IN a close-knit village community, reputations – good or bad – are easy to come by. For staff at the Village Pharmacy in Kirk Michael, their helpful manner has definitely proved them popular in the eyes of their community.
So much so, that business owner Dot Watterson and her team have earned themselves a nomination in the customer service category in this year’s Flybe Pride in Mann awards.
It was Sheila Thorpe, of The Meadows in Kirk Michael, who contacted the Manx Independent with the nomination.
Mrs Thorpe said: ‘The service is 100 per cent. They always have time for their customers and are very helpful with advice. They even deliver prescriptions if the weather is bad or if you can’t collect them. Super pharmacy and staff.’
She added that their can-do attitude has been particularly helpful to her.
‘They’re absolutely marvellous, the assistants are super. With my husband not being well, and me not driving, it’s great that if it’s lashing down with rain, they’ll bring it down to me. I couldn’t recommend them enough.’
She added: ‘I’ve lived in Kirk Michael 42 years, Peter Curphey had the pharmacy before Dot, he was good too.
‘It’s all good just telling them “you’re great”, but I thought I’d go further and nominate them.’
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.
The Village Pharmacy has been around for 17 years, with Dot Watterson taking over seven years ago.
She was happy to hear her team had received a nomination.
Mrs Watterson said: ‘We do tend to have a good relationship with our customers, in a small village community you get to know them well, so you don’t mind things like dropping things off.
‘We collect prescriptions in Peel and Ramsey, so it’s no trouble dropping them off if people are on the way.’
Even though Dot only took over the business in 2005, she was hardly a stranger to the area.
‘I had been working as a locum, so I’d cover Peter Curphey’s days off, so I knew the area,’ she said. ‘And I come from Cronk-y-Voddy, so I’m reasonably local. I think that helps.’
Aside from Dot, the team at the Village Pharmacy includes Cath Rogerson, dispensers Janet Boothby and Jayne Mayne (of Cleveland Medal fame), shop assistants Lavinia Cox and Val Jones, and locum Carolyn Osborn.
Where does the helpful customer service approach come from?
‘I think it’s very important to focus on your customers, we want people to come here, not a pharmacy in town!’ said Dot.
And seven years on, she is still glad she took on the pharmacy in the part of the island in which she grew up.
‘As a locum I’ve probably worked at all the pharmacies in the island. I did jump at the chance to take over this business though,’ she said. ‘I like working here, it’s not part of a multiple, it’s independent, which means I get to spend more time with people.’
Nominations for this year’s Pride in Mann awards have now closed.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.