Chantal Ashington had to be honest with her boss and tell him that she was struggling to concentrate on her work after hearing she had won a brand-new car.
He understood completely and encouraged her to take her time and relax.
“He told me, ‘You have every right to feel the way you feel’,” the delighted 42-year-old admin clerk said during the car handover at her favourite grocery store in Newton Park, Gqeberha, on Friday.
Ashington learnt at the start of May that she would become the proud owner of a limited-edition Hyundai Exter 1.2 Executive MT after entering SPAR’s win-a-car competition.
It is one of 50 featuring unique black interiors and matching rims that the Group has made available to lucky customers across the country.
Ashington has been shopping at the SUPERSPAR for over 20 years and never gave these campaigns much thought – getting a good deal on groceries was motivation enough.
That was until about three years ago when she started buying products linked to the competition and swiping her loyalty card to get in the game.
“The two years prior I just felt like it wasn’t going to be me because you never hear about or see the winners. But this year something said to me to have a go.”
Her husband Byron, the designated family driver and someone who never cries, did exactly that when she broke the news to him.
Life had been hard for the family and winning the car was “as if God was talking to them”, she added.
Their current vehicle has served them well and remains in excellent condition, but the new one is something they did not bank on.
The couple’s 16-year-old daughter, Fallyn, is already pushing for a “long trip” for the family.
The store’s senior manager, Theresa Maree, was thrilled that Ashington had claimed the grand prize.
“We see each other daily. She is one of our very regular shoppers. When they phoned me and I realised who it was, I was very excited for her.”
Ashington’s two-tone Exter offers generous power for its size while being particularly skimpy on fuel consumption.
Hyundai Port Elizabeth new vehicle sales manager David Elkonin said the model, which comes with a lengthy warranty and limited service plan, was one of the brand’s top sellers and provided a “beautiful, smooth drive”.
SPAR Eastern Cape’s operations manager in the area, Diether Zevenster, said the fact that the car was going to one of their most loyal customers was “such a value-add”.
“That’s our ethos – to add value to the lives of the community we serve.”
He pointed out that SUPERSPAR Newton Park is a store where the owner spent time on the floor and knew her customers.
“That’s the value.”
