Three Central Coast businesses have taken out gongs at the 2021 Australian Small Business Champion Awards, announced on March 19 at Star Casino.
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards support and recognise small businesses across Australia.
Dyson Logistics of West Gosford won the Transport and Logistics award, George’s Fruit Barn of Terrigal took out the Fresh Food award, and Milk and Honey Hair of Gosford was successful in the Hairdressing category.
Dyson Logistics CEO and founder, Kane Dyson, said the win meant a lot considering the competition in the field.
“This is all about the staff and an absolute validation of all the hard work that Camilla, Madison and Andrea put in and the level of service they pride themselves on providing,” he said.
“I would also like to thank our valued clients for all the support shown us over the last seven years. Here’s to 70 more!”
Co-owner of Milk and Honey, Danielle Cohen, said staff were still on cloud nine following the win.
Cohen owns the salon with her mother, Belinda Beresford, and their husbands.
“Mum and I went down to the awards ceremony but were pretty shocked to be announced a winner,” Cohen said.
“We thought it would be a great night but were certainly not expecting the win.”
Cohen put the success down to the “amazing team” at the salon.
“We pride ourselves on customer service and the beautiful hair we do,” she said. “We are always putting in time and effort behind the scenes to keep the clientele coming in. We are still pinching ourselves.
“With over 20,000 hair salons across Australia, being awarded this trophy is just beyond words.”
George’s Fruit Barn owner Marie George said the win was overwhelming.
“My late husband Anthony K. George started this fruit shop in 1965 by just growing a few tomatoes, beans and corn on the farm and selling (them) on the side of the road (at) George’s Fruit Stall,” she said.
“We slowly introduced much more of a variety of products and now we are providing our customers a one-stop range of food supplies. As they say, If you can’t find it anywhere, go to George’s.”
These days George’s stocks not just fresh fruit and vegetables but a variety of goods to go with them, including bread, fresh flowers, Asian groceries, continental delicatessen goods and gluten-free and dairy-free products.
“It’s been going for over 45 years and is something of an icon,” George said.
She credited customer service for the win.
The awards program originated in 1999 as the NSW Small Business Champion of Champion Awards, recognising the most outstanding businesses in the state. In 2007, the program expanded to outstanding small businesses from all states and territories across Australia.
Terry Collins