Above: Glenys and Ian Loft of Compleat Angler in Dandenong were also nominated for a Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Premier Regional Business Awards.By Nathan Johnston
A KILN exporter, a fishing tackle shop and a timber door manufacturer are the latest nominees for the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce’s Premier Regional Business Awards.
The nominees were revealed at yesterday’s (Wednesday) Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
Corinthian Doors was established in 1942 in Sydney, and opened its Dandenong premises in 1969.
It is now the largest timber door manufacturer in the southern hemisphere.
Corinthian Doors’ Victorian general manager Bill Weyne said the Dandenong plant prided itself on the number of longterm employees it has retained.
Mr Weyne has worked for the company for 28 years, and there are four others at the plant who have been there longer than that.
He said the company’s strong culture of internal promotion has proven successful, as had the strong social bond between employees.
The company provides doors for 12 of Australia’s top 20 builders, and delivers its wide range of doors from Warragul to Torquay within 48 hours.
The second nominee was the Compleat Angler in Dandenong, owned by selfconfessed “fishoholic” Ian Loft and his wife Glenys.
The first Compleat Angler store was opened in 1967. There are now 48 stores in Australia.
The Lofts bought the Dandenong store in 2000 and have built up a database of 16,000. All receive four newsletters a year and regular emails, while their top 150 customers are part of VIP nights where they receive a $50 voucher and free food and drinks.
The store won last year’s Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association Marketing Award, and the Lofts are now in the process of buying the Ringwood Compleat Angler store.
The third nominee was familyowned business GFC Kilns in Dandenong, which was established in 1969.
The business is now regarded as a world leader in the ceramic industry, designing, manufacturing and marketing kilns, plant technology and associated products.
More than 90 per cent of sales are overseas, with Asia a prime destination.
GFC Kilns picked up the Governor of Victoria’s Small and Medium Business Export Award in 2003, and last year won the Hong Kong Australia Business Association Innovation Development Award and the Entrepreneurial Award from Austcham Hong Kong.
The company continues to grow and now has an annual turnover of more than $10 million.
It employs 25 people, many of whom spend up to four months a year overseas.
Fifteen businesses will be nominated for the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce’s Premier Regional Business Awards. Winners will be announced at a gala function later in the year.
