more shoppers into the town, and improve customer service.

Now 27-year-old Sam Jenkins-Holmes, who is from Chelmsford, has taken over as BOBS co-ordinator and training manager.

Shops and stores who join the scheme will be assessed on staff training and customer service, and then a mystery shopper will visit them to see if they make the grade.

If they do, BOBS accreditation is granted and a sticker is displayed in the shop window.

Sam, who has experience from her family's retail business and was a training manager in the Metropolitan Police, said she is looking forward to adding to the 43 shops who already support the scheme.

"By joining the scheme, shops can often find out about courses they can send employees on, which they did not know about before. BOBS has come to a bit of a lull lately, so I am hoping to get more shops to join and get more public awareness," she said.

"What I also hope to do is to send out a newsletter to all the shops who are members, so they know exactly who is involved in the scheme.

"We want Braintree to offer excellent customer service, as there is nothing worse than going into a shop where there is none."

There is also the chance for customers to nominate a member of staff who they think deserves the BOBS Customer Care Award.

Sam added: "By showing people that a store has good customer care, will hopefully encourage more shoppers.

"This in turn will give the shop a better turnover and business will boom,'' she said.

"This is what we want to show people that Braintree is good for shopping and you will get good customer service with it."

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