As I passed my local fish and chip shop the other day I realised that something had changed.
A huge sign in the window announced: 'Best UK Fish & Chip Shop Chain - Winner 2011'. My local chippy had achieved national recognition.
My local is actually one of a chain of five shops established by Daniel. He opened his first on Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth, in 1996. That branch won regional awards in 2009 and 2010 but to win a national prize is a new, and significant, achievement.
Anyone who's seen one of Daniel's shops knows they are distinctive. He's brought the chippy into the twenty-first century, equipping his stores with a cool, contemporary look more frequently associated with smart bars and clubs.
He's embraced technology, with touch screens, a website that addresses issues such as sustainability and healthy eating, and a YouTube video. His stores have banished the 1970s image of fish and chips shops, wrapping a traditional treat in modern flavour.
Daniels Fish and Chips is a great example of a proven commercial idea not afraid to move with the times. As a result the chain has won a leading national prize, which brings with it free publicity and additional incentive to draw in customers. People buy from suppliers who are recommended to them, either by someone they know or through the validation of a third party.
If you run a business, it's good to ask yourself who is recommending your service to others. And to reflect on whether you're changing with the times.
Andrew Knowles
Freelance writer for business
