Coast businesses named champions
As featured in The Sunshine Coast Daily | 25 September 2007
The Coast’s industry is booming, with five businesses being recognised as Queensland Small Business Champions last Saturday.
BYOkids.com.au was named best new business.
Founder Leah Squire said it had everything you needed to know when it came to doing things with your kids.
“We specialise in family holidays; BYOkids is a website and we look at all kinds of budget holidays, right through to luxury,” Leah said.
“We have all sorts of things on there, like reader reviews, travel tips, good playgrounds throughout Australia, and restaurants – the website is an information service, it’s not just a booking engine.
“We offer a complete service right through from finding something to do for one day in a park or a playground, right through to if they want to do a round-the-world trip – we can book that for them.”
Hive Swimwear in Sunshine Beach was another business celebrating.
Owner Kat Hogg said it won the fashion award because of a new marketing campaign, Swimwear that Sticks.
“I was a frustrated surfer and was sick of losing my togs in the surf,” Kat said. “There were some athletic styles available, but they weren’t very flattering.
“With all the feedback that I got from having retail experience in surf shops and as a coach ... I discovered this niche market and thought I would make some really cool togs that actually stay on – it was really born out of necessity.”
Kat said she was honoured to win after being in business for two years. She said the awards were an indication of how her business compared with others.
“It was a good review process, actually doing the application made me realise what we had achieved in such a small amount of time,” she said.
COAST WINNERS
- Fashion Hive Swimwear, Sunshine Beach
- New Business BYOkids, Tewantin
- Tourism Spirit House, Yandina
- Wholesale MU Australia, Moffat Beach
- Young Entrepreneur Yvette Adams, the Creative Collective, Maroochydore
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