Chamber toast to winners

Children’s fashion label Oishi-m is the toast of the Geelong region’s business community after being crowned the 2017 Powercor Geelong Business of the Year.
A capacity crowd of 600 people filled the Pier Geelong last night to see the Torquay-based independent clothing brand receive the accolade at the Powercor Geelong Business Excellence Awards gala presentation dinner.
Jubilant Oishi-m owner Miyo Fallshaw accepted the coveted Powercor Business of the Year Award accompanied by several of her staff.
Oishi-m is a unique clothing range for infants and toddlers that was started in 2005 and is now a flourishing business with a retail store and adjoining head office in Torquay as well as a global e-commerce website.
Chair of the awards’ judging panel Simon Flowers said the story of Oishi-m’s success over the past decade was inspiring.
“It shows what an innovative, independently-owned retail business can accomplish against its bigger competitors with a very limited shop front and effectively having six full-time staff,” Mr Flowers said.
“The business has built a cult following among their target market and now sells to 37 countries worldwide. They are also very community-minded.”
Earlier in the night Oishi-m took out the Roderick Insurance Retail Award for the second straight year.
Twenty-one awards were presented on the night, including the inaugural Business Leader of the Year Award, sponsored by Adroit, and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Deakin University.
Long-serving St John of God Geelong Hospital chief executive officer Stephen Roberts was named Business Leader of the Year, with Jake Munday receiving the accolade as Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Both Mr Roberts and Mr Munday will now be shortlisted as finalists in the Victorian finals of the prestigious Australian Leadership Excellence Awards in Melbourne on 21 September.
Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bernadette Uzelac again thanked the generous support and contribution received from the awards’ fantastic sponsors and event partners for allowing the chamber to put on a brilliant event.
“The Geelong Business Excellence Awards continues to grow in stature every year and it’s such a thrill to see so many local businesses eager to put themselves through the judging process and be recognised.
“The awards have been running continuously for 32 years now and are regarded as one of the most prestigious business awards in Australia.
“We look forward to celebrating more business success in 2018.”