Entering the awards was an extremely rewarding process in itself. The application led me to really delve into my business and look into the results of decisions I had made and system I had put in place. Often our lives are so busy that we can overlook the wins that we have had along the way, however writing about Gourmet Living gave me time to reflect on what changes had been made and our significant improvements from them. It also allowed me to see cracks in certain departments of the business and opened my eyes to areas that needed critical thinking.
To be highly commended in 2013 after only 12 months of trading, and then announced as the winner in the retail category in 2014 was amazing. It’s fantastic to feel rewarded for all your hard work and long hours. Winning really opened my business up to a wider community which we hadn’t reached yet. The credibility that followed and continues to do so has been extremely beneficial for Gourmet Living.
Being a finalist or a winner in such a highly regarded awards program allowed me to gain a large amount of exposure for myself as a local business woman and Gourmet Living. I have been featured in many media publications which as a result have led to a high number of new customers entering my store.
Our winning plaque is displayed in store and we continually get remarks from customers. We had sign writing displaying our win on our shopfront window to ensure everyone in our community was aware of our achievements.
Winning Manningham Retail Business of the Year 2014 has been enormously rewarding and I encourage all local businesses to get involved.