Advertising feature – Business in Focus
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The Albury Wodonga region is home to many successful businesses with their owners continually striving to offer the best products and services they can for local customers and clients.
Here we take a look at five businesses who are setting benchmarks and scooping up plenty of accolades along the way.
Artisan capture the moments on camera
When preparing to return to her photographic studio in Albury two years ago, Janiece McCarthy took an in-depth look at where the need for photographic services lay.
Janiece has been a photographer for more than 25 years and has a background in business with a bachelor degree majoring in photography and art history, a diploma of education and is a qualified trainer and assessor.
Following a successful ten year career in education she considered it time for a change of pace and chose to specialise in modern women’s portraiture and personal branding portraits for business men and women.
In business today, Janiece says you have to go with your heart and deliver services to your clients that go beyond their expectations.
“The portrait experience that we provide for our ladies is way more than just having your photo taken. It’s an opportunity for busy women to take some time out of their busy lives and to enjoy some time to themselves.
“They may like to share their day with the people most important to them - their mum, daughter, sister, best friends or the love of their life!”
The ‘Portrait Experience’ includes professional hair styling and makeup in the studio’s beauty room, which, Janiece says, is tastefully decorated “with the requisite chandelier”.
“Women can choose to wear one of the lovely outfits or beautiful gowns we have which is a luxury inclusion we believe is sure to add to the experience,” she said.
Intouch on track with a double win
Albury’s intouch Finance was the big winner at the Albury Wodonga Business Awards taking home both the Micro Business Award and overall Most Outstanding Business Award.
Director Meiken Barnes was overwhelmed by the double win and said she was immensely proud of the accolades bestowed to her business on the night.
“I am so proud of what we have created and achieved. Our focus is on delivering an exceptional customer experience, along with providing extensive knowledge to assist our clients in making what would be their biggest financial decision.”
Intouch Finance has serviced the Albury Wodonga region for six years, providing professional financing solutions for property owners and businesses.
Meiken attributes much of the success of intouch Finance to her team, the intouch clients and support from local businesses.
She said the business has built a reputation on ‘getting the job done’ with 13 years experience and access to more than 20 different banks and lenders.
“I would like to thank our clients and community business partners for always putting their faith and trust in us to provide options on financing their greatest asset.”
On the night of the awards Meiken said whilst business can be challenging she believed success would come if you keep striving and you keep working hard.
“We aim to make purchasing or financing a seamless experience for our customers,” she said.
Client, team and community focus
Johnsons MME was selected by the judges at the 2017 Albury Wodonga Chamber Business Awards as the winner of excellence in Commercial, Professional and Business services category.
Business services partner Rod Mullavey said Johnsons MME is the largest locally owned accountancy and business advisory firm in the region and the award followed on from previous awards of “most outstanding business” and “employer of choice” together with being a finalist in the NSW state awards for “business ethics.”
“Johnsons MME is an innovative firm doing exciting work for businesses across Australia in new areas such as sustainability, carbon farming and national greenhouse and energy reporting audit work.”
He said the firm worked across a wide geographical spread but was very proud of its commitment to the local community.
“We support many community activities and have partnered with the Albury City Council to ensure the music in the gardens events can continue. We are the naming rights sponsor of the Ovens & Murray netball competition, a silver sponsor of the City2City fun run and a major sponsor of the Lake Hume Cycle Challenge and support numerous other community organisations.”
He said the wonderful staff were the real reason the business won this award. “We have a focus on the complete development of our people and ensure a true life balance approach to work.”
Albury’s one stop skin care shop
LUXE Skin Clinic in David Street, Albury, is your one stop shop if you are looking for skin care advice, treatment or services.
Owner Erin Ryan was also a finalist in the Outstanding Business Entrepreneur category at the chamber awards and says the clinic combines the strict standards of a medical environment with the calming ambience of a luxury spa.
“We have a purpose built state of the art centre and can also provide treatment of a wide range of skin concerns as well as laser hair removal services,” she said.
“We use the latest in cutting edge medical grade technologies to provide natural looking, yet highly effective, results and over the last three years we have continued to expand our range of non-invasive skin treatments to include a range of body treatments.”
In addition, LUXE now has an onsite cosmetic doctor and offers minimally invasive techniques such as anti-wrinkle injections.
“This year has also seen the launch of LUXE Wellness which encourages our clients to take a truly holistic approach to their health and beauty. Our in-house naturopath empowers clients to achieve their desired results through nutritional coaching, herbal medicine and lifestyle management.”
LUXE also has plans to further expand their range of health and well-being based treatments in the near future.
“We are committed to providing an all-encompassing approach to improving the health and well being of the Albury community.”
It’s about more than pets at PETstock
PETstock Wodonga is celebrating their win in Excellence in Retail at the 2017 Albury Wodonga Business Awards.
PETstock Wodonga opened in Elgin Boulevard in 2008 and is owned by the Evans family, who also own PETstock Albury in Wagga Road, Lavington.
Store Manager Jacinta Mackay said the team at Wodonga understand that customers aren’t just shopping for a dog, cat, horse, bird, fish or lizard.
“You are shopping for your best buddy – a family member,” she said.
“We’re proud to provide our customers with good old fashioned customer service.
“The kind you just don’t seem to get as often these days.
“When you visit PETstock, you know you’re not just going to get the best quality pet care products, services and advice; you’re going to be treated as part of the family, and that’s our PETstock promise.”
Jacinta said the success of PETstock Wodonga lies with the passionate and dedicated team members, who bring the company values to life every day.
The team include Fiona MacDonald, Courtney Larsen, Mel Earnshaw, David Castley, Emily Hewitt, Lyn Tymczuk and Gabe Crothers.
“We would like to thank the local community that steadfastly support our business and everyone involved with the Albury Wodonga Business Awards, for the opportunity to participate and showcase our business,” said Jacinta.
Other businesses who have supported this feature:
Nutrisoil – click here for more info