COMPETING in the tough world of retail electrical products is no easy matter for the small family firm. Yet despite the commercial muscle power of Comet, Currys and the like, Linwood Home Electronics, of Station Road, Rainham, has gone from strength to strength.

In two and a half years it's increased turnover six-fold, to a figure approaching half a million. Linwoods is among the contestants in this year's KM Small Business of the Year Awards. "We tend to concentrate on the quality end of the market," said Richard Divers, who manages the sales operation. "And by dealing direct with manufacturers, rather than wholesalers, we are often able to undercut the big retailers by as much as 20 per cent.

"Over the past year we've introduced a number of incentives, such as interest free credit, which is extremely popular, particularly for more expensive items. I should think that 90 per cent of customers buying television systems costing more than £1,000 opt for the credit facility."

Service is vital to the Linwood success story. The company makes every effort to deliver goods on the same day in which they are ordered. And they insist on installing televisions for a customer and making sure they are working properly before they leave. "It's not good enough to just dump the box in the living room and leave the customer to sort it out for themselves," said Richard.

Linwood's was started 20 years ago by Richard's father Alan, as a service operation. And the firm is still very much involved in servicing and repairs, with staff undergoing frequent courses to keep up-to-date with the latest technology. And Linwoods will lend customers a television while their own is being fixed.

Medway Small Business Awards is sponsored by Medway Today and the Kent Messenger, LloydsTSB bank, Medway Chamber of Commerce and Medway council. An application form appears weekly in Medway Today or can be obtained from Chatham reference library or Medway Chamber of Commerce. Entrants must be in the Medway area, have a turnover of less than £3 million, and have been in business for at least a year before the closing date of the competiton, July 31.