Owner of Napier's Hapi Ora cafe, Gretta Carney. Her business won the Excellence in Sustainability Award on Friday night. Photo / Warren Buckland
Owner of Napier's Hapi Ora cafe, Gretta Carney. Her business won the Excellence in Sustainability Award on Friday night. Photo / Warren Buckland
A company that started out with pop-up stores before turning its focus to online shopping has claimed the top honour at the 2021 Pan Pac Hawke's Bay Business Awards.
Brands.co.nz was announced as the winner of the Supreme Award on Friday night at the awards dinner in Hastings, following itssuccess running a booming online shopping website.
The awards event is hosted by the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce and celebrates excellence among local businesses.
There were five category winners announced on the night as well as a Leader of the Year and the overall Supreme Award winner.
Hawke's Bay company brands.co.nz started out as The Brand Outlet in 2013 - operating pop-up stores across New Zealand - before launching an online store in 2016.
Goods being packaged at the Hawke's Bay base of brands.co.nz. Photo / Supplied
"Since 2016, we have been learning the e-commerce ways," its website stated.
"How to offer you the products you love in a way that's both easy, convenient and clever.
"We're proud to say we are a family first business. We employ many Hawke's Bay locals (and other Kiwis, of course) to source relevant products far and wide."
The website sells everything from beauty and fragrance goods to toys and electronics.
A Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman said it was a fantastic evening at Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre.
"The annual Pan Pac Hawke's Bay Business Awards celebrate resilience, community connections, innovation, tourism, leadership, emerging business, and sustainability," she said.
"Thank you to all the businesses who entered the Pan Pac Hawke's Bay Business Awards this year.
"With so many high-quality applications, the judging process was competitive."
She congratulated brands.co.nz on winning the Supreme Award.
"This award recognises Brands' sustainable business growth and performance, promoting a culture of care and engagement with staff and the local community while building one of New Zealand's leading e-commerce platforms."
The event was at risk of being cancelled due to Covid this year but organisers managed to pull off an in-person event at Toitoi while keeping to Covid restrictions.
