At least three Kiama businesses have been nominated for Illawarra and South Coast Business Awards, gaining widespread recognition for dedication and results in respective industries.
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If you’re a local passionate about music, chances are you’ve met Gerringong-based LP Entertainment owner Lincoln Piper.
Mr Piper has worked to encourage blossoming musicians, promote local acts, and establish Kiama as an entertainment hub.
“The music industry can be quite a tough place,” he said.
“You get a lot of stuff thrown at you, it's hard at times to continue, but I’ve persevered and kept being honest.”
He was honoured to be nominated, and be selected as a finalist after 20 years on the job.
“My business is based on helping other people in their careers,” he said.
“I do a lot of free and low cost music lessons for disadvantaged families.”
Kiama’s Natalie Allan hasn’t been in the game as long as Mr Piper, but in the past year, she has certainly earned her stripes.
Mrs Allan owns Natalie Allan Consulting, up and running for two years.
She has been flat out amid a local building boom, doing legwork for builders and renovators to ensure their plans fit with council standards.
“It’s gone full tilt the last year, I’ve just been phenomenally busy,” she said.
“The thing is, everyone’s so time poor, the builders around town are really busy, people are really looking just to deal with one person, rather than the draftsperson, council and architect.”
The most satisfying thing about her trade is being able to translate building requirements into plain English so that her clients understand what they need to do.
“People get bamboozled with all the council jargon,” she said.
“Council planners don’t mean to do that, but they’re experts and it makes sense to them.”
2016 business award winner Hungry Monkey has been selected as a finalist again.
Co-owner Taylor Hudson was pleased to be nominated again, despite doubts over whether the award has helped his business grow.
He said much of its growth has been organic, and thanks to forward-thinking.
“We were in a growing period,” he said.
“We’re always looking at the next step, we’re hungry continue to do more, and work out what we can do to make it better.”
Hungry Monkey recently expanded from one store to two.
The finalists keenly await the gala dinner and awards presentation on August 9.