Focus on female clients earns business top award

Lance Ewens congratulates Mark Cox and Tracy Waller. Photo / Supplied

Bridgestone Tyre Centre Te Puke took out the Bennetts Proactive Supreme Award at the 9th Annual Te Puke Business Excellence.

Bridgestone also won the Carter House Service Business of the Year.

Mark Boyle, of Te Puke EDG, which organised the awards, said the event - held last Friday at Kiwi360 - was an outstanding success, with an audience of 180 people.

Well-known racing driver Greg Murphy was the guest speaker.

"The awards programme highlights the diverse range of businesses we have in Te Puke, along with entrepreneurs, highly skilled professionals and managers, corporates and committed employees," said Mr Boyle.

Other winners included:

-Te Puke EDG Employee of the Year - Andrew Turner from Cavanagh Motors

-Destination Te Puke Retailer of the Year - Blacketts Pharmacy Te Puke

-Te Puke Country Lodge Food and Beverage Award winner - Ella's Cafe

-Trevelyans Emerging Business Award winner - Nordic Mobility Scooters

-Zespri Hort/Ag/Industrial Award winner - R&R Tractors

Bridgestone Te Puke owners Tracy Waller and Mark Cox attributed their success to bringing a feminine perspective to a traditionally male industry, alongside a focus on transparency and openness with their clients.

"In the early days, my aim was simply offer a service that I, as a woman, would be comfortable using," said Ms Waller.

"Then as we saw how our female customers were responding, we started to introduce other services tailored specifically for them."

Bennetts Proactive Accountants has been the supreme sponsor for the awards since their inception in 2006.

"In any community it's important to celebrate achievement because this provides focus, motivation and inspiration for others," said Lance Ewens, of Bennetts Proactive.

In addition to their obvious strengths in customer service, the judges felt the Bridgestone team had a clear focus, robust systems, a great team culture and a commitment to improvement.

"They're demonstrating exactly the kind of values that the Te Puke Business Excellence Awards set out to foster," said Mr Ewens.