The Secret To Business Success
Launching a business is scary, hoping it succeeds is terrifying and waiting to hear if you have won an award is down-right nerve-wracking. We did win, but so did a host of other local businesses who were once just an idea.
Secure, stable work and a decent serving of success is something most of us crave when it comes to our careers. Whether we decide to work for a company, start our own or launch that product we’ve always dreamed of, the business game is a hard one and we must celebrate the wins as they come.
Last month, IN Noosa Magazine was awarded the top honour for Creative Industries at the Sunshine Coast Business
Awards (SCBA) 25th annual ceremony. It is not possible to feel prouder of the hard work the team puts into creating
a magazine we can share with the community and we have done our happy dance ten times over.
But, as founder and editor-in-chief Deb Caruso says, it is because of other small businesses that we exist and together we all succeed. It is them we have to thank for allowing us the honour of sharing stories and connecting the community.
“Local businesses are the backbone of IN Noosa Magazine,” she explains. “Because they trust us with their advertising dollars, we are able to bring you these pages filled with stories that will INform, INdulge and INspire.
“Whether you’re launching a new business or working to grow your empire, we feel honoured to have the chance to
help businesses succeed.
“Many are owned by our neighbours, friends and family who live in the same community we do, so we take our role as a community magazine very seriously.”
Of the other winners on the night, there were a host of Noosa-based businesses proving this is a region of innovative,
go-getters. There were winners across all sectors from festivals and events to agribusiness, with the popular Noosa Beach House Peter Kuruvita taking home not only the top award for Hospitality but the coveted Business of the Year award as well.
Nestled in the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, Noosa Beach House Peter Kuruvita is the result of a surprisingly happy marriage between an incredibly successful restaurateur and a luxury global hotel brand.
Peter’s food philosophy of “simply prepared and cooked to perfection in an inspirational destination” has earned his
restaurant a growing reputation as one of the must-do dining destinations in Noosa, and now the acknowledgement as the business of the year.
Peter’s menu embraces the exotic flavours of Sri Lanka, paying homage to his heritage as well as prescribing to the Slow Food philosophy of local, seasonal food and maximising all produce that enters the kitchen; the fish is caught locally and used from nose to tail, and even beetroot is used from skin to leaves.
It’s been the support of his team, the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort and, most importantly, the diners, who Peter attributes the awards to.
“We are so lucky to be part of such a passionate community that supports each other and celebrates each other’s success. We are so grateful and honoured to be acknowledged like this,” Peter says.
Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort General Manager Mark Wilkinson agrees and says it was with thanks to a wonderful team and the support of guests that businesses such as theirs could be so humbly recognised for their efforts.
“We are extremely proud and humbled to be recognised in these esteemed Awards. A very special thank you goes out to our team, as it is their passion and dedication that has made this possible,” he said. “I would also like to thank our guests who have been supporting us since we opened our doors on Hastings Street.”
If you are wondering what makes a business a winning business, we chatted with the SCBA judging team to get some
insight. As SCBA judging sub-committee lead Bruce Williams says, it comes down to being extraordinary.
“Winning businesses genuinely love what they do and it shows. They put people first, listen to feedback, collaborate, create and innovate, and give back to our community. They’re great because they do the small things greatly,” he says.
For any business wanting to enter the awards next year, Bruce says you should get started now.
“Download this year’s questions from our website and get a head start on your application,” he says. “Involve your team and ask your customers why they love you. Secondly, back yourself! There are so many amazing businesses on the Coast – tell us why you’re one of them.”
Want to know more? Visit sunshinecoastbusinessawards.com.au.
