Client Stories

Candles, garlic and museums

Candles, garlic and museums …

They are an eclectic mix, but each is the foundation of a successfully developing micro business in Tasmania that has earned each of their female operators an inaugural Business Solutions Women Entrepreneur Award.

The new Awards have been instigated by Business & Employment, an O group company, which provides an advisory service that delivers information and advice to small business.

The Awards are open for Tasmanian women in the North West, North and South of the State and aim to raise awareness of the pivotal role they play in small business.

The winners of this year’s Women Entrepreneur Awards are:

• North West: candle maker Emma Pinner, of Pure Sense
• North: garlic producer Rosie Mackinnon, who runs Tasmanian Natural Garlic
• South: Museum Consultant, Sue Atkinson

Business and Employment State Manager of Business Solutions Thom Lloyd said the awards helped businesswomen operating ‘micro firms’ (none to four people) gain the recognition they deserved, while inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.

“Women are perhaps the quite achievers in the ranks of small business, but these awards give them the chance to showcase their achievements,” Thom said.

Candle maker Emma Pinner is one of those quiet achievers, hand-crafting and retailing a range of beautiful and environmentally friendly candles from 100 percent natural soy wax – all from the family farm in Tasmania’s far North West.

Emma has recently diversified into oil diffusers and tiles.

In the North, diversification on the fifth-generation farm again prompted development of Rosie Mackinnon’s company, Tasmanian Natural Garlic.

The business sells accredited, market-fresh garlic to local and interstate restaurants, high-end providores and nurseries.

Southern award recipient Sue Atkinson operates a unique business as a Museum Consultant.

Sue visits small museums and history groups all around the State to help train volunteers to catalogue and care for their collections and develop strategies to sustain and grow into the future.

Thom said the regional awards were designed to encourage winners to keep on track and continue the growth and development of their businesses.

“For that reason, the $4,500 prize package for each recipient consists of business related coaching support offered by the Complete You Coaching Company, Inner Development and Michon International,” he said.

Sue Atkinson (top left) being presented with the 2011 Tasmanian Woman Entrepreneur Award (South) by The Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business Hon Rebecca White MP.

Rosie Mackinnon (top left) being presented with the 2011 Tasmanian Woman Entrepreneur Award (North) by The Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business Hon Rebecca White MP.

Emma Pinner (top left) being presented with the 2011 Tasmanian Woman Entrepreneur Award (North-West) by The Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business Hon Rebecca White MP.