City Ceramics (NT) was named Australia’s best small business at the18th Annual Telstra Business Awards in Sydney on Friday night.
City Ceramics (NT) is a retail and wholesale ceramics business that started as a dream for former tiling tradesman Robbie Sheppard. He arrived in the Territory in a Kombi van at age 20 and was tonight crowned the winner of the 2010 National MYOB Small Business Award at the prestigious event.
Telstra Business Group Managing Director and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador, Deena Shiff, said the company had edged out many high performing businesses from the other states and territories as it had followed an outstanding development path.
“Robbie Sheppard set out with a vision and has progressively built up the business over many years,” Ms Shiff said.
“Starting in small rented premises with just four staff, City Ceramics (NT) has undergone a gradual transformation to become a business that designs, manufactures, supplies and sells ceramics and related products to both do-it-yourself renovators and the building and construction industry.
“The judges were particularly impressed by the business’ high level of marketing expertise, product knowledge and growth potential.”
MYOB CEO, Tim Reed, praised City Ceramics (NT) for its achievement in winning the National MYOB Small Business Award.
“City Ceramics (NT) has demonstrated the sound business practices, strong leadership and client focus that made the venture the success it is today. They demonstrate the spirit and passion of the Australian business community and this is wonderful recognition of the hard work they have put in to running their business,” Mr Reed said.
Mr Sheppard, who first won the Telstra NT Business Award in 2001 when he operated as Rob Sheppard Tiling, has expanded his business and now operates out of a purpose-built showroom, offering a broad range of products from Italy, China, Indonesia and Dubai.
“While the business had always done well, the move to our purpose-built show room at Winnellie enabled us to improve the quality of our service, expand our range of products and offer integrated services,” Mr Sheppard said.
“Being rewarded for the way my own business has grown and been managed on a national stage may encourage others in the industry to change their approach to the way they operate.”
