CELEBRATING Taunton’s fabulous range of shops and promoting great customer service is the aim of a new campaign launched by your County Gazette.

We have teamed up with Taunton Town Centre Company to start Shop Taunton – and we’re counting on support from businesses, shoppers and readers.

The aims of Shop Taunton are to:

  • Strengthen the local economy by encouraging people to support businesses in the town
  • Support and reward excellent customer service
  • Earn Taunton a regional reputation for top customer service
  • Promote Taunton’s mix of superb independent shops and national brands
  • Reduce carbon emissions by urging people to stay in the town to shop
  • Encourage businesses to work together to improve Taunton.

We’re asking businesses to display a Shop Taunton ‘Buy where you see this sign’ at the front of their store.

Anyone displaying the sign will be asked to sign up to these three pledges so customers can shop with confidence.

The pledges are:

  • We put the customer first.
  • We are committed to offer choice.
  • We are proud to serve Taunton.

This week the County Gazette is focussing on the view from the street about the merits of Taunton as a shopping centre.

Do you shop in Taunton? What do you like/dislike about it and what do you think of customer service levels in the town?

Share your views by filling in the Your Say box on this page. Ken Bird, editor-in-chief of the County Gazette, said: “Taunton is a great place to shop so let’s tell the world about it and keep the heart of our local economy pumping.

“We hope businesses join this free initiative – in turn, we hope shoppers support the firms who are going out of their way to promote top service.”

Town centre manager Graham Love said: “I’ve spoken to businesses across Taunton and they’re really positive so we are hoping many more will come on board.”

We’ll also be launching the Shop Taunton customer service awards soon.

For details on Shop Taunton, e-mail info@tauntontowncentre.co.uk