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Proud sponsors of The David Awards.
A two-years-young multi-million-revenue business run from a garage and a spare room has trumped the competition to take out the Supreme Award in The David Awards 2001: heroes in small business initiative. GroutPro was also a winner in the Most Outstanding Lifestyle Business and Most Outstanding Transitional Business categories, and a finalist in the Most Innovative Use of Technology category. A variety of other inspirational small and home businesses have been recognised in the other six categories of the Awards.
Organiser of the awards, Heather Douglas, says, “The David Awards recognise the unsung heroes in home and small businesses throughout New Zealand, the “Davids” whose tenacity, courage and ingenuity place them firmly at the forefront of entrepreneurship in this country.”
“GroutPro is a worthy winner of the Supreme Award”, says judge Glenn Smith. “It is outstanding in every way. The business has bedded-in its systems and philosophies and is poised for future growth, further profitability and even more success. The owners of the business have achieved a work/life balance which would be the envy of small-business owners everywhere.”
The judging panel of this year’s event – who also comprised Glenn Baker, Pam Martin and Colin Kennedy - were impressed with the consistently high calibre of entries across the board and were especially pleased to see the record number of entries in the Most Outstanding Transitional Business category, which recognises business moving from the startup phase to maturity.
GroutPro owners Joe Hesmondhaigh and Rob Howard are delighted: "Being part of the David Awards has allowed us to look at our business from a different angle, celebrate our success so far and identify areas for improvement. We've come a long way since we started in 2009 in a suburban garage in Palmerston North and achieved some significant milestones along the way. We couldn't have achieved the success in business without the support of our families, especially since we still both work from home, enjoying the flexible lifestyle rewards that it brings; but also the challenges of running what is now a multi million dollar business with pre school-aged kids sitting underneath the desks and playing in the offices. We're sure that we will receive incalculable benefits from receiving the Award."
Winners were announced during a live web broadcast, a copy of which can be viewed at www.thedavidawards.co.nz.
A full list of winners for 2011 is as follows:
SUPREME AWARD:
Most outstanding fledgling business
A start-up business which is under two years young, smart, quirky, or just very professionally set up.
Winner:
Other finalsits:
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.
Winner:
Other finalists:
Most outstanding triumph over adversity
A business which has succeeded in spite of challenges beyond the usual.
Winner:
Other finalists:
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.
Winner:
Other finalists:
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.
Winner:
Other finalists:
Most inspired use of technology
A business which leverages technology in many guises to enhance efficiency, mobility and keep overheads to a minimum.
Winner:
Other finalsits:
Most inspired use of marketing
A business which punches above its weight in terms of getting the word out, achieving profile and attracting business.
Joint winners:
Other finalists:
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.
Joint winners:
Other finalists:
