Fastway Couriers Wanganui wins top franchise and business development awards

Fastway Couriers franchisees Graham and Denise Clarke have more trophies to add to their collection. Photo / Stuart Munro

Fastway Couriers Wanganui has won the company's top franchise award for the fifth time and also picked up the prize for business development.

Owners Graham and Denise Clarke say their team approach is their secret to success.

"That's where we excel," Denise Clarke said.

"We have employees who work as a team and their passion is our passion."

Graham Clarke said as well as having employees who were "family", the Whanganui community had supported the franchise over many years.

"We owe Whanganui people quite a bit because they have stuck by us and we look after them as best we possibly can," he said.

The business development award acknowledged how the Clarkes have changed the business model to fit the Whanganui market.

"We have bent, not broken, the Fastway stuff to fit," Graham Clarke said.

"Whanganui people are unique and do things a bit differently. Around here it's about loyalty and working together. As long as the service is there, they will stick with you. Our biggest thing is getting customers by word of mouth.

"We provide same-day service and our other commitment is that we are here, we are local and people know they can ring me and I'll be around. There's no call centre - you are actually ringing someone in Whanganui."

Fastway Wanganui has 14 team members, including the Clarkes, and is one of 17 branches around New Zealand. The company started in Napier in 1983 and has been in Whanganui since 1993.