Awards triumph drives surprise surge in trade

Okere Falls Store owner Sarah Uhl attributes their busiest year yet to their win at the Rotorua Business Excellence Awards. Photo/Stephen Parker

Sarah Uhl couldn't have foreseen the impact a win at the Rotorua Business Excellence Awards would have on her business, the Okere Falls Store.

"It's been a bit of a storm. It made a huge impact on an already very busy business."

Entries to this year's awards close tomorrow, and looking back now Ms Uhl admits she was unprepared for the effect her win would have and how soon after the awards it would come.

The popular spot took out the supreme title, after earlier being named the retail business of the year, in last year's awards and Ms Uhl said change came "pretty much the next day".

She puts it down to the store being thrust into the spotlight. While people knew they were there, it was seeing it recognised so highly that finally prompted some to give it a go.

"It was a case of curiosity killed the cat."

Since then they've experienced their busiest summer. While now is the typical winter quiet period, Ms Uhl said there was no time to rest on their laurels.

The experience of the awards had been a hugely valuable one, and one which she would recommend to anyone, she said.

Fellow winner James Fitzgerald of Rotorua Canopy Tours agreed the process of entering the awards, as well as the feedback from judges, had been invaluable.

"Having someone look at your business in a semi-confidential manner is great.

"It makes you focus and sit down and take heed of where you're going."

They took out the award for best emerging business at the awards and said since then they'd used some of the feedback to fine-tune their operations.

"There were a couple of suggestions that we had picked up on and were running forward with."

Mr Fitzgerald said even those who didn't walk away with an award would learn something through the process.

He agreed one of the biggest benefits was that lift in profile within the Rotorua community.

The business is on the lookout for a new, bigger base because of growth and was planning on introducing some special night tours over summer, he said.

For Wingspan, which took out the community organisation business award, it was proof that not-for-profit organisations could also be business savvy, according to director Debbie Stewart.

It was one of a string of awards Wingspan picked up over the past year, and Ms Stewart said as it stood, Wingspan was the best performing conservation charity in the country.

"In our instance we were able to get a lot of advice and make subtle changes. It's been very useful for us."

This year's Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards will be presented at a gala dinner awards evening on October 3.