Last night’s NSW Telstra Business Awards epitomised everything we stand for here at Dynamic Business magazine: small businesses taking risks, putting their heart and soul into their passions and doing great things in the face of competition from much bigger companies.
I for one was delighted to see the micro-business category winner take the overall NSW prize. The category is only open to companies with five employees or less, and was picked up by Sydney’s Publisher Textiles, a bespoke wallpaper business. And what a cool story they have to tell!
Starting in a rented corner of a friend’s factory, husband and wife Rhynie and Mark Cawood created original, printed fabrics and garments during the week and sold them at Sydney market stalls over the weekend. Commissions followed from designers Akira Isagowa and Nicola Finetti and they’re also responsible for the striking bespoke wallpaper at top restaurant Rockpool.
Every finalist at last night’s awards had a story of courage and determination to tell and winners were genuinely delighted and emotional when they collected their prizes. There was a real buzz in the ballroom at The Westin. As ever, it was a slick and impressive event, but the businesses who shared the limelight were all refreshingly real.
Good on Telstra and the award sponsors for backing small businesses in Australia for the 17th year. The event was a great reminder of the amount of great things going on out there in the small business community and the significant contribution they make to the economy.
