Customers give top feedback

"Customers are your best feedback source," said Debra Van Leeuwerden, co-owner of AD Focus, joint winners of the Customer Choice Award in the Northland Naturally Business Excellence awards last week.
The Dargaville photo and printing business shared this year's prize with Serenity Caf? at Whangarei's Town Basin.
"We are delighted," said Mrs Van Leeuwerden.
"We think it was the best award we could have won - it's our customers we want to please.
"On a population basis our town is quite small, so we are really proud that people took the time to vote and make comment."
She, along with husband Anthony, work each day in the shop with two full-time staff members and a contract graphic designer.
One hundred and fifty businesses were nominated for the award.
Ten were chosen as finalists with the final choice coming down to the number of entries and the comments made in them.
Last year AD Focus, which is in its third business year, was a runner-up in the same category and finalist in the Emerging Business category.
This year it was a qualifying entrant in the Small Business category.
"We are very keen to enter again next year.
"The Baldridge criteria make you really re-evaluate your business and focus on your goals. You can use it as a good business evaluation tool.
"While it can be overwhelming the first time you enter, it is very worthwhile."
Mr Van Leeuwerden agreed, saying they had used a mentor to assist them with the entry, and while it was a lot of work, they enjoyed the process.
Four other Kaipara businesses were among 43 qualifying entrants in the nine sections of the business awards.
ElleCee caf? and Ruawai Home Furnishings made the finalist list in the emerging business category. In the tourism category, Wai Hou Oma Lodge and Footprints were Kaipara finalists.