Customer Service of the Year: Vaughan Davies

VAUGHAN DAVIES kept the music going over lockdown while moving between shops and juggling all that life threw at him.

Lockdown coincided with moving stacks of records from Fountain Street to the Commercial Arcade, along with a complete shop floor revamp and arranging doorstep deliveries.

Customers are treated as friends as Vaughan gets to know each person’s tastes and recommends artists they would like.

His nominator for the Cherry Godfrey-sponsored Customer Service of the Year award, Gina Davies, said: ‘Vaughan has always worked with the public but I feel his attitude in the shop is second to none. Since his stroke he has overcome so much adversity but always, always has a smile on his face.’

With a positive outlook, customers are always welcome as they step in the door.

‘Sometimes getting out of bed is a problem for him, but meeting his customers keeps him going, and likewise I feel that them seeing him keeps some of them going.’

After Guernsey’s last record store closed in 2011, Vaughan stepped in to ensure there was a place for music-lovers in Town in full belief that everywhere needs a proper record store.

Starting with pop-up shops to raise money for the Vale Earth Fair, they proved so popular a more permanent solution had to be found at a time when retail was struggling against online trade. Even if a customer just wants to flick through or have a chat, they are equally as valued as the last.

‘Nothing is too much trouble and Vaughan kept going, even in lockdown he would deliver to customers.’

‘The music kept on going. Customers and service come before the sale 100%.’