Over the past few years, the Chamber and Bowen Tourism and Business have partnered with Tourism Whitsundays to host the Whitsunday Business Awards which celebrate excellence within the greater business community of the Whitsundays.
The winners were announced Saturday 19 October at a celebration that applauded both individual and collective achievements and recognising new businesses alongside familiar names that continue to shine. It was a fitting tribute to the region’s resilience and innovation.
This year, the Whitsunday Business Awards were:
- Excellence in Customer Service by an Individual or Business (winner Bowen Tourism and Business and runner up Gyan Sologar, Fat Frog Beach Cafe)
- Most Outstanding Whitsundays Retailer (winner Airlie Beach Crew Clothing Co. and runner up Airlie Health Hub)
- Most Outstanding Whitsundays Booking Service (winner Airlie Beach Tourism)
- Most Outstanding Whitsundays Hospitality Venue (winner Eastwoods Dining and runner up Fat Frog Beach Cafe)
- Most Outstanding Whitsundays Service Provider (winner, and 2024 Hall of Fame appointee Shiift, and runner up Finley Films)
- Business of the Year for Bowen (winner Birds Fish Bar and runner up Queen of Clothing), Collinsville (winner Pit Pony Tavern and runner up Collinsville True Value Hardware), Proserpine (winner Little Vintage Café) and Whitsundays (winner Coral Sea Marina Resort and runner up Airlie Beach Tourism).
At the Chamber’s 2024 AGM, Judy Porter of Shiift and Patrick Atkins of Airlie Beach Crew Clothing Co. shared their insights.
What do the Whitsunday Business Awards mean to you and the team?
“The awards are a great reminder to better ourselves, to do better, be better, serve others better. It also is a great prompt for business reflection, to assess where we have been, where we are going, have we met our goals for the year, achieved the growth we sought, and the outcomes we assured our clients,” said Judy.
Patrick believes the awards provide recognition – for the hard work and dedication and for Airlie Beach Crew Clothing Co.’s vision to establish a brand that the Whitsundays can call their own – and opportunity.
“It’s great to be involved with platforms like this [Chamber and business events] and liaise with likeminded business members. It’s our opportunity for further brand recognition, and opportunity for future growth. Personally, it solidifies for me, that the Whitsundays is now my home,” said Patrick.
What are the secrets to your business success?
“For us, our keys are gorilla marketing, being creative and creating interest in the brand through digital marketing hype prior to release; offering quality unique products at a reasonable price; and being an active part of the community through sponsoring Mackay and Whitsunday street outreach program, donating and cooking food each week for those less fortunate, and showcasing young musicians in the area,” said Patrick.
Shiift’s secret has always been leading with purpose over profit. Judy spoke of their purpose to create better work environments through building leadership and culture.
“Better work environments mean you enjoy your job better and return home happier – a positive knock-on effect to your family and friends. We partner with clients who align with our purpose,” she said.
What challenges have you recently faced and overcome?
Judy admitted that one of Shiift’s biggest challenges is her.
“I struggle to stick to a framework and deliver the same content. This makes life impossible for anyone in admin trying to prep for upcoming sessions. I’m usually sending emails to change up the workbook, the video, activities and the PowerPoint. I know I drive them nuts. I have also struggled for a long time to be out in front leading the company, which is something I’m continually working on every day,” Judy shared.
For Patrick, challenges are mindset-related and logistics.
“We face greed from potential stockists and overcoming the cold calling process. We also have to address storage space and transport issues. Simply not enough space to transport our stock,” he said.
What do the next few years look like for your business?
For Shiift, Judy is looking forward to the challenges new clientele are presenting and a lot of travel.
“We have attracted much larger clients outside the region over the years. It’s so interesting that no matter where we are in regional Australia everyone is experiencing the same challenges. The recurring theme is ‘managing humans’”.
For Airlie Beach Crew Clothing Co. Patrick shared that the next few years will include more stockists operating on consignment, establishing a viable advertising budget, and the possibility of a stand-alone store.
“We are always looking for ways to be more involved in the community and its events too,” said Patrick. “Ultimately, we want Airlie Beach Crew Clothing Co. to be the brand that resonates with Whitsunday residents, a sense of collective ownership of what we do and how we give back to the community.”
The Whitsunday Business Awards will be held again in 2025.
Looking ahead