Jessops boss Peter Jones applauds ‘amazing’ staff after AP awards win

Each year, Amateur Photographer (AP) and What Digital Camera magazines reward the nation’s best photographic retailers.

Consumers are asked to vote for stores that ‘go that extra mile’.

Regarded as the Michelin stars of the photography world, the Good Service Awards are only presented to retailers that achieve over 90% positive feedback.

Commenting on Jessops winning a Gold Good Service Award, Peter Jones – who took over the chain in 2013 – said: ‘All credit goes to the team. I have just been lucky enough to back them.

‘Two years ago lots of people lost their jobs.

‘Now hundreds of amazing people work for Jessops and made it great again.

‘I am very proud of what we have achieved.’

AP Editor Nigel Atherton said: ‘I’m delighted to see Jessops winning a Good Service Award this year.

‘After losing its way in recent years and going through some difficult times this is further evidence that this long-established company is back on track and refocusing on the values that made it successful: quality service and the needs of the photography enthusiast.’

Jessops collapsed under its former owners in January 2013, closing all of its 187 shops.

After being taken over by the Dragons’ Den entrepreneur, the chain returned to profit in its first full-year of trading.

It reported an operating profit of £280,000 on sales of more than £56m for the year to 30 April 2014.

Jessops now runs 36 high-street stores, all newly refurbished.

Last October, Jessops announced plans to extend its store coverage by opening the first of many outlets inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

This year, Good Service Awards also went to Calumet; Camera World; Clifton Cameras; Digital Depot; Grays of Westminster; LCE; Park Cameras; SRB Photographic; and Wex Photographic.

The Good Service Award online voting form states: ‘Whether it’s informative buying advice or, in the case of online retailers, swift delivery and equally swift action if things go wrong, good service is a precious commodity that should be shouted from the rooftops.’

 Jessops managing director Neil Old (left) and Jessops marketing manager Gemma Puffer receive the Good Service Award from Amateur Photographer magazine deputy editor Richard Sibley