Store wins big with top Lotto award

Tracy Bloomfield and Sheila McNelly with Usha and Shalendra Singh and NZ Lotto's Melissa Colson.

Ngongotaha Books Lotto and Postshop has won NZ Lotto's Retailer of the Year Award, beating out hundreds of outlets from Cape Reinga to Stewart Island.

"We are extremely excited about winning the award," said owner/operator Shalendra Singh, who runs the shop with his wife Usha Shelia.

"The feedback we have received since winning this award has been fantastic. The local community is ecstatic that our small town was able to beat so many other stores to be named number one."

The couple are well-established members of the Ngongotaha business community and have had the shop since 1989. Mr Singh said it was especially pleasing to have won against such strong competition both nationally and in their own town. Their initial perception was that an Auckland store that would take out first prize, as was the case last year, he added.

The award was presented to the shop this week by NZ Lotto sales manager Melissa Colson.

"Shalendra, Usha, Sheila McNelly and the team at this store have worked hard all year to ensure that they had their store name etched into the plaque," said Ms Colson.

"To achieve this award the team at Ngongotaha Books Lotto and Postshop have had to deliver top customer service, meet store standards and compliance as well as work alongside their BOP representative Jodi Connolly to form a tight partnership."

The award for the number one Lotto shop is the result of an annual programme run by NZ Lotto each year to assess the performance of all of its individual shops. The programme looks at customer feedback, average transaction sales, mystery shopper results, store standards and customer service.

Ngongotaha Books Lotto and Postshop scored the highest points in the competition.

"Winning this award means that our store is considered the best in the country in regards to customer service," said Mr Singh. The competition was not about size, but rather reflected consistency in terms of generating sales per customer and customer satisfaction, he said. "Our passionate and loyal staff members are constantly looking to add value and provide friendly service for our customers. Without their efforts this achievement would not have been possible."

The local Ngongotaha community had also played a significant role in the victory.

"Their constant support and encouraging demeanour has always motivated our store to strive for excellence."