ENTRIES FOR 2024 NEWMARKET BUSINESS AWARDS ARE OPEN

The Newmarket Business Association is delighted to invite you to take part in the 2024 Newmarket Business Awards - brought to you by BNZ.  These awards are now in their twelfth year and attract high-calibre entries from a diverse range of businesses across the Newmarket precinct.  The awards are about business excellence and aim to recognise and celebrate businesses that have maximised their potential and have mastered the art of delivering excellent products and services.  There are two great reasons to get involved:

To give your business a ‘tune up’ and get a ‘warrant of fitness’

The entry process you go through provides a fantastic opportunity to take stock and focus your thinking. It helps you take a fresh look at your business goals and assess how your business is tracking. And after the past couple of years of disruption we have had, it is a great re-evaluation opportunity.

To win a category

The kudos and marketing leverage gained from winning – or even placing as a finalist – has huge value and can be used to help your brand stand out from your competitors.

Categories

There are eighteen categories in 2024.  You may enter three categories that are relevant to your business from one to fifteen.  Category sixteen is decided by public vote and categories seventeen and eighteen are selected by the judges.

1.   Employer of the Year (All sectors) – Sponsored by ANZ

2.   Retailer of the Year: NZ – Sponsored by SBM Legal

3.   International Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Westfield Newmarket

4.   Innovation of the Year - Sponsored by The University of Auckland - Newmarket Innovation Precinct

5.   Best Customer Experience (all sectors) - Sponsored by New World Newmarket

6.   Restaurant of the Year - Sponsored by Scapegrace

7.   Cafe of the Year

8.   Night Time Venue of the Year – Sponsored by Recognise and Reward

9.   Best Health & Wellness Business of the Year

10.   Best Small / Medium Business of the Year (non-retail) – Sponsored by ATPI Corporate Travel

11.  Best Medium / Large Business of the Year (non-retail)

12.  Young Business Person of the Year – Sponsored by Rotary Newmarket

13.  Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year - Sponsored by Chorus

14.  Best use of Social Media - Sponsored by Chow:Hill Architects Ltd

15.  Most Sustainable Business of the Year - Sponsored by Alpha Recruitment

16.  People’s Choice (Best Newmarket Business and this Award is based on public vote)

17. Newmarket Legend Award*

18. Newmarket Supreme Winner Award*

*This Award is decided solely by the judging panel and cannot be ‘entered’ as a category.

All entries must be completed online by 4pm on Monday 16th September. Finalists will be notified by Friday 18th October. The black tie awards evening will be held on Friday 15th November at Cordis, Auckland.

I strongly encourage you to take part, and wish you all the very best with your entry. To start your entry, please go to newmarket.awardsplatform.com

Many thanks

Mark Knoff-Thomas
CEO
Newmarket Business Association

There are fifteen categories for members to enter in 2024. You may enter three categories relevant to your business from one to fifteen. Category sixteen is decided by public vote and categories seventeen and eighteen are selected by the judges.

1. Employer of the Year (All sectors) – Sponsored by ANZ

This award recognises businesses that have achieved excellence in their employment value proposition and have positioned themselves as a place of choice for employees.

2. Retailer of the Year: NZ – Sponsored by SBM Legal

This award recognises the successes and achievements of a NZ retailer selling products direct to the end user.

3. International Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Westfield Newmarket

This award recognises the successes and achievements of a NZ or international retailer selling products direct to the end user in NZ and off-shore.

4. Innovation of the Year - Sponsored by The University of Auckland - Newmarket Innovation Precinct

This award recognises a business that is thinking differently about what is required to compete in the future. A business that has enhanced its success through innovation – both in thinking and implementing the idea. An innovation can be in a product/service/technology or process.

5. Best Customer Experience (All sectors) - Sponsored by New World Newmarket

This award recognises businesses that show outstanding and consistent dedication to the customer experience.

6. Restaurant of the Year - Sponsored by Scapegrace

This award recognises excellence in contribution to Newmarket’s thriving restaurant culture.

7. Café of the Year 

This award recognises excellence in contribution to Newmarket’s burgeoning café culture.

8. Night Time Venue of the Year  – Sponsored by Recognise & Reward

This award recognises excellence in contribution to Newmarket’s night time economy

9. Best Health & Wellness Business of the Year

This award recognises excellence in the health and wellness sector. Acknowledging businesses that have demonstrated commitment, innovation, and leadership, and deliver exceptional products and services for their customers.

10. Best Small / Medium Business of the Year (non-retail) – Sponsored by ATPI Corporate Travel

This award recognises excellence for the best/small to medium non-retail business. Small/medium business is defined as less than 20 full time employees.

11. Best Medium / Large Business of the Year (non-retail) - Sponsored by BNZ

This award recognises excellence for the best medium/large non-retail business. Medium/large business is defined as more than 20 full time employees.

12. Young Business Person of the Year – Sponsored by Rotary Newmarket

This award recognises excellence in an up and coming young business person who has achieved excellence in his or her given sector, under the age of 35, in Newmarket.

13. Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year - Sponsored by Chorus

This award celebrates the organisations championing diversity and leading the way in providing inclusive cultures within the workplace.

14. Best use of Social Media - Sponsored by Chow:Hill Architects Ltd

This award recognises the business which demonstrates excellence across their social media channels. Judges will be looking for a company or brand that has gone beyond the norms and broken boundaries in their approach to social media.

15. Most Sustainable Business - Sponsored by Alpha Recruitment

This award recognises the business which optimises sustainable practices throughout its operations, whilst respecting local cultures and benefiting the local community and the globe.

16. People’s Choice (Best Newmarket Business and this Award is based on public feedback)

This award recognises the most popular business, in Newmarket, as measured by customer feedback.

17. Newmarket Legend Award (judges choice*)

This award recognises a business / business person with exceptional longevity coupled with icon status in their particular sector.

18. Supreme Winner Award (judges choice*)

This award recognises outstanding leadership and business success. The business which wins will have achieved positive financial results, increased shareholder value, sound management, and accountability, together with intangible qualities such as integrity and vision.

These guidelines are to help you with your entry. The process has been designed to be as simple as possible. It should not be onerous or time consuming for you.

The entry process has some added benefits, including the opportunity to:

– give some dedicated focus to your business and to get to grips with your current market position

– uncover your core strengths and how you are placed against your competition

– reflect on your achievements over the past year

– enhance company culture by acknowledging your successes

– motivate and inspire yourself and others within your organisation

How the Judging works

Our judges are pre-eminent New Zealand business leaders, who have kindly agreed to donate their time to judge the entries. The judges work independently of each other and, thanks to technology with our online awards platform, we are able to judge the entries from almost anywhere in the world!

Finalists for Retailer of the Year, International Retailer of the Year, Best Customer Experience, Restaurant of the Year, Night Time Venue of the Year, Cafe of the Year and Best Health & Wellness Business will also be marked out of 20 by a mystery shopper. The mystery shopper uses a variety of methods, including but not limited to; visits to businesses, phone calls, email enquiries and web-based enquiries. Points scored by the mystery shopper will be added to each finalists score to get the category winner.

Below is an outline of what we recommend your entry focuses on:

Company Background

An outline of your business focus, identifying areas you wish to highlight about your business in your entry and any other information that you feel may be relevant. Also note the reason why you have entered your particular award category/ ies.

Standing out from the crowd

– What is your USP (Unique Selling Point)?

– Evidence of positive outcomes or competitive advantages gained from your USP, and how this links to improved performance

– Innovation within product range and development

– Unique marketing/ events and /or branding strategies

– Unique market position/ market share

– The guiding principles of your organisation and your values – and how you include key stakeholders (including staff, suppliers and customers).

The DNA of your business

– Objectives achieved in the past 12 months

– Awards achieved or won

– New successful initiatives that have been employed

– Organisational policies – internal and/or external benefits

– Examples of ways the business community or the community in general may benefit from your business

– Sponsorships and involvement with philanthropic initiatives

– Branding/marketing behaviour that reinforces positive social values

– Involvement in a local business organisation or industry group

– How your business adapts to change

– Product integrity

– How innovation and technology is applied

– Approach to sustainability in our environment – environment, financial, and social sustainability

– Ethical and responsible business practices

1. Any business located within the boundaries of the Newmarket precinct is eligible to enter the awards as are current Associate Members. Your business must have been trading in Newmarket for a substantial part of the 2023/2024 financial year.
2. If your organisation is part of a larger organisation you must be able to demonstrate that you function as a separate business unit.
3. Newmarket Business Association places high value on the awards. Entrants must disclose any issues that may compromise the integrity of the awards or cause the business to cease trading in the next year. These issues may include legal action, law changes, possible loss of funding, or other risks.
4. If chosen as a finalist, you will be asked to submit a letter signed by your company accountant to verify your business is financially sound.
5. Each business may enter three categories for which they qualify but must submit an entry for each category; however similar content may be used in each entry.
6. If you have won a specific category award for the last 2 years running, you are unable to enter that category for the 2024 awards.
7. All entries must be completed online by Monday 16th September 4pm.
8. Some sections are limited to a maximum word count and, where applicable, these must be adhered to.
9. If chosen as a finalist we will require a high resolution logo of your business.
10. If you are chosen as a finalist you are expected to have a representative present at the awards evening on Friday 15th November at Cordis, Auckland.
11. Entrants (except if you are only entering People’s Choice) are eligible to purchase a table of ten at 15% off the normal rate. Less than a table of ten will not receive a discount.
12. Sponsors are not able to enter their named category and judges are NOT eligible to enter.

What does it cost to enter?

There is no cost to enter the 2024 Newmarket Business Awards; however a representative of each finalist will be expected to attend the awards ceremony, at their own cost. As an entrant you are eligible to purchase a table of ten at 15% off the normal rate. Less than a table of ten will not receive a discount.

How long will it take me to enter?

This depends on how easy it is for you to gather the information for your entry. The best entries are usually succinct. As a rule of thumb if you’re spending longer than 4 hours on your entry you’re probably going into too much detail.

How long or detailed should my entry be?

All sections are limited to a maximum word count and, where applicable, these must be adhered to. In all other cases, the amount of detail provided is at your discretion.

How many categories can I enter?

You can enter three categories, for which you qualify, as you wish – but each entry must be submitted separately with its own copy of your business profile.

How do I know that the information I provide won’t get into the hands of my competitors or others?

All entries are absolutely confidential and are only seen by a designated NBA staff member and the judges. All of the people in these roles are ethical professionals and have signed a non-disclosure agreement.

How do I know which judges will read my entry?

The names of the judges for each category are confidential. You can know the names of all the judges but not the individual ones who will be judging the specific categories you enter.

How is my entry judged?

• All entries are judged in the individual category criteria. See the ‘Award Categories’ for more information
• The finalists’ entries are read and considered by judges independently
• Finalists for Retailer of the Year, International Retailer of the Year, Best Customer Experience, Restaurant of the Year, Night Time Venue, Cafe of the Year and Best Health and Wellness Business will also be marked out of 20 by a mystery shopper.  The mystery shopper uses a variety of methods, including but limited to; visits to businesses, phone calls, email enquiries and web-based enquiries. Points scored by the mystery shopper will be added to each finalists score to determine the category winner.

Judging process

• The decisions of the panel of judges are final
• Each judge is bound by a strict code of ethics and may not participate in any scoring or recognition decision where there may be, or could appear to be, any personal, professional, financial or other relationship or potential or perceived conflicts of interest
• Each judge has volunteered their time without compensation and is committed to assist with the success of the Newmarket Business Awards
• The winner, in each category, will be announced at the awards dinner.

Confidentiality

• All awards entry documentation and official online entry forms are treated as confidential
• Applicants are not expected to provide or reveal proprietary information regarding products, processes or services
• Information regarding participation, any awards, or successful strategies may be released only after written approval from the applicant.

What are the key dates?

Entries need to be completed online by Monday 16th September 4pm. NBA will notify Finalists by Friday 18th October.

The Awards will be held on Friday 15th November 2024 at Cordis, Auckland.

What are the other reasons to enter?

• To be publicly recognised as an outstanding business
• To showcase your services and products to the wider community
• To discover the strengths and competitive advantages of your business, as well as areas in need of review
• To build on your potential and capability
• To have your business assessed against best practice
• To receive local, regional and industry media coverage
• To celebrate with your staff and acknowledge their contributions to your organisation’s success
• To engender pride within your team
• To network at awards events with Newmarket business professionals, politicians and leaders of industry

Who do I contact for help?

If you have any questions concerning eligibility or conditions of entry please contact Kelly Fulford on 021 717140 or email Kelly@newmarket.co.nz