A campaign designed to make Shipley shoppers smile and be happy was launched in the town centre today.

Dubbed The Brilliant Scheme, the new initiative aims to help independent businesses excel at customer service with the aim of making their customers content.

Backed by Bradford Chamber of Trade, Bradford and District Business Link and Shipley Steering Group, the scheme is part of a long-term strategy to attract more customers into Shipley town centre.

Keith Joplin, managing director of Joplins Ltd which is managing the scheme, said: "This is a 12-month scheme to give independent retailers the skills they need to be brilliant at customer service.

"We will offer people help with staff training, customer care and will look at all aspects of their business down to how staff dress and talk to customers.

"We'll then monitor their progress over a 12-month period to make sure the skills they learn are being put into practice."

Shops taking part in the scheme will be visited by a mystery shopper, who will check to see whether staff are putting what they learn into practice.

Clinics will also be held on monetary and legal matters with advice on marketing, promotions and public relations.

Last year, 30 businesses in Bradford city centre took part in a similar project.

The scheme was then piloted by Bradford Chamber of Trade in Shipley at the end of last year and now 24 places are on offer to traders in the town.

Steve Szostak, managing director of Bradford and District Business Link, said: "Our interest is in helping businesses to become better businesses and that's what the scheme will do.

"It's not just about getting shops to look better, but also to operate better."

Councillor Tony Miller (Lab, Shipley East) added: "This is another positive step towards the regeneration of Shipley into a thriving market town.

"A lot of traders are anxiously waiting to get involved."

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