O2 Project comes out on top

LAST Wednesday, O2 Project owners John and Diana Woodward, attended the TSB Bank 2008 Top Shop Awards and came home after not only winning the lifestyle and leisure category for the second year running, but also the over all Taranaki Top Shop Award.
John was blown away with the win and said it was completely unexpected.
"I was speechless really," he said.
"We've had a really busy month here, and to first win the lifestyle and leisure category for the second time, and then come away with the overall prize was just fantastic."
For winning Top Shop, John and Diana took home $7,500 worth of advertising and $3,000 worth of travel, as well as a certificate to put on the wall of course.
O2 Project has been up and running since March 2006, and has recently established an outlet store in Hawera and are upgrading their online shop.
When John, who began his love for bikes at age five and has been working with them since he was 18, saw the opportunity to start up his own shop he grabbed it with both hands.
"It's defiantly paid off," said John.
O2 Project sells all types of bikes, from kid's first bikes to racing bikes as well as merchandise such as clothing and helmets, along with sports nutrition supplements, exercise equipment and skateboards.
They also have a repair shop out the back and have employed Jason Craig, who works full time at O2 Project Stratford.
So the plans for the future?
"We are going to keep building the business, we won't open any more outlets, just keep building on what we've got," said John.
"We are also going to spend lots of time working on growing the online shop."
O2 Project, who recently organised a BMX competition in Stratford, doesn't have any upcoming events planned until next summer.
John, Diana, and their sons, Blayke (five weeks) and Caden (1 year), would like to send a huge thanks to all their loyal customers, sponsors and the anonymous people who kindly nominated them for Top Shop.
"It's over-whelming. The amount of support we've had has been massive," said John, gazing at the huge amount of 'well done' flowers sitting on the bench.
"I don't know what to do with them," he said.
Among one of the proudest people in the room, was none other than Mayor John Edwards.
"To win the category and overall prize is absolutely fantastic.
For a young business to achieve this shows the calibre of the owners and the team that run the business," he said.
"It's showing that Stratford is punching well above its weight!"