What makes a shop a place you frequent? Is it the service, the fact that the staff know your name and what you want to order before you do, that the assistant or owner knows what their stock backwards and what will really suit or work for you, or is it the fact that they can actually read your mind, maybe, as Kristine Whal, puts it. She's nominated Red Island Wine Company, Skerries "because you can go in there and say 'I want something that is so smooth and velvety I won't know whether to drink it or wear it' and you'll get exactly that - in other words, friendly staff with a great knowledge of their products and great range of products."
These are the kind of comments that really give the judges a better insight into a shop’s personality and persona. What you write matters.
Katharina Nordh calls it the sunshine factor. The staff at The Chocolate Fairy, Drinagh, Cork, nominated in the Best Market Stall category, "are the happiest and sunniest people I have ever met - there's such contagious joy and optimism in all that they do, you just leave their stall with a smile going from ear to ear and your head buzzing with happy plans and thoughts. Of course they also happen to have the best brownies I ever tasted."
It is also the fact that shopkeepers host events that bring you into their world and make you feel special,
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, for example, nominated by Scott Adair for Best Specialist Shop, says they host special events “where fans can meet their favourite writers/ artists like they Bryan Lee O'Malley who wrote
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
.”
For Jennifer Courtney it is the stock at Quack and Dirk, Fairview, D3 that draws her in. "The addition of the handmade, and often made to measure, items makes you feel like a trend setter."
Sometimes it's because a shop manages to walk the line between homely and haute cuisine. Like Java's Creperie and Café, in Galway. Linda Barber says this cafe makes me feel like I stepped into my mammy's house (if she were French, that is)." -
And sometimes it’s because a shop goes that extra mile to dig you out of a bind. “My friend got a beautiful cake made for a party and when their dog decided to 'attack' it
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in Roscommon went out of its way to help her get it fixed on time for the party.” That is why Michelle Fallon has nominated the in the Best Cafe/Tea Shop category.
Don't forget to nominate your best specialist shop at irishtimes.com/life-and-style/best-shops-2015/nominate.
Tweet us @IrishTimesLife or with the #bestshops15
Best Shops 2015 is sponsored by Clover, a First Data product from AIB Merchant Services
