Doom and gloom falls on deaf ears at Tauranga Business Awards
It is very clear that some people and businesses are deaf to the doom and gloom that many of us feel the weight of in our economy currently, and it is paying off in spades.
The head judge for the Tauranga Business Awards, Jamie Lunam of Jenkins Freshpac Systems, has recently concluded personally visiting all of this year’s entrants in the awards. “There is a very common pattern in this year’s award entries – none of them referenced the challenges that take up airtime and headlines. They talked to their successes, their pivots, and their pride in their teams” says Jamie. After the comprehensive interview process was completed, the entrants then undertake a ‘dragons den’ style pitch to the awards judging panel, and this left the panel gobsmacked.
“It wasn’t just that they were doing well despite the economic climate, it was that they seemed inspired by it. They have their head down, are clear on where they are going and get on with it”, adds Jamie.
While many business operators are frantically trying to respond to the shifting sands presented by inflation, supply chain issues, currency fluctuations and uncertainty around policy making, this year’s stars in the business community seem immune to the noise around them.
“It is almost as if it is seen as an unnecessary distraction. A distraction they refuse to invite in”, adds Shane
Dufaur of Ballance Agri-nutrients, one of the five judges that joined Jamie in the process.
There is a lot to be learned from this year’s cohort of entrants. In one case youth and the unbridled ignorance that comes with it has been the seed of an amazing and durable business, in another, the closure of the borders seeded a category creator, and in others adversity gave rise to much stronger business ethos and subsequent results.
The Tauranga Business Chamber will yet again deliver one of the region’s most highly subscribed business events with the awards dinner on 2 December at Trustpower Arena in Mt Maunganui. The line-up of entrants and awards is all set to inspire all attendees.