WA - Telstra Australian Business Awards

Flying Flowers is a flower mail-order company, delivering flowers predominantly to the UK. Orders are received by telephone, fax, email or the internet and are sent via computer to one of seven overseas agents. Products range from fresh flower arrangements to dried Australian wildflowers to Australian-themed hampers and wines. The business has a database of 40,000 customers and has dispatched almost 28,000 orders in the past 12 months.

Agmaster is a manufacturing company which develops, produces and supplies seeding systems to broad acre farmers across Australia. Its unique No-Till seeding system creates minimal disturbance to the soil. Established in 1994, Agmaster has grown from a two-man operation to a staff of 14. Over the last three years, Agmaster has invested substantially in automated machinery and now boasts some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the Collie region.

Commtech Wireless Pty Ltd designs and manufactures wireless messaging systems for the healthcare, aged care, hospitality, industrial, emergency services and commercial messaging industries. The business produces wireless messaging infrastructure, alarm monitoring units, software and hardware messaging products as well as pagers and transmitters. Products are exported to more than 50 countries with clients including the US Army and Navy and the Saudi Ministry of Health.

SRK Consulting provides consultancy services in the mining and exploration industries in Australia and worldwide. Services range from exploration, resource estimation, mine planning, geotechnical engineering, environmental and geological support. The company has offices in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney and has a resource base of more than 500 consultants spanning six continents.

Market Equity is a business information consultancy offering services in market research, business planning and knowledge management. It is now one of Australia's largest independent research and strategy organisations - a far cry from the one-man home office, Brent Stewart (CEO) started in 1992. Market Equity has a growing client base of over 300 of Australia's leading private companies and government departments. The business has achieved an annual 40% compound growth since it started in 1992 with offices in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin. The company has a strong commitment to the development of its staff with 20% of payroll going towards training, team building, health and well-being programs.

Totally Sound provides sound, lighting, audiovisual and staging equipment for events and conferences. Services range from production and installation through to hire, sales and service. While the majority of Totally Sound's work covers the areas from Mandurah to Albany and the south-west of the state, a recent highlight for the business was co-ordinating an international conference in New Zealand.

Andrew Cayley has been providing orthodontic services to children and adults in the south west of the state for the past four years. Andrew Cayley Orthodontist has practices in Bunbury and Mandurah and provides a consultation service in Busselton. The business employs nine part-time clinical and administrative staff and is managed by Andrew's wife, Hilary.

DAD Australia specialises in building unit developments and homes for property investors. The boutique builder operates in the Mandurah to Margaret River region and has a home-design team and a range of home plans that can customised to suit individual requirements. DAD Australia has expanded its business to include a real estate division and a removals business.

Market Equity is a business information consultancy offering services in market research, business planning and knowledge management. It is now one of Australia's largest independent research and strategy organisations - a far cry from the one-man home office, Brent Stewart (CEO) started in 1992. Market Equity has a growing client base of over 300 of Australia's leading private companies and government departments. The business has achieved an annual 40% compound growth since it started in 1992 with offices in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin. The company has a strong commitment to the development of its staff with 20% of payroll going towards training, team building, health and well-being programs.

Established in 1995, Footwear Industries designs and manufactures industrial safety footwear under their premium brand, Steel Blue, and a budget brand called Howler. The products are made from high quality materials with shock absorbing properties. The Steel Blue safety shoe was recently commended by a UK industry testing body as the most comfortable safety shoe ever tested.

Since July 2000 Five Senses Coffee has been producing specialty coffees for cafes, restaurants, fresh produce markets and online customers. Their business approach is unique in that wholesale customers can participate in designing specific coffee profiles to suit their patrons. The business currently stocks a range of 20 specialty coffees.

Mandurah's Sands Pharmacy has been owned and managed by 27-year-old Josephine Jennings for the past two years. Sands Pharmacy's key success factors are its staff, an effective human resources strategy and a strong commitment to customer service. The business retains its customers with a loyalty program, discount cards, monthly health and well-being publications and special events.

Messages On Hold Australia has scripted and recorded on hold telephone messages for more than 8,000 clients across ten countries. The business was founded in a home office 15 years ago and today employs almost 50 staff in offices in Australia and Singapore. Technology is a major selling point for the business which utilises the latest digital technology.

Established in 1995, Footwear Industries designs and manufactures industrial safety footwear under their premium brand, Steel Blue, and a budget brand called Howler. The products are made from high quality materials with shock absorbing properties. The Steel Blue safety shoe was recently commended by a UK industry testing body as the most comfortable safety shoe ever tested.