LEADERSHIP, innovation, excellence and sustainability – they’re the business world buzzwords you want attached to your small business.
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Manning Valley business Bamboo by Logan Leigh encompass all of this and more.
This is reflected in the business’s four nominations in the Mid North Coast Business Awards within the Business Leader, Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Small Business and Excellence in Sustainability categories.
“We’ve been very blessed this year!” said David Embury, who co-owns the business with his wife Gay.
According to David, the business has experienced 33 years of constant improvement, with changes not only to the business but what products it offers every five years.
“The building industry and what people want is always changing,” explains David.
One of these changes involved a gamble with adopting the use of bamboo in 2012.
Fitting in with customers’ growing need for eco-sustainable products this environmental venture resulted in an expansion of the business and a win at the 2014 Mid North Coast Business Award for Excellence in Sustainability.
David’s belief is that building companies that don’t go down the environmental path will be left struggling.
Currently his business is nearing certification for their mono-stringer staircases.
In a collaboration with the University of Newcastle that has spanned over two years, David’s team has been working with the engineering testing facility to ensure the strength of the staircase.
The business’s 2015 bamboo range has also introduced structural beams and bathtubs.
In an interview with the Manning River Times David shared some of his top business advice – the first being to “lift your staff members up.”
In order to be a good business leader David believes it is important to make your staff a part of the decision making and for them to feel “...very free to input their own ideas.”
David is extremely proud of the work of his staff, each who he feels has taken an ownership role in the business, due to David working part time.
David urges the need for outside advice, especially from those from a higher business level than you. These could be accountants, solicitors and other business leaders.
“You need to open to listening, rather than talking,” said David.
“Allow them to have a look and assess what you are doing.
“They might be able to pick up problems that you can’t see.
“You need to be open to receiving advice like this regularly.”
David also cites being a member of the Manning Valley Business Chamber as a valuable tool to gain casual feedback from other local business leaders.
In his last piece of advice, David shared the key words to his success: good ideas and perseverance.
“Good ideas are necessary,” he said.
“When you have a good idea you have to keep going with it even when it is challenging.
“You can’t run any business without perseverance.”
At 65 years of age, David says retirement is still on his mind, but until then he and wife are looking award to attending the awards gala dinner in Port Macquarie on Friday, September 18.
Mid North Coast Business Award finalists from the Manning
OTHER local business up for awards are:
o Donna Carrier’s Bent on Food/Bent on Life in the Business Leader category,
o Linda Bryant’s The Photography Hub for Young Entrepreneur
o Christopher Zanardi for Young Business Executive
o Dundaloo Support Services in Excellence in Business Ethics and Employer of Choice,
o Jack and Co Food Stores for Excellence in Business
o Wingham Beef Exports for Excellence in Exports (Wingham Beef Exports was the only entrant in the export category to pass the judges' grades and as such will represent the Mid North Coast at the State awards)
Did you catch the photos of the Manning Valley Business Awards? check out the gallery here