A Highland camera store has reason to celebrate after being granted a gold customer service award just months after a devastating £166,000 break-in.
The award was voted for by customers and recognises the sterling effort of staff at FFordes in Beauly, coming as a welcome boost following the September theft.
Alister Bowie, manager at Ffordes, said: “The award is nothing to be scoffed at as it is determined by one of the biggest photography magazines in the UK – so there is real reason to celebrate.
“There is an award above the gold but even to be shortlisted among such a mass amount for the gold award is an achievement in itself.
“Without a doubt, this has been a real team effort from everyone – from the cleaner to accounts, to the sales team – everyone has played their part and it is great after the devastating news last year.
“There was a lot of down headedness but something like this shows that the customers are behind us and here to support us which is just great.”
The award is from Amateur Photographic magazine.
In September, crooks smashed their way into the remote Ffordes Photographic store in Wester Balbair, Beauly, making off with about 120 items of Leica camera equipment in the early hours of the morning.
Since the break-in, the 55-year-old company has invested heavily in a new security system to enhance the safety of customers’ equipment and customers, as well as protecting the valued workforce.
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Mr Bowie added: “So far there have not been many leads but police continue to investigate. It was a fair hard blow to take.
“When things like this occur they have always got a knock on effect and quite often staff are often not thought about, but this is a great boost by British photography to Ffordes.
“We have a strongly driven team which makes a huge difference, all of whom have the hobby of photography which helps to recommend products to customers.
“We just want to thank the photographic community for their backing and support through the hard and the good times.”