Announcing the winners of 2016 Kiwi Business Heroes Awards

Web Genius is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Kiwi Business Heroes Awards: Xtreme Joinery.

The Christchurch-based balustrade and joinery business fended off Kapit Coast-based company, Peter Jackson Plumbing, who took a close second place to win a trip for two to the Gold Coast and $1000 worth of services from Web Genius.

Xtreme Joinery joint owner Loz Shatford said: “We are so excited about this. I’m honestly a bit lost for words. A big thank you has to go out to our team; we’d be lost without them”.

The five companies with the most votes were judged by a panel featuring three leading Kiwi business owners – Hamish French, Larissa Macleman and Richard Eltherington. Each finalist was judged after an interview with the panel and assessed on the four competition criteria:

Perseverance, value to the community, contribution to the economy and charity work and donations.

Peter Jackson Plumbing and Aspire Solutions Ltd both from the Kapiti Coast will receive $500 worth of Web Genius Services for placing second and third. Finalists Wellington-based Gentle PC and Thrive Chiropractic from the Kapiti Coast will receive $300 worth of Web Genius services.

Thank you to all 20 businesses that took part in the Kiwi Business Heroes Awards: your participation has made it a great success and set the bar for future entries.

Results:

1st place: Xtreme Joinery

2nd place: Peter Jackson Plumbing

3rd place: Aspire Solutions Ltd

Finalists: Gentle PC and Thrive Chiropractic

Who were the judges?

Hamish French

www.shoeclinic.co.nz

Hamish French founded Shoe Clinic, along with co-founder Neville McAlister, in 1998. Shoe Clinic has grown into New Zealand leading chain of sports footwear and apparel stores. The group has 18 stores from Dunedin to Auckland.
 
Larissa Macleman

www.salonownerscollective.com
 
After 20 years of owning a busy, successful salon and being involved in a number of start-ups, Larissa now runs The Salon Owners Collective – an global online community with the mission of empowering salon owners to grow beyond owner operator.

Richard Eltherington

www.bizbuddy.co.nz

Richard works with Kiwi business heroes on a daily basis in his business Biz Buddy. Following a background in the corporate world and as a business owner, Biz Buddy fulfils his desire to help small business owners succeed.

Richard is also an experienced business awards judge being involved in the NZ Business Excellence Awards and the Electra Kapiti Horowhenua Business Awards as an assessor.

New Zealand is full of talented people who have built their own businesses from the ground up – but success never happens overnight and there are always challenges to face along the way. Find out if there’s a local success story in your area and read their story.

What makes a Kiwi Business Hero?

To qualify as a Kiwi Business Hero, each entrant must show how they meet four criteria:

  • the perseverance that took them through difficult times as the business got on its feet
  • the value their business brings to the local community through client testimonials or other means
  • the contribution the business makes to the local economy, whether directly or indirectly by supporting other New Zealand businesses, and
  • the charity done for the future of the business’s local community. This could be ongoing charity work, event organisation or community work with a long term positive effect.

Voting is now closed for 2016, but you can still click on a business logo below to read their story or click here to enter for this years awards.

New Zealand’s original barbeque catering service, Barbeque Bill has served Dunedin and the wider Otago region for over 30 years and the business’s excellent reputation is known both locally and abroad.

Offering bespoke and traditional headstones for graveyards across the Bay of Plenty, The Bay’s Headstone Shop: BoP Memorials creates lasting monuments to the memory of loved ones.

For over 10 years Dave Brown Electrical Services Ltd has offered exceptional work across residential, commercial, industrial and marine sectors around Wellington and the greater Wellington region. They are customer focused, provide exceptional workmanship and a prompt and reliable service.

Using New Zealand made products and trusted international names to give you a quality installation, Bruce’s Garage Door Services prides itself on getting the job done right first time throughout Auckland and the North Shore.

Established in 1986 at the start of the home computer revolution, Auckland-based Bookkeeping & Payroll Services Ltd provide exceptional bookkeeping services to throughout New Zealand.

Gentle PC provides the wider Wellington region with computer lessons designed to your learning requirements, an honest diagnosis of PC problems and helpful and friendly repair work.

Installing everything from balustrades and pool fences to kitchen splash-backs and glass repairs, Hi-Class Glass creates quality, fittings throughout your Auckland home or commercial premises.

Working from her Hamilton studio for over 15 years, Helen Jones Photography takes professional portraits, captures fleeting moments and creates lasting mementos of special occasions.

Whether building or renovating, New Image Homes are dedicated to quality and professionalism. The team have over 75 years of building experience between them to become Waikato’s lifestyle building specialists.

Established in 1996, Logan Brown has an exceptional international reputation for fine dining using locally grown produce, all while maintaining their ethics on the environment and sustainable food sourcing practices.

Importing and supplying New Zealand with cheese wrappers, dairy containers, heat sealers, strapping machines and much more, Innovative Packaging Ltd are a small company offering a major service to other Kiwi businesses.

Updating hair styles, applying the latest treatments and selling the best and most effective hair care products on the market, Revolve Styling is Palmerston North’s professional hair salon.

Based in Dunedin and distributing to the wider area, Platinum Paints are the professional automotive and aerospace paint suppliers for Otago.

Based on the Kapiti Coast, Peter Jackson Plumbing won Master Plumber of the Year 2016 for his company’s impressive services in plumbing and gas fitting.

Rise Accountants have a passion to help New Zealand businesses succeed, ‘making good businesses better and breathing life into struggling ones’.

Proudly serving Dunedin with thorough and efficient cleaning services for commercial and residential customers, Clean Az has an exemplary reputation in institutes where hygiene matters.

Bringing businesses along the Kapiti Coast accounting systems that work alongside current practices and preferred working methods Aspire Solutions Ltd offers clear, concise information for a multitude of accounting software options.

Designing and installing impressive staircases throughout Christchurch and completing joinery work across the country, no task is too big for the team behind Xtreme Joinery.

Taking a proactive approach to health and well-being, the Thrive Chiropractic team are the Kapiti Coast’s spinal experts for over 10 years.

Established in 2008, Burgeon Signs turns ideas into innovative designs for fabricated, illuminated and three-dimensional signage from Hamilton to Tauranga.