Fleetwood Kiosk wins national award

Dan Biddle from Twitter, Craig McOmish from Fleetwood Beach Kiosk and Northern Powerhouse minister Andrew Percy

Craig McOmish from the Fleetwood Beach Kiosk picked up the Great British High Street award for best Twitter shop for innovative use of social media to promote his business.

It was one of 14 awards handed out in London in the competition to highlight our high streets.

The kiosk was praised as “an example of how even the smallest shop can take to social media to build a business, support their local community and really get customers engaging with you on a daily basis.

“Blessed with fabulous natural views, the feed actively post pictures of its surroundings, seeks out other local businesses to help support them, and vox pops customers on video to show prospective coffee addicts what’s on offer. “

Today Craig McOmish said: “It was a truly memorable day. I left the Kiosk at 7.30 with a cappuccino and went first class on the Virgin train to London, then got a b lack cab to Lancaster House in Westminster for the ceremony where I found our MP Cat Smith waiting at the top of the stairs for me. That was a great feeling.

“I met Andrew Percy the Northern Powerhouse minister and had a chat with him.

“To get the best Twittershop in Britain is just amazing. We have to thank our customers who area very community minded and voted for us.

“It is good for us but it is also good for Fleetwood too. People in London were saying they would like to come and visit.

“The publicity we have had since reaching the final has been great. We were on North West Tonight the other week and within hours we had another 250 Twitter followers.

“I spoke to Dan Biddle (Director of Strategic Innovation at Twitter )to get a few tips and I hope to make the most of this opportunity. I am now getting some Twitter blue lights for the kiosk!

“I hope this award encourages people to come to the town, not just the kiosk and discover what we have to offer.

“The awards were great for Lancashire. Fleetwood got a mention and Blackburn did well too winning the town high street and the overall award.”

Fleetwood MP Cat Smith said: “It was a pleasure to be with Craig when he won his award in London and to see his hard work getting the recognition it deserves.

“The Beach Kiosk is a fundamental part of Fleetwood life, but it’s also reaching out beyond our town proving that social media can help you grow a business and offer exemplary customer service.”