Pumpkin Patch has been named the top clothing store for customer satisfaction in February, with an overall 92 per cent rating in Roy Morgan’s Customer Satisfaction awards.

Last year’s overall category winner, Suzanne Grae, came in second with a 91 per cent rating, and in third place was Jacqui E at almost 91 per cent.

These were the only three of the 21 retail chains measured for the Clothing Store category which satisfied more than 90 per cent of their customers in February.

Of the remaining 18 retailers, 11 scored in the high 80s, while the lowest rating store satisfied only 74 per cent of its customers.

In the Shoe and Sporting Goods category, February saw a close call between Athlete’s Foot on 87 per cent and 2014’s Shoe Store of the Year Betts/Betts Kids on 86 per cent. Both achieved their high scores primarily thanks to exceptional satisfaction ratings among their female customers, at 93 per cent in both cases.

When it comes to sport stores, Rebel Sport came out on top with a score of just more than 85 per cent; a fraction ahead of 2014 title holder Sports Power at slightly under 85 per cent. While male customers outnumber women at all three sport store chains measured for the Customer Satisfaction Awards, the satisfaction ratings in this category tend to be higher among women.

Michele Levine, CEO, Roy Morgan Research, says the first couple of months of 2015 have been quite eventful for Roy Morgan’s Customer Satisfaction Awards, with new leaders for several categories.

“Clothing, shoe, and sport stores are three examples, with Pumpkin Patch, Athlete’s Foot, and Rebel Sport all distinguishing themselves in a very competitive field.

“The close results for each category are a timely reminder for retailers that nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to customer satisfaction: there’s always a competitor waiting in the wings, plotting how to woo your customers away with their fabulous service,” she said.