Welcome to BNI

Faversham BNI member and specialist Canterbury jeweller Lesley Parker obviously has the Midas touch when it comes to providing a quality service.

Lesley, along with over 100 other independent shops in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, signed up to a scheme run by Canterbury City Council and Business Link Kent to celebrate quality in customer service.  As a result every one of the 120 businesses were, unbeknown to them, visited by a mystery shopper who scored them on a range of attributes from staff friendliness, knowledge and professionalism to the presentation, cleanliness and layout of their premises.

A member of Faversham BNI since 2006 Lesley, who is outgoing Secretary Treasurer, has gone one better than King Midas by turning what she touches in to Platinum!  Amongst the categories there were various bronze, silver and gold awards, but only one Platinum award for outstanding overall excellence.

Lesley’s only regret is that she was on holiday in Thailand when the awards were presented.  The honour was collected on behalf by fellow Faversham member and BNI Assistant Director Wayne Roberts.  Wayne kept the secret from her and arranged for Graham Seymour of Shoppers Anonymous to visit the chapter on her first morning back and present the platinum award to her in the meeting, to rapturous applause from her fellow BNI colleagues. 

Chapter Director, Chris Lee said that “the funniest part was that with her usual eye for detail, Lesley kept pointing at Graham and asking ‘who’s that visitor that hasn’t signed in?’”

Wayne, who runs an Osteopathy & Sports Injury Clinic in nearby Herne Bay, said “I was delighted to collect the award on Lesley’s behalf knowing first-hand what a fantastic business she runs and how easy it is to refer to her with confidence.”