Garstang Travel, Garstang, Lancashire

There’s a smart foreign exchange desk that also came as part of the refurb, and if kids come in, a playmat can now be whipped out to amuse them along with some Lego; meanwhile adults are always offered a fresh brew.

Not only did the refurb refresh the shop, it lifts the spirits of the whole team every day, helping them offer even higher levels of customer service.

Most of the 10-strong team has been at the store for between 10 and 20 years and it’s this long-standing sisterhood that beams through when you meet them.

As a result of her own passion for keeping active, Eaves has branched out into organising group walking and cycling tours, and locals have joined her on two sell-out tours to Austria. She also uses cycling to raise money for charity, organising an 88-mile midsummer night-ride from Manchester to Llandudno for Reuben’s Retreat.

Being part of the community is obviously important to the team, with troupes of school children welcomed a few times a year. And visits from on-road sales reps are just as welcome - with as many as three suppliers a day sometimes popping in to visit.

And when it comes to customers, nothing is too much trouble. After Jet2 stopped Blackpool flights, one elderly disabled customer was ready to cancel his holidays altogether, as this was his closest airport, the one where he felt comfortable. But Eaves picked him up at 4am and took him to Manchester instead, ensuring he could still get away for a break after losing his wife.

• garstangtravel.com