When GF Oats founder Kylie Hollonds picked up the phone last month, one of her business dreams came true. On the other end of the phone was the Telstra Best of Business Awards telling Kylie she had made the Queensland state finals of the awards in the Outstanding Growth category.
Out of 24,000 submissions, hers had risen to the top to make the top six in this year’s national business awards.
Kylie first came across the Telstra Business Awards 20 years ago – now known as the Telstra Best of Business Awards. She’d driven from Toowoomba to Brisbane, leaving her new home-based business and her babies to attend a briefing session about the awards. She was curious and keen to use the process to showcase her start up gluten-free flour business.
“I was running a very little gluten-free flour business from home. It was a big trip at the time, three hours down and three hours back on my own,” says Kylie. “Even though I knew in my heart I was not ready to enter, I submitted an entry anyway.”
That entry went nowhere but it did light a fire in Kylie to build her business to be worthy of this national business accolade.
Building a business into an award-winner
“Year after year, I watched the winners of this award and continued to dream that it might be me on the winner’s podium one day,” Kylie says.
After a crazy two years, her friend and local food photographer asked her if she’d like to be nominated for the 2021 Telstra Best of Business Awards.
“I was like ‘sure let’s give it a crack’,” Kylie shares.
Taking part in awards process was gruelling, to say the least. Kylie created eighteen live videos, wrote 5,000 words, shared graphs and validation of financials, and endured a face to face interview. Kylie told her story about the challenges she faced bringing uncontaminated oats to the Australian market.
“I have been told so many times to give up,” she says. “But something has driven me on and that is the dream to leave a legacy – do something that was a first.
“This year has been increasingly difficult with stock shortages and supply issues, all while driving the business forward and launching the first Aussie gluten-free oats – only to have it sitting on pallets during lockdowns.”
Challenges and tips for entering business awards
Kylie has learnt a lot about the award process and the impact they can have on a small business. For her, awards – especially making the finals – means someone has noticed the work she has done.
“Awards are time consuming, so planning ahead is vital. Keeping important data and information in an awards folder means you do not have to go hunting for information as you do your entry,” Kylie suggests.
“Any previous award entries, media wins and financial information needs to be filed away and easy to find. It makes it so much easier to do a new entry if you don’t have to start from scratch every time.”
Kylie also suggests getting help.
“Building a business is never a solo effort. There are so many people who have helped me along the way,” she says. “Running a busy business means it is easy to disregard and avoid entering awards. They are time consuming, so reaching out to someone who specialises in awards makes the process easier. You still have to be involved in the process but having assistance streamlines the process.”
Last-minute won’t cut it
The most important advice Kylie can give prospective awards entrants is don’t leave it to the last minute.
“Create an awards calendar so you know what is coming up, so you are not rushing to get the entry done,” she advises.
“Prior planning prevents procrastination. If you have been collating data to include, get the right support and help, and know exactly when the deadline is. Then you can plan the time needed to get the job done.”
Want more? Get our newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! Follow Kochie’s Business Builders on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Now read this
Trending
Weekly business news and insights, delivered to your inbox.