2010 Telstra Business Awards Northern Territory Winners

If you wish to dress like Elvis or Darth Vader, Cleopatra or Scarlet O’Hara, the place to go in Darwin is Penny’s Fancy Dress on the Stuart Highway at Winnellie. Owner Heather Malone bought an existing business in 1999 and ran it from home for two years before leasing larger premises. She built her stock up to about 10,000 costumes, with wigs, boots and accessories. Heather’s willingness to make costumes on request proved to be a great marketing tool, bringing in corporate clients and building solid relationships with local schools and theatre companies. The business is stronger from May to December, particularly when Halloween and themed Year 12 graduation parties kick in, but Heather keeps a close watch year-round on cinematic blockbusters to meet demand for movie hero costumes. The rising popularity in Darwin of themed wedding parties has customers flocking to Penny’s to frock up.

“Most costume shops in Australia have standard costumes. We go further – nothing is too hard to provide for our customers,” – Heather Malone, Owner.

Investing in a purpose-built showroom to offer design professionals, tradespeople and retail customers a one-stop shop for ceramic tiles has significantly boosted sales turnover for City Ceramics of Winnellie. Established in 1999, the business operated from rented premises on the back of Robert Sheppard’s 20 years experience running a successful commercial tile fixing company. The move to a 4000 square metre development in June 2008 broadened the services and products that City Ceramics could offer large and small customers. Interior design advice is provided from attractive display stations of custom-made kitchens, stone bench tops and products sourced from Italy, China, Indonesia and Dubai. A marketing strategy of targeting developers, architects and designers with ease of product selection and extensive supply has won City Ceramics contracts for most of Darwin’s new high-rise apartment complexes. The business benefits from sponsoring sporting clubs and believes this practice is highly regarded in regional communities.

“Moving into the new premises was a maturing of our business and a step towards being an industry leader.” – Robert Sheppard, Managing Director.

From a small Darwin store opened by two brothers who arrived from East Timor in 1978, Jape Furnishing Superstore has grown to be one of the Northern Territory’s largest furniture suppliers of commercial and domestic furniture. In the mid 1980’s the company expanded with the addition of a commercial fitout business which attracted large Government and Private contracts. The growth led to the company moving to a larger showroom and Warehouse in Millner. Jape now employs more than 25 staff and has a display and warehouse area covering 4000 square metres. The superstore’s recent major Territory contracts include supplying furniture for Charles Darwin University’s new administration building and furnishing Royal Darwin Hospital’s new National trauma centre and oncology department. Jape carries ready to assemble and custom-made furniture from numerous local and international suppliers. Director Connie Jape says staff constantly undergo product information training so that the business can offer the best possible customer service.

“With over 30 years of experience, we pride ourselves in offering competitive prices at no cost to quality customer service,” – Connie Jape, Director.

In 2006, HG Fitness owner and former professional triathlete Hollie Goodall developed a training program for new mothers seeking to regain fitness after pregnancy. She completed certificate training in pre and post-natal fitness and ‘borrowed’ the babies of friends to help her devise the ‘Mums N Bubs Bootcamp’ program, an outdoors exercise regime which involves the babies as ‘weights.’ Its popularity led to the introduction of ‘Pilates with Prams’ in 2009, based on Hollie’s own experience of returning to fitness after having a baby the year before. Established in 2004, the Jingili-based HG Fitness offers a wide range of outdoor personal training including programs catering for the elderly and people recovering from injury. The two specific services for new mothers provide about a quarter of HG Fitness’ revenue and provide ongoing benefits to the business as some mothers have signed up for extra personal training sessions and enrolled their babies in infant aquatics.

“We are the only personal training business in Darwin and, I believe, the only one in Australia, offering a ‘Pilates with Prams’ program.” – Hollie Goodall, Owner.

Greenies Real Food of Rapid Creek promotes an environmentally sustainable food chain. The business, owned by Ursula Kupfer and Mal Green, starts by supporting producers that choose to farm using responsible and sustainable practices. Local produce is always sourced when available which supports local growers while reducing transport and costs. Greenies encourages eating of healthy organic food and says it has achieved a greater public awareness of food production issues, especially for people with food allergies or illnesses. The organic produce and healthy lifestyle retailer began as a market stall 11 years ago. It offers recycled boxes to customers for carrying their goods, although most shop with their own bags. It also supports community groups that share a commitment to healthy eating, promoting in its store initiatives such as local health expos and organic gardening courses. Greenies’ owners say all their business practices are aimed at minimising their carbon footprint and encouraging others to do the same.

“We have helped educate the public about many issues regarding food production and assisted them to achieve better health as they change their shopping and eating habits” – Mal Green, Co-owner.