Dickleburgh village store beats supermarket giants to national award

Dickleburgh Stores and Post Office celebrate their award for Most Improved Store. L-r Claire Edmeades, Bev Ralph, Callum Langstaff, Mike Humphreys and Karen Humphreys. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Dickleburgh Stores and Post Office was shortlisted for the Retail Industry Awards for the Most Improved Store in the UK.

And despite going up against the likes of Spar, Londis and Budgens, the village shop scooped the award.

Owners Mike and Karen Humphreys took over the store following their success with Kenninghall Stores and Post Office which they have run the past five years.

The store had remained relatively untouched for more than 30 years. When the team started in the store, they listened to the concerns of the costumers to understand what improvements needed to be done.

Dickleburgh Stores and Post Office celebrate their award for Most Improved Store. L-r Claire Edmeades, Bev Ralph, Callum Langstaff, Mike Humphreys and Karen Humphreys. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

It was refitted with new floors, ceilings, refrigerators, tills, counters, shelves and a new shop front.

Mr Humphreys said: 'It just feels absolutely fantastic. We were very pleased just to get into the finals.

'We were looking at some of the competition online and we didn't expect to win, so we thought we would just have a nice evening out. But when they called out our name it was amazing.

'The night was superb, with around 500 people including the likes of all the big four supermarkets. Everyone who was big in retail was there, all dressed up in their black ties.'

Dickleburgh Stores and Post Office celebrate their award for Most Improved Store. L-r Claire Edmeades, Bev Ralph, Callum Langstaff, Mike Humphreys and Karen Humphreys. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Mr Humphreys used the win to revamp their other store but says there are not any plans to expand just yet.

'Since winning it we have come back to improve Kenninghall Stores,' he added, 'Ripping out the 15-year old refrigeration units, creating a new space and introducing new lines.

'I would love to have another store but it is all about location, location, location. Getting the right things with a location with the right customers and being able to give them what they want.

'None of this would have been possible without my amazing team of staff and the brilliant customers who come in every day and helped us turn the store into what it is today.'

Dickleburgh Stores and Post Office celebrate their award for Most Improved Store. L-r Claire Edmeades, Bev Ralph, Callum Langstaff, Mike Humphreys and Karen Humphreys. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

Have you recently won an award? Let us know by emailing marc.betts@archant.co.uk or by calling 01379 651198.

Dickleburgh Stores and Post Office celebrate their award for Most Improved Store. Callum Langstaff, Mike Humphreys Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Dickleburgh Stores and Post Office celebrate their award for Most Improved Store. Callum Langstaff, Mike Humphreys Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)