Heroes in small business battle it out for top spot

Media release


Heroes in small business battle it out for top spot

The finalists in The David Awards 2012: heroes in small business have been named.

The David Awards, now in their fifth year, recognise the unsung heroes in home and small businesses throughout New Zealand.

Just as David, an ordinary, unassuming young man, used shrewdness and a simple slingshot to conquer the giant Goliath, these entrepreneurial Davids often punch well above their weight, and their tenacity, courage and ingenuity place them firmly at the forefront of entrepreneurship in this country.

Organizer of the Awards, Heather Douglas, says, “There are many business awards which recognise businesses which have a significant number of staff, which are exporting, which show enormous year-on-year growth or which work within specific industries. The intention of The David Awards is to recognise ordinary, small, home or micro businesses, which often fly beneath the national radar but are doing extraordinary things. There are plenty of them and these grassroots and early stage businesses, which form the fabric of Kiwi society, need to be recognised and nurtured.”

The judges have been impressed with the variety and quality of entries this year.

The David Awards finalists for 2012 are:
The Compass Communications Most outstanding fledgling business
A start-up business which is under two years young, smart, quirky, or just very professionally set up.
• Leatherwise
• Wash Bar
Most outstanding transitional business
A promising business which has moved beyond the start-up phase and is more than 18 months old, which has a proven track record and some or all of the plans/people/systems/processes in place to make a well-above-average future a reality. This Award seeks to recognise a business planning for and/or coping with the changes required to take a business through expansion and significant growth.
• Bio Brew
• Create IP
• Pod Consulting
Most outstanding triumph over adversity
A business which has succeeded in spite of challenges beyond the usual.
• Communicate IT
• Create IP
• Leatherwise
Most outstanding lifestyle business
A business which epitomises the ability to integrate business and lifestyle, with the owner(s) to take advantage of its flexibility to fit income generation around spending time on family or leisure activities or other pursuits.
• Nourish Magazine
• The Real Dog Equipment Company
The NZBusiness Most innovative business
This is a business which either demonstrates a new or clever way of going about things, or is quirky from the ground up while incorporating great business principles.
• Bio Brew
• The Real Dog Equipment Company
Most inspired use of technology
A business which leverages technology in many guises to enhance efficiency, mobility and keep overheads to a minimum.
• Communicate IT
• Food Savvy Kids
The BNI Most inspired use of marketing
A business which punches above its weight in terms of getting the word out, achieving profile and attracting business.
• Leatherwise
• Sachie's Kitchen
The Bizbuzz Most community-minded business
A business which gives back to its community, e.g. local, regional or industry sector, in ways, shapes or forms which benefit the community significantly. This Award is intended to highlight a business where the community involvement is not what the business is about, but part of how it goes about doing whatever its core business is.
• Bookwormz NZ
• Nourish Magazine
• Sachie's Kitchen
Winners and the Supreme Award winner will be announced on www.thedavidawards.co.nz on 3 October at 11 a.m. via webcast.

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