The David Awards: deadline looms for finding our Kiwi heroes in small business
New Zealand’s home and small businesses have just one week left to gain the nationwide recognition they deserve.
Just as David beat Goliath, so the myriad of small business owners in New Zealand punch above their weight. Their
success lies in their tenacity, innovation, vision, nimbleness, courage, and often, simply sheer grit and determination.
The David Awards: heroes in small business is currently the only nationwide business awards programme which aims to
honour small, micro and home business owners who have beaten the odds or excelled in their businesses.
Apart from a Supreme Award, category awards include startups, outstanding use of marketing and technology, the best
lifestyle business, the most innovative business, and the business which has shown the most significant triumph over
adversity.
Apart from the recognition and publicity which goes with winning an award, the organisers are offering a top prize of a
complete home office makeover from Warehouse Stationery, a fantastic business bootcamp mentoring package from Tom Poland
of the 80-20 Overview, business software from iCashbook and lots of free promotion and advertising. The David Awards
ceremony will be broadcast live on the web, and available for downloading afterwards in podcast form.
The David Awards: heroes in small business is open to any New Zealand business with the equivalent of 10 or fewer full
time employees. “Ninety percent of New Zealand’s businesses fall into this size group, and we know how hard it is for
many of them to get off the ground,” says The David Awards founder, Heather Douglas. “These businesses are often the
seeds of something big.
Navman, TradeMe, Resene, Pumpkin Patch and many other iconic Kiwi businesses had simple beginnings. We want to honour
and encourage this kind of entrepreneurship in its early stages. There are also many small businesses which may be solo
operators or have just one or two part-time employees and who don’t intend to grow into large operations, but are doing
things well, or who have overcome a lot of adversity to get to where they are today. The David Awards is about
celebrating those triumphs too.” In 2008, the inaugural year of The David Awards, the programme attracted 90 entries.
2009 entries must be received by 5 p.m., 31st July 2009. Entries received between then and 21 August attract a late
entry fee of $75 + GST. More details available at www.thedavidawards.co.nz
ENDS