Businesses across Greater Geelong have been honoured at a gala ceremony.
The Geelong Business Excellence Awards were held tonight at GMHBA Stadium with Custom Neon taking out the Medium to Large Business Award, sponsored by EML.
After purchasing an LED neon sign for their son’s nursery, Jess and Jake Munday shared a bright idea.
“We enjoy what we do lighting up this world.” Jake said.
Jake thanked his team and the judges for voting.
In what was originally intended to be a maternity leave project, Jess and Jake launched their business idea on Instagram, selling custom LED neon signs for Geelong businesses and events. Thus, Custom Neon was born in May 2018 and has since exploded into the market.
Now a permanently flourishing business, Custom Neon has taken the world by storm, growing from a home business based in Jess and Jake’s garage and selling on Instagram, to a prosperous start-up in Geelong’s Newtown with teams in the UK and the US.
Lee-Anne Campigli was crowned the young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Deakin University.
Lee-Anne is the owner of You’re Gorgeous Hair and Beauty, a leading hair and beauty salon in Geelong. After finishing her hairdressing apprenticeship, Lee-Anne purchased the salon aged just 23.
The salon soon moved into a larger premises from the CBD to Moorabool Street to cope with the demand for services from Lee-Anne and her team.
Judges were impressed with Lee-Anne’s expansion into beauty and hair extension services, as well as the way in which she managed her business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The judges found Lee-Anne’s approach towards success and entrepreneurship very refreshing, quoting her as saying, “You can be successful while being kind – you don’t have to be ruthless“.
“To my beautiful team I am so lucky to have you all past and present.,” Lee-Anne said.
“I’m really honoured.”
The Sustainable Business of the Year award went to Scubabo Ocean Dive Victoria.
For a full 24-page coverage of the GBEA, including winners from all categories, see tomorrow’s Geelong Independent.
