THE FINALISTS ARE IN…
The 2015 Australian Small Business Champion Award winners are soon to be announced. Ciao is proud to say that many of the finalists are local businesses from Sydney’s Inner West, we wish them all the best…
Managing Director of Precedent Productions Mr Steve Loe founded the awards seventeen years ago to acknowledge, recognise and celebrate small business. The program itself is the only national program that allows small business to compete with one another, additionally giving small businesses exposure.
Small businesses that have met the eligibility requirements have submitted entry bases, finalists were then chosen based on responses received. There are a range of categories such as New Businesses, Performing Arts, Real Estate Agency and Specialised Retail Small Business in which businesses can win awards. The winners will be named at the gala presentation evening later this month.
A panel comprised of representatives from a variety of industries with experience or understanding of small business judge the awards. Judging is assessed on the responses to the Award Criteria form and any additional documents small business have supplied as well as the presentation of the entry.
The presentation evening is set to take place on Saturday 18th of April and it’s going to be a big one! This exclusive event offers attendees a three-course meal, drinks and entertainment. It is no wonder it has been labelled the ‘Oscars of Small Business.’
Inner West Business Finalists:
Florist
Jodie McGregor Flowers
Growth Award
Multihull Central
Hairdressing
La Unica Salon
Health Improvement Services
The Healing Practice, Petrozzi Wellness Centre
New Business (less than 2 years)
The Aperture Club, Emergency Flowers
Performing Arts
My Guitar School, Inner West Music College, DC Academy of Dance
Pet Services
Happy Tails Veterinary Hospital
Professional Medical Services
Dulwich Hill Chiropractic & Therapeutic Centre
Real Estate Agency
Titles Strata Management, Devine Real Estate
Restaurant
Efendy, Mancini’s Trattoria
Services
The Expat Concierge, Rasko Linen Services
Specialised Retail Small Business
Tali Gallery, Supa IGA Breakfast Point
Specialised Small Business
Multihull Central
Trade Services
SW Trade Services, Pesty Girls Pest Management
Wedding Services
Sposabella Weddings & Events, Nilla Reception Lounge
Young Small Business Champion Entrepreneur
Florence Ririn Lee-Gunawan – My Guitar School
My Guitar Champions
After sixteen years My Guitar School has become an icon and the first choice for most Inner Westies deciding to pick up the guitar. Having won countless local awards for excellence, now My Guitar School has been nominated for two Australian Small Business Champion Awards. Here we talk to founder Florence about this experience…
Why do you think My Guitar School deserves to be nominated in the Small Business Champions Awards?
I believe it is our deep passion for what we do. I am a firm believer that when you love what you do, you always give your very best, and at My Guitar School (MGS) we truly love what we do. We want our students to learn about music, but, more importantly, we want to inspire, motivate and build confidence and character in our students which they can then take with them into their everyday lives. The philosophy behind MGS is to nurture a fun and friendly learning environment where students can be enjoy being guided by teachers and staff that genuinely care about them.
What inspired you to start this business?
MGS grew from my personal experience in learning music. As a young child I was not able to enjoy my lessons, which in turn made me dislike playing the instrument. Yet, when I began to play music for fun, learning to play songs that I love, I completely fell in love with music and I have never turned back. I was always told to do what you can with what you have to make a positive difference in someone else’s life; running a music school and education is an avenue to do just that.
Can you tell us about some of your recent expansions to your curriculum and any future plans?
We recently started offering vocal and piano lessons with the vision to collaborate between our different students. For example, some families have one child learning the guitar and one child learning the piano and we teach them how to accompany one another and play a song together. Soon we will be introducing drums and bass guitar lessons, and introduce programs such as a rock ensemble class to give students an opportunity to form a band and improve their collaborative skills. At MGS we believe in the importance of learning to play a musical instrument in an ensemble.
You also have a personal award nomination, why do you think you deserve this?
I can’t take full credit because without the support of my family and the grace of God, I would not be able to carry out my duties. When I submitted the nomination, I shared my deep passion for music and our students and my commitment to striving for excellence. I always like to share our business motto, to stay positive, never give up!
Rozelle Plumbing
Inner Westie Simon Wills is the director and owner of both The Heater Man and Rozelle Plumbing, and is a finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards. We chat with Simon about his plumbing prowess.
How long have you been plumbing for?
I’ve been in Plumbing since 2001 when Wills plumbing started as a family business between my father, who has been a plumber since the early 1960’s and I – my grandfather was a plumber too so it seems plumbing is in our blood!
Do you have any services you specialise in?
Rozelle Plumbing provide services for all plumbing work, these include but are not limited to: bathroom renovation, drain clearing, marine work and general plumbing works for all domestic maintenance requirements as well as commercial fit-outs. We have done some really great bathroom transformations for customers in the area this year and are very proud of our team.
The Heater Man maintains home heating services, with our customers comfort and safety in mind. The Heater Man specialises in gas plumbing in the home, we service and install gas heating appliances keeping our customers safe and warm. We also service and install hot water heaters, hydronic and central heating.
What are the most common problems you fix around the Inner West?
The most common are hot water system repairs and installs and as the weather gets cooler we are seeing lots of gas heaters that are not operating properly and emitting dangerous gases, which is more often than not solved with a single service.
What is your main goal as a multi-skilled tradesperson?
Our goal is to continue to be specialists in our field and aim to use our strengths and skills to service our community and keep them safe and warm over the coming months.
What is your favourite thing about plumbing?
It is genuinely an honour to be invited into our customers homes every day, and to be able to use our strengths to solve a problem or improve on their home. It’s why we do what we do!
Do you have any special offers on at the moment?
We have introduced a workshop service offer at $110 to service portable gas heaters, a $40 saving on our mobile offer.