APAC awards for local
FIJIAN-owned Island Glass & Mirror Ltd has been named Best Architectural Glass Retail Business 2023 — South Pacific in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Insider Business Awards 2023.
Island Glass & Mirror Ltd general manager Asish Singh said they were surprised when APAC Insider contacted them to say that they have been nominated for the Best Architectural Glass Retail Business 2023 — South Pacific award.
“We did not apply. We were advised by APAC Insiders that we were nominated. We were nominated by somebody and that’s anonymous, they will not reveal that even though I tried my best to ask them. They then asked us whether we would want to participate in the awards, so we thought okay, let’s give it a go,” Mr Singh said.
“A few months later, I think a month and a half later, we received an email from APAC telling us that we were successful, and we have won this particular award.
“It’s a great feeling; more towards the fact that it’s not only an award for Island Glass & Mirrors Ltd, (but) it’s an award for the local industry, whereby the stakeholders who have been part of our team, that had been out there preaching the importance of quality products, compliant products, etc. I would give all the credit back to our clients, stakeholders, suppliers.”
Based in Walu Bay, Suva, the company was established in the late 1990s as a “small glass retail outlet” which eventually grew and gained recognition in the Pacific region.
“In terms of glass supplier, our line of business is mostly the retailing of glass products. As we progressed, we joined up and partnered with a few Australia and New Zealand companies, whereby we became the sole distributors of their products, which was basically tested, certified and meets the requirements, the Australian Building Standards that we follow.
“So that was the stepping stone and as we went along, word of mouth carried us a long way. And we got a lot of recognition from the engineers and architects and the construction industry, for being a company that has got compliant certified products, and at the same time, a good service overall to the markets.”
Mr Singh said everybody played their part for the company “and most importantly, the former staff, and the current staff of the company who have worked so hard”.