Last year's winner, Medi Farm Chemist,receiving its award from the mayor.

The race is on to find the borough's best-loved shop and alreadythe nominations are flooding in.

This year's Croydon Guardian Retail Excellence Awards are wellunderway and the newspaper has been swamped by residents' lettersdetailing shops and stores, both large and small that are prepared to gothat little bit further, offering customer service beyond the call.

One of the shops praised for going that extra step is CJ'sHairdressers in Shirley Road. "I thoroughly look forward to my visitsthere. All the staff are so helpful - there is a great spirit ofenjoyment," wrote one happy customer.

Another said: "One of their many considerations is to alwaysremember birthdays with a card and a cheery word."

So, whether you wish to salute courteous chemists, helpful hairdressersor attentive assistants why not nominate the retailers who make yourshopping a treat rather than a trial?

Last year's third annual awards proved a big hit with scores ofentries.

It culminated in a special awards ceremony at Croydon Town Hall inNovember.

And to ensure continued success we are again teaming up with the SouthLondon Training and Enterprise Council (SOLOTEC) to pay tribute to theborough's most loved store.

The competition is open to everyone.

Simply fill in the form printed in this week's Croydon Guardian and belowand send it in to us with a letter explaining why the shop deserves yournomination.

Any shop can be nominated, be it a small independent or part of a largerchain and those nominated will be invited to a specials awards ceremonylater in the year.

Send your letter to: Croydon Guardian retail Excellence Awards, GuardianHouse, Sandiford Road, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9RN.

If e-mailing,please include ALL the details on the form. Thank you.Name.............................................................................................

Address.........................................................................................

.......................................................................................................

Daytime telephonenumber..........................................................

Storenominated............................................................................

Reasonswhy.................................................................................................

e-mailaddress..........................................................................................

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.