A family-owned, north-east department store which is undergoing a major revamp overcame the area’s economic troubles to boost its income for the 12 months to January 31.
Celebrations of Turriff’s managing director Robert Stephen put the growth down to its staff members’ personable approach to customer service.
The business has also been getting to grips with online sales to scoop £200,000 a year using that format.
And the store is now gearing up for Christmas having put together its “best selection ever”, Mr Stephen said yesterday.
He started the business as a specialist gift shop on the town’s main street in 1994.
Five years later Celebrations opened bigger premises in the town, a move that enabled it to expand its product range to include furniture, beds and carpets.
Celebrations, described by Mr Stephen as “eight or nine shops in one”, also opened an in-store restaurant in 1999.
Mr Stephen said the restaurant has just had a £20,000 facelift with new furniture installed and that other areas of the store will be revamped over the next year.
The investment is part and parcel of the business’s commitment to delivering a top-notch customer experience, much of which comes down to the store’s assistants.
Mr Stephen said: “We have longstanding staff members and the feedback we get is that they provide a good service and get to know our customers – they do a fantastic job. We learn from every experience and try to improve”
One area of Celebrations is striving to improve is its online reach. It company unveiled its new online store two months ago and is focused on taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the likes of eBay and Amazon.
Online sales helped Celebrations chalk up pre-tax profits of £179,000 for the year ended January 31, 2015, up 7% year-on-year, while turnover rose 4% to £4.6million.
Mr Stephen, his sister Linda Middleton and their parents Mike and Myra – Celebrations’s four directors – employed about 100 staff members at the firm throughout the year.
Mr Stephen said he was pleased with the results and expressed hope that Turriff’s other businesses can stave off the worst effects of the downturn.
He said: “The current climate in the north-east is challenging with what’s happening in oil and gas.
“A few rural areas are suffering a bit and losing shops, but Turriff seems to be maintaining its level of shops.
“If you offer the right products at the right price you can do well, and our team of buyers do a great job.”
Mr Stephen is particularly excited by the goods Celebrations will have on its shelves in the run-up to the festive period.
He said: “Christmas is a very important and busy time for the store. This year we’ve got our best selection ever – our gifts department buyer has found some fantastic products.”
In a preview of what will be on offer, he said: “We’ve moved more into jewellery and watches – that will be big this year. We’ve brought new ranges in from makers all over the world.”