Consumer Affairs is asking the public to nominate the small businesses they see as offering exceptional customer service as it launches three annual awards to recognise and improve excellence in this area.

Education Officer Rhonda Daniels said that her office decided to introduce the competition after tabulating the results of customer service surveys conducted in 2001 and 2003.

"One of the things that came up is that consumers understand why goods are high priced here and the don't mind paying the high price but it was the poor quality of service that went with it," Ms Daniels said. "We're always receiving complaints from consumers but we don't want them to think it's all bad business practices here so we wanted to highlight those businesses who provide exceptional customer service and we wanted to get the consumer to choose."

Both years that Consumer Affairs conducted its Customer Satisfaction and Knowledge Surveys, the 400 consumers surveyed gave lukewarm rankings to customer service.

In 2001, consumers ranked quality of service at just 58 points out of 100 while quality compared to price received 56 out of 100 points. In 2003, both categories had risen somewhat to 68 points out of 100.

Ms. Daniel's says the goal of the awards is to encourage competition between local businesses and in so doing also raise the standard of customer service in Bermuda. Consumers are asked to nominate just one local business they deem outstanding in customer service.

For The People's Choice Award, consumers are being asked to nominate a business they feel offers the best customer service based on friendly and knowledgeable staff, understanding the customers needs, giving a timely response to customer inquiries in a courteous manner and solving customer service problems or concerns quickly and efficiently.

Consumer Affairs' 12 member board will select the winner of the Business Select Award based on these submissions from consumers. The criteria is the same as those for The People's Choice Award but the business must also show innovative ideas that improves on their customer service delivery.

The Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Board will offer his own award to recognise the part small businesses play in the Bermuda economy. Small businesses comprised of 2-5 employees are eligible for this award and will be nominated on the same criteria as The Business Select Award.

Nomination forms are available at Consumer Affairs or through retailers across the Island. The deadline for nominations is October 28 and the winners will be announced at a luncheon on November 16.