R & J Batteries' history of hard work and outstanding customer service has been recognised with Ballarat's top business award.
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After winning the Customer Service Award at the Federation Business School and Commerce Ballarat 2019 Ballarat Business Excellence Awards, the business received the top gong for Business of the Year on Thursday.
R & J Batteries group general manager Stuart Hamilton said from humble beginnings in 1996, the family-owned business now has 180 stockists across Australia and New Zealand, with 26 staff in the Ballarat headquarters alone.
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He said owners Ray and Rhonda Robson were the foundation of the business, with R & J Batteries built on "hard work, mateship and entrepreneurialism".
"Business is tough .. but what makes a tough business an easy business is a wonderful culture and a wonderful atmosphere," he said.
Twenty-eight of the businesses named as nominees for Thursday's awards had not been finalists before.
Commerce Ballarat's executive officer Jodie Gillett said 2019 Business Excellence Awards were an opportunity to "highlight" many small businesses, when residents might not know "what's going on behind a business's closed doors".
Mr Hamilton said while innovation was "incredibly hard" because they sell an imported product and are at the whims of the manufacturers overseas, they continue to improve on the "way we do our business, how we manage our staff".
R & J Batteries moved opened in New Zealand around 18 months ago, and he said it was a much smaller market than Australia and remained "competitive".
"We very much believe in doing what we do well, and not growing too quick ... we cant ignore the fact we're a Ballarat business, born and bred. We'll always be here, irrespective of how big we get."
Seek out expertise, says young winner
Eureka Osteo's Megan May didn't plan to be a small business owner, but "when the opportunity presented itself", she was up for the challenge.
She took out the BGT Jobs and Training Young Business Person Of The Year Award on Thursday. As the co-director of the practice, which has been open for 18 months, Ms May has "enjoyed working to learn the skills" necessary to run a business.
She said she shared with her business partner Anthony Rogan a "love of learning which drives us to be better".
Ms May said young prospective business owners should "surround themselves with smart people", and get involved in leadership opportunities.
"You can't know everything by yourself, especially not at the start, so really surround yourself with people who have different expertise and seek out mentors within the community," she said.
Ms May is currently on the board of Ballarat Community Health, and specialises in treatment around pregnancy, paediatrics and sports injuries.
All the winners
Regional Development Australia's Grampians Eat Drink West Award
Springmount Fine Foods
Ballarat Foundation Community Impact Award
3BA
Ballarat Times News Group's Health and Wellbeing Business Award
Implexa Allied Health Sevices
Ballarat Community Health Customer Service Award
R & J Batteries
Nevett Ford Lawyers Events and Attractions Business Award
Kryal Castle
Mercure Ballarat Franchise/Buying Group Award
Karingal Flooring Xtra
Ballarat Technology Park Innovation Award
Interknit
Federation Business School Creative Industries Business Award
The Academy of Classical Ballet
WIN Network New and Emerging Business Award
Showbiz Cinemas Ballarat
Ballarat Volkswagen Professional Service Award
Chris Packer & Associates
City of Ballarat Restaurants, Cafes and Pubs Award
The Western Hotel
MatchWorks Retail Business Award
Ballarat Car Sales
Power FM Small Business Award
The Little Cupcake Ballarat
Central Highlands Water Trade Business Award
Portable Buildings by Design
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