27 June 2011

Telstra has named the finalists in the 2011 Telstra South Australian Business Awards with analysis of the finalists showing good customer service is one of the biggest indicators of business success.

There are 14 SA finalists for this year’s Awards, which introduces a state Telstra Regional Award and a People’s Choice Award for the first time in the program’s 19-year history.

Telstra Business Group Managing Director and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador, Deena Shiff, says analysis of the finalists’ business performance shows: 

• More than 50% of the finalists’ new business in the past year came from either existing customers or referrals from those customers;
• All but two of the finalists specifically trained staff in the past year to improve customer service skills;
•  Twelve say almost 90% of customers are satisfied with their services;
• All finalists say the majority of their staff are aware of who the company’s best customers are.

“The best South Australian finalists clearly have a commitment to providing top customer service that underpins their business growth,” Deena says. 

Face-to-face feedback, surveys, newsletters, packages for new customers and rewards were among the most common methods South Australian finalists used to develop and nurture customer relationships. 

The Telstra Regional Business Award will recognise the best business located outside the metropolitan area of Adelaide.

The BlackBerry People’s Choice Award is open to all entrants in the Telstra Business Awards. The Award is decided by a public vote.

Winners of the Telstra South Australian Business Awards will be announced at the Hilton Adelaide on 22 July. The national Awards are in Melbourne on 26 August.

The finalists for the 2011 Telstra South Australian Business Awards are: 

Business Owner Micro-Business Award           

Bellevue Bed & Breakfast (McLaren Vale)

Brazcom Imports (Glenelg North)

DVE Business Solutions Pty Ltd (Mount Barker)

Lights at 133 (Mount Gambier)

Tour Barossa (Tanunda)

MYOB Small Business Award           

Health and Life (Adelaide)

Hern Financial Services (Eastwood)

LBW Environment Pty Ltd (Norwood)

North Adelaide Fitness Centre (Ovingham)

Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award           

Beerenberg Farm (Hahndorf)

Cowell Electric Supply Pty Ltd (Cowell)

KeyInvest (Adelaide)

SCF Group (Mile End)

AMP Innovation Award           

Cowell Electric Supply Pty Ltd (Cowell)

North Adelaide Fitness Centre (Ovingham)

SCF Group (Mile End)

Yellow Pages Social Responsibility Award           

Caramel (Adelaide)

Cowell Electric Supply Pty Ltd (Cowell)

Health and Life (Adelaide)

KeyInvest (Adelaide)

Lights at 133 (Mount Gambier)

SCF Group (Mile End)