BALANCING the importance of family tradition with the need to fit in with the modern shopping world has certainly paid off for Dawson’s Department Store.

The Clitheroe store walked away with the Retailer of the Year award after judges saw that its internet diversification added a massive element to boost to an already thriving 70-year-old business.

The addition of a cafe/wine bar at the King Street site in Clitheroe has also increased footfall, with people popping in to buy hardware after enjoying a hot chocolate.

The store has been a mainstay of the town for the past seven decades, selling everything from nuts and bolts to luxury bed linen.

Priding themselves on upholding traditional values of service and free delivery to Ribble Valley addresses, the Dawson family knew that it still needed to move with the times.

Judith Dawson, store owner, said: “Over the years we have gone from five or six employees to more than 100 and the business has expanded along with its workforce. We have worked very hard as a family to get where we are and I am so proud of my children for the work they have put in.”

Son Simon, 31, has helped set up the store’s specialist websites – www.justlinen.co.uk, www.justdenby.co.uk, www.bbqworld.co.uk, www.justpottery.co.uk and www.gardenfurnitureworld.co.uk – to allow the business to embrace the opportunities the internet has to offer.

He said: “Around 95 per cent of business is now from outside Lancashire. The internet has opened us up to a much wider client base.”

Daughter Mandy, 33, works in the gift department while youngest son Stephen, 23, has set up the new paint department.

Sarah Dawson launched Maxwell’s, which not only provides refreshments throughout the day but, from Thursday through the weekend, is a thriving evening venue.

Simon said: “Maxwell’s brings in much younger customers, who hopefully will then become loyal customers as they grow older. The cafe also means more people come in to browse in the shop, increasing our sales.”

Collecting the family’s award, Mrs Dawson said: “I am so excited that we have won.

"It is important for people to support their local businesses, but those businesses have to offer a good service in order to gain that support.”