HURST FIRST IN BRITAIN’S FAVOURITE LOCAL BUSINESS COMPETITION

Isle of Wight home, DIY and garden retailer W. Hurst & Son has taken the top spot in a nationwide search to find the UK’s favourite local business.

A commitment to traditional values has seen a historic Isle of Wight retailer crowned as Britain’s favourite local business. Thousands of entries for businesses around the UK were received in the competition, sponsored by local gift card giants Town & City Gift Cards.

Hurst, which has 6 branches in the Isle of Wight and dates back to 1859, was the winning business with over 500 votes and will receive £500 of Town & City Gift Cards to share with staff.

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Jevon Kennedy, managing director of Hurst, has said:

“There’s a real sense of pride at receiving this amazing accolade as the UK’s favourite local business. I can’t tell you how pleased I am. When we saw that we’d been nominated by customers in early December, we posted about it on our social media channels. What was lovely was that customers must have heard that we were up for the award and were calling up our stores asking how to vote for us.

“I was born on the Island but for most of my life, I’ve worked on the mainland including as area or store manager for brands including Topshop, Topman, New Look and Debenhams, travelling to work on a boat and back again. Stepping back onto island soil always felt like coming home. So when the chance came up to work for a much loved Island retailer like Hurst, I jumped at it. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing I can influence and support my community.

“The High Street has faced many challenges over recent years. If you’re perceived as a brand that gives a certain level of service then you have to build on that and not cut corners which reduces the customer experience. It’s fantastic to see lots of new independent businesses springing up, who are dedicated to customer service. The challenge often comes for businesses when they start to expand.

“One thing we have done at Hurst is to maintain our old-fashioned values, celebrating our DNA but also reviewing how the world is changing. In the last two years, the retail landscape has changed more than it has any time since WW2. Our role at Hurst is to give friendly, helpful service, and that’s our mission as a company, to put customers first.”

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One person who nominated Hurst, Lyn Humphrey, has won a £500 Wight Gift Card.

Lyn has said:

“Hurst are true to their slogan which is ‘try Hurst first’ because you can invariably get what you want from Hurst. They are all island people that work at Hurst, and they give helpful service, which might sound like a basic thing that happens in every shop, but it really isn’t. When people are friendly, it makes such a difference. You know that when you go there, you will get good advice, with a smile. And, the shops always look so nice too. I’m very pleased that Hurst has won and look forward to spending my Wight Gift Card to explore businesses new and old on the Island.”

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans – Cabinet Member for Levelling Up, Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism – says:

“What a way to start 2023! We are so proud of W Hurst & Son, a stalwart of the island’s high streets, receiving the prestigious accolade of the UK’s favourite local business. They go above and beyond to support the community, getting involved in charity events and activities, becoming a drop-off point for the Isle of Wight Food Bank, and giving customers from the Island and across the UK award-winning service. They have been very supportive of the Wight Gift Card scheme and totally understand the ethos behind it, keeping more of our island pounds circulating here.”

Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex, said:

“Congratulations to Hurst and its team for a well-deserved win as the UK’s favourite local business. Reading through the nominations received for local businesses from across the UK, it is clear how much love we have in Britain for our shops, restaurants, venues and service providers. What shone through about Hurst is their commitment to traditional values such as helpfulness, friendliness and service, plus their unwavering support for their community. Local businesses are the beating heart of our communities and we applaud each and every one.”