Darwin retailer City Ceramics has once again been declared the Telstra Northern Territory Business of the Year, during the awards ceremony held on Friday evening.
The business, which was established in 1999 by a former tiling tradesman, has experienced considerable growth since the decision of managing director Robert Sheppard to relocate to a purpose-built showroom in 2008.
City Ceramics also took home the MYOB Small Business Award.
Mr. Sheppard started the business with only four staff members in a rented premises, adopting a strategy of marketing directly to developers, architects and interior designers.
Telstra Country Wide Northern Territory Area General Manager, Mark Sweet, said that the NT winners of the five categories were chosen for their vision and strategy moving forward into the future.
“City Ceramics should feel a great sense of pride because the caliber of the 11 finalists in this year’s Awards was very impressive, reflecting the strength of Australia’s small and medium business sector.
“Judges said that Robert Sheppard left school at 14, later arrived in Darwin in a kombi van as a tiling tradesman and has become a visionary businessman and true entrepreneur. He has created a unique business for the NT that continues to go from strength to strength.”
City Ceramics has won contracts for most of Darwin’s new high rise apartment blocks.
Other winners of the evening were Penny’s Fancy Dress who took home the Micro-Business Award, as well as Jape Furnishing Superstore which was deemed worthy of the Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award.
Sensis Social Responsibility Award went to organic produce and healthy lifestyle retailer Greenies Real Food, while HG Fitness won the AMP Innovation Award.
