School furniture maker in class of its own

Innovative school furniture company Furnware won the supreme award at the 2011 Westpac Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Furnware, based in Hastings, won the Pan Pac Large Business category and the coveted Hawke's Bay Today Business of the Year Award last night at the Hawke's Bay Opera House. The judges commended Furnware on its vision, commitment and success.



"Because of its market dominance in New Zealand and growing reputation offshore, Furnware clearly stood out as this year's overall winner."

In accepting the award, Furnware owner Hamish Whyte paid tribute to his team.

"If you give people the opportunity to own what they do, they can do anything," he said.

More than 650 people enjoyed the business-year highlight hosted by broadcaster Paul Homes.

After cocktails the awards ceremony started with a video montage of past winners at work.

The announcement of Furnware as supreme winner was the crescendo of the evening, with balloons and streamers cascading onto the audience.

Furnware started business in 1934 and has recently revolutionised the school chair design with a proven increase in student learning.

At the post-awards dinner, Mr Whyte said Furnware did not need to diversify outside the school furniture market as the potential global market was huge.

"I just look at six billion kids," he said.