Following the raging success of last year’s rejuvenated Quality Business Awards nominations have been flooding into the Tamworth Business Chamber just two weeks after submissions opened.
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The chamber took a whole new approach to the 2017 gongs, installing an “independent and transparent” judging process, as well as a few other changes which resulted in a record crowd of over 800 on the night, followed by rave reviews.
TBC Marketing and Membership officer Jill Stewart said the chamber saw a record amount of nominations come through in the first week – over 150.
“These early weeks of nominations is such an exciting time for us at the Chamber. It’s the first time we get to see who’s being nominated by the general public,” she said.
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“Reading the reasons behind why each business is nominated is really heart warming and makes you proud to be a Tamworthian.
“It really does create such a buzz around town and in each individual businesses and this year is no exception.”
One such business is Dan and Nadine Daly’s Carpet One, who, after being named a finalist last year are already back on the list for a second run, just two and a half years after opening the doors.
Carpet is quite literally in the blood and sweat of this family business, with Dan first laying eyes on his future wife when he signed up to do work experience in Nadine’s father’s carpet store many moons ago, and the rest is history.
“We have only been open for two and a half years, and it has been really exciting to see how much the people of Tamworth have supported us,” Mrs Daly said.
“It is a privilege to help people either finish off their new home , or renovate their existing home, and the local builders have been very supportive of a new business as well – we rarely get a hard customer which makes it easy.”
For Mr Daly opening his own store was a dream come true, and he believes the punt to open up in Tamworth’s new Business and Lifestyle Park is paying off, and not just because he can watch the thoroughbreds jump from the 1600m mark across the road.
“We were the third building here so we have been able to watch it build up around us to what it is now,” he said.
“It is a great centre to be a part of and has helped our business grow.”
As far as the Awards night goes, the couple were planning on going anyway, even if they weren’t nominated after “having a ball last year.”
“It is great to be nominated – we have had our heads down working for two and a half years so it is really nice to know someone thinks we are doing a good job,” Mr Daly said.
“The chamber has been really good for us, and to see so many locals backing local businesses last year gave us a lot of faith in Tamworth – the night was great so we were planning on going again anyway – but know we can’t wait.”