The NZ Red Cross Shop Health and Safety Award for 2020 has been won by the Mount Maunganui branch located at 272 Maunganui Road.

The shop took out the Health and Safety category, ahead of more than 50 other branches nationwide.

Shop coordinator for the Mount Maunganui branch Craig Teaz accepted the accolade at the Red Cross Shop Retail Conference held at Wellington on October 20.

The event is a chance for Red Cross shop coordinators from across the country to gather and learn from each other and celebrate their successes.

Spokeswoman for NZ Red Cross Heidi Anicete says the Mount Maunganui shop earned the award because its staff consistently complied with all health and safety guidelines and keep a tidy and organised work environment.

Heidi says the award also recognises the genuine care and concern coordinator Craig has shown for his volunteers over the past year.

Craig, who has a strong corporate career behind him including setting up Habitat for Humanity in Tauranga and holding sales manager roles with Hallmark Cards and Penguin Books, has been with the Red Cross shop for the past 15 months.

He is pleased for his team of 30 volunteers, 'because they all work pretty hard”.

'You basically treat volunteers as paid staff and thank them and appreciate them,” says Craig.

For its size, the store is number one in the country for sales and has been for some time. Craig says communicating information like that to the team is vital.

He helps keep his volunteers up to date by putting the figures up each week so that everyone feels part of the team, and 'in the loop”.

Feedback from staff is that they are rapt with the award, Craig says.

'We get stuck in every morning and get everything priced and out into the store. Everything's always tidy; it's a nice environment to work in.”

'We're always looking for good quality donations, and we'd like everyone to come and visit and enjoy our store,” says Craig.