The Michael R. Peters business is celebrating winning a town centre Customer Service competition organised by the Bedford Business Improvement District (BID).

The electrical retailer in Tavistock Street achieved a near perfect score of 97% for its welcoming approach to customers.

The prize was presented at the BedfordBID Business Breakfast at The Park Inn on Wednesday March 15th by Shopper Anonymous expert Graham Hill. He and a team conducted 24 ‘mystery shop’ visits to businesses in Bedford and top of the pop-ins were:

Michael R Peters 97%

Arcadia sweet shop and Urbanite Hair 94%

1844 Coffee Company in the bus station 91%

Pegalicious balloons 90%

“We were so very impressed with the very high standards in Bedford. As an organisation we have conducted more than 250,000 mystery shops in the UK and this town was up there with the very best,” said Graham.

He and his team will now give further feedback to the finalists and will be talking to BedfordBID about other opportunities of collaboration.

Christina Rowe, Director of BedfordBID said: “Selling Bedford to people is made so much easier for our Love Bedford brand when we have such high praise to share. Our role is encourage people to visit the town centre, particularly those from the 1,000s of new houses and estates within the Borough, but businesses have to make sure the customers want keep coming  back. Great customer service is what counts.”

BedfordBID represents 500 town centre businesses with a levy being paid by all but the smallest. That levy is managed by a board of volunteer representatives from those businesses who work together to promote the town under the Love Bedford brand. lovebedford.co.uk is THE go-to website for information about activities in the town centre.