Chamber Toast to Business Success

The Northern Rivers Review has featured us in a story about the announcement of finalists in the NSW Business Chamber's Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards. We are very excited to be recognised as finalists in the category of Business and Professional Services.

We are finalists, alongside 129 other businesses across 7 of the LGA's in the Northern Rivers; Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley. The formal awards night will go ahead (fingers crossed) on Saturday, 23 October, where winners in each category will be announced. Winners will move onto the State awards, where they'll compete against 12 other regions across NSW and Sydney.

Related Tag: Marketing Gold Coast

Read the full article here.

 

Winners in Business and Professional Services

Barefruit Wins

Last Friday evening, we (Barefruit Marketing) were awarded the 2021 Business Excellence in Business and Professional Services award, proving that not even the statewide lockdown could dampen our spirits.Originally, there was going to be a Gala evening, but that didn’t go to plan, due to the current lockdown. Instead, the Ballina Chamber of Commerce honoured local businesses for their excellence by inviting entrants of the 2021 Ballina Shire Business Excellence Awards to tune in to the local community radio station, Paradise FM to celebrate this year’s winners within the Ballina Business Community.

Professional and Business Services Award
Highly Commended in Excellence on Small Business
Nothing can stop us

The entire team dressed in our fancy award threads (from the waist up) for the ‘virtual awards’ and tuned into a team Zoom call while listening to Paradise FM, excitedly anticipating the announcement – with bubbles at the ready. Thrilled and emotional, we were awarded ‘2021 Business Excellence in Business and Professional Services’ and were highly commended in the category, ‘Excellence in Small Business’. The competition was high going head-to-head against other local businesses including consulting agencies, real estate, and mortgage broking services.

Agency Co-founder and Director Evan Harding says,

"We might be a small agency, but we’re ‘perfectly formed’, producing creative work on par with city-based agencies. The results speak for themselves, as clients around the country have trusted us to achieve their objectives for over nine years.”

The full list of awards and winners

Evan continues,

“Being recognised for our achievements over the last 12 months during our most challenging year is something we are really proud of. The effect of the pandemic on the economy and our clients meant we had do things differently so having a ‘virtual awards’ night wasn’t going to impact our celebrations.”

A bit about Barefruit (that's us!)

We find solutions and implements marketing strategies for our clients, including branding, TV commercials, print advertising, online marketing, websites, event management, PR, social media, direct marketing and more. While we are based in Ballina, we do work with client across the country. We are passionate about client relationships, workplace wellbeing with regular team updates and giving back to the local community whenever we can.

Evan continues,

“We have assembled a team of internationally experienced professionals, each passionate about producing high quality marketing solutions, all from our Ballina office, or currently from home. We have an eye for what looks great and an attention to detail. We love what we do and we’re proud to call Ballina ‘home’".

Happy Team
Working together to pull through

Co-founder and Director Claire Harding comments,

“Barefruit has created a culture that allows for a tight knit group of people who truly care about each other. We work around individual schedules and have flexible hours which allow life, family and extracurricular activities to fit into our professional lives – especially during this current climate. This approach really pays off when the team are living a well-balanced life and are able to let the creativity and strategic thinking flow naturally.”

She concludes,

“This is what I love about creating our independent agency from the ground up. We started the agency nine years ago in our dining room knowing that we wanted to do what we love, whilst seeing our clients succeed and our community grow. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us."

See our work...

What clients are saying

It was great working with Jennica and Claire from Barefruit Marketing. They really took time to understand my project and delivered amazing ‘pitch’ / media release to appeal to journalists and media corporations. I felt comfortable sharing my ideas, and they were able to capture my vision and marry it to their expertise. Would highly recommend.

Alex Bosin

EV Classic

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Claire and Charlotte from Barefruit Marketing who have helped me in the last couple of months to pull this amazing media event together. The agency has offered their services on a pro bono basis, I am so grateful for the work they have done. Claire and Charlotte have been my unconditional support crew to lean on for advice and ideas, and I am excited about how our relationship will move forward in the next few months.

Kate Kempshall

North Coast Community College

I have been using Barefruit for my SEO and website development for Behind the Barrel. The best part about Barefruit is your're not just getting the attention of one of their staff members. The whole team works together to help bring the best possible outcome for your business marketing. I highly recommend Evan and his team if you want to take your business marketing to the next level.

Jarryd

Behind the Barrel

The Barefruit team is always friendly, helpful and very professional. They have taken the time to understand our business needs and develop a effective strategy to grow our brand.

Andrew Illingworth

Tweed Coast Holiday Parks

Just want to say a HUGE thank you to each and every one of the team for the website. You all went over and above and most certainly went above my expectations. I'm extremely happy with it (been bragging a bit about it just quietly) and couldn't have done it without you all. Thank you for bringing this to life.

Trent Chapman

Prevent Consultants

Optus My Business Awards Finalists

Business Awards

To top off an already exciting year Barefruit Marketing was shortlisted to the final 10 nominees for the Workplace of the Year category in the Optus My Business Awards!

The Optus My Business Awards are on of the longest-standing business awards programs in Australia, identifying Australia’s best business operators. Winners of these prestigious awards represent the best of the best. The powerhouse duo and the co-founders of Barefruit Marketing, Evan and Claire Harding, travelled to Sydney on Friday to attend this significant event, held at Sydney’s Four Points by Sheraton in Darling Harbour.

Covering 28 categories, the Optus My Business Awards acknowledge businesses and individual leaders that are achieving excellence in customer service and also recognises successes in innovation, corporate social responsibility and workplace culture.

"Our approach to people management and culture has shaped our business, our people and contributed to our successes" said Evan Harding on what he believes are some of the defining factors that lead to the agency’s initial nomination for Workplace of the Year.

On arrival back to the agency in Ballina Claire commented “Although we didn’t come away with the gold, so to speak, it was still such a momentous achievement for our agency and a privilege to be there with some truly amazing businesses from all over Australia.” Barefruit Marketing was the only nomination from the Northern Rivers – No small feat!

Barefruit Marketing has been shortlisted for the prestigious Optus My Business Awards.

barefruit portraits

Barefruit Marketing are shortlisted for the prestigious Optus My Business Awards, in the Workplace of the Year category at Australia’s longest-standing business awards and premier event of the year for SME's.

Evan Harding, Co-Founder, and Head Harvester at Barefruit Marketing said he was humbled by the nomination. "Barefruit Marketing's recognition for its contribution to the community over the past 6 years, reinforces the strength of our staff, culture, close-knit team, values and have seen a 92% increase in team growth.

"Our approach to people management and culture has shaped our business, our people and contributed to our successes.

"Barefruit believes in education, in growing their people in their own unique ways, giving them opportunities to learn and up-skill in areas of interest to them. Honing their skills and letting them rise to the top of their field."

"We believe in true work-life balance, R&R and good old fashioned team yoga (in public, in the park), breathing training, massages... and creative brainstorming sessions," he said.

The Optus My Business Awards covers 28 categories, acknowledges best practice within a particular industry sector, as well as individual business leaders, excellence in customer service and achievements in innovation, corporate social responsibility, and workplace culture.

Shortlisted to the final 10, Barefruit was the only nomination for their category from the Northern Rivers and will travel to Sydney on where winners of the Optus My Business Awards will be announced at a five-star gala awards dinner at Sydney’s Four Points by Sheraton in Darling Harbour.

R U OK?

meaningful way

We started the conversation with our colleagues and asked R U OK, in a meaningful way. 

Connecting regularly and meaningfully is one thing that we can all do to make a difference to each and every one of us - especially if we are feeling not ok.

Regardless of how well you know the person, we encourage you to ask the question R U OK? It is important to realise that a lot of people are suffering in silence and don’t tend to speak up. It’s ok to not be ok.

If you’re not feeling ok, talk to someone you trust. We encourage it to be an ongoing and considered conversation - if you start it, take the time to help and listen - not just today, but regularly. 

Today, we took time out of our day to check in with our colleagues, shared a compliment with one another and to play a social game of ping pong. A shout out to Jo for winning the round robin and for being so awesomely creative in many ways. 

R U OK? If you need to speak with an expert call 131114.

Celebrating client milestones at the Ballina Business Awards

Barefruit at Ballina Business Awards
A huge shout out to two of our clients for their successful wins at the weekend!

It was a night of all nights for local businesses at the Ballina Coast & Hinterland Business Excellence Awards, held at the Ballina RSL club. Everyone got 'dolled up' in their finest attire, and of course each member of the Barefruit Marketing team wore a hint of 'orange' - from bow ties, suspenders to high heels, and jewellery!

Barefruit were finalists but unfortunately didn't take the win, however we celebrated our clients successes - who took home 3 awards in total!

We're so pleased for our client BCMCHorizon Motorhomes, Horizon Motorhomes who took out the award for Excellence in Trade, Construction & Manufacturing (sponsored by Commonwealth Bank Australia) and for BCMC & Horizon Motorhomes who took out the award for Business Excellence (sponsored by ZZZ 2LM FM). This is a huge achievement for BCMC who are super pleased to be celebrating their 30th year in business (this year). This year, sees more growth for BCMC with the addition of caravans to their offering. BCMC is now the only retailer from the Tweed Coast to Coffs Coast to sell Millard Caravans. Last year, BCMC/Horizon also won the Manufacturing and Innovation award.

We are also so proud of our client UPA, who won the award for Aged Care & Wellbeing (sponsored Ballina RSL Club Ltd). This is also a huge achievement for UPA who offer a diverse range of aged care services extending from the Gold Coast south to Port Macquarie in New South Wales. The North Coast Region has continued to provide excellence in: Home Care, Residential Care, Respite and Carelink Centres and Youth Care (Foster Care) UPA in Alstonville.

A huge congratulations to our clients, we love seeing you win big and are honoured to work with you on your on-going achievements! We hope everyone had a wonderful night!

See photos from the night below (L-R) UPA's North Coast Region with their Account Manager, Jo Coby, Director's Claire & Evan Harding, BCMC/Horizon Clayton & Kylie Kearney, the Trophies, Barefruit's HR Manager Sara Davis, BCMC/Horizon Kylie Kearney, Director Claire Harding, the whole Barefruit Team (minus Jo and Nat), and some extra Barefruit happy snaps.

 

Awards bare fruit for Ballina business

 

Thanks for the write up Ballina Advocate on our recent award win.

"WINNING the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce's business of the year award last week was a special moment for Claire and Evan Harding - even if it was the second time the business won the gong."

"The owners of Barefruit Marketing in Ballina have had a string of success in recent years and said that success has helped grow their business through exposure the awards have given them..."

Read more by clicking on the image right.

Barefruit takes out top gong!

Starting with one woman in the living room of her Lennox Head home, Claire Harding explored the possibility of establishing her own boutique marketing agency, founded on providing the Lennox community with one thing in mind – we want to do what we love, be part of the business community and help them grow.

Barefruit Marketing, established in early 2012 is now a full service, integrated marketing agency run by husband and wife Claire and Evan Harding. Together they have over 40 years combined experience, as marketing consultants in the communications industry, in the UK and Australia.

The business has grown year on year, and now employs 8 local people and the service of several local contractors. Barefruit works independently as the client’s ‘marketing department’ or alongside an existing marketing team on an ongoing or project basis. Services include strategic planning, branding, advertising, websites, graphic design, social media management, PR and Events.

Barefruit have now won the 'Business of the Year' award at the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards 2017 for the second consecutive year, winning this award as well as the award for the Professional Services category both years too.

To be recognised for this award is a huge achievement and one that all Lennox Head business owners would love to be recognised for, but there could only be one winner and lucky Barefruit take the award home two years in a row.

"We can’t believe it! Last year was a massive honour, to win Business of the Year in the town that we have made home, amongst so many wonderfully talented people. To win this award for the second consecutive year is a huge achievement for our team and our business, especially being up against so many other contenders, many of which we know," Claire said.

We are based in River Street, Ballina. The office dubbed ‘Barefruit Towers’ comprises of open plan workspaces, breakout sections highlighted with the bright Barefruit orange, artwork and a meeting/brainstorming room with space for clients and the Barefruit team to meet and regularly create. They also have a second dedicated home office space in Lennox Head (where the story began).

"We love Lennox (‘scuse the pun) and chose to live, raise our family and start our business here. The recent Love Lennox Festival was a really proud day for Lennox, with so many businesses getting behind it – the Chamber did a fantastic job pulling it together and we were proud to be part of it" Claire said.

"We employ a team of specialists to suit our clients. With four account managers that support us and act as our clients' day to day point of contact, as well as graphic designers, web designers, photographers and key industry partners."

We are greatly involved within the local community, supporting and working with local businesses and events, donating their time at the Love Lennox Festival for the last few years, as well as working with local businesses including BCMC (Ballina Campervan & Motorhome Centre) and Horizon Motorhomes, who took home the ‘Best Big Business’ Award and Beef+Beach Lennox Head who also took home the award for the 'Best Visitor Experience in Hospitality' Monday night.

Mrs Harding is also a dedicated board member for the Rafiki Mwema charity, a therapeutic safe house for young girls and boys in Kenya, run by three businesswomen from Lennox Head.

"We are very proud to be Lennox residents, business owners and a part of the local community. We want to do what we love, for people and brands that interest and inspire us, and we are so lucky that we have so many interesting and inspiring brands and people around us”, she said.

We now have quite a collection of awards including:

2015 - 'Best Home-Based/Online Business' at the Ballina Chamber of Commerce Awards, ‘Best Professional Service’ at the Northern Rivers Business Awards, State Finalist at the NSW Business Awards

2016 - ‘Business of the Year’ and ‘Professional Services’ at the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Awards, 'Excellence in Small Business' at the Ballina Business Awards, 'State Finalists' in the National Optus Business Awards for Marketing Communications in NSW Business Awards in Sydney.

Finalists for the Optus My Business Awards!

Barefruit Marketing were shortlisted as a finalist to win an award in the Media, Marketing and Advertising Business of the Year category at the Optus My Business Awards 2016, hosted by My Business, Australia’s longest-standing business awards program tailored to the small business community.

Barefruit Directors, and husband and wife Evan and Claire Harding travelled to Sydney on Friday where winners of the Optus My Business Awards were announced at a five-star gala awards dinner at Sydney’s Four Points by Sheraton in Darling Harbour. Shortlisted to the final 10, Barefruit were the only nomination for their category from the Northern Rivers.

Also nominated for an award was Ballina’s Horizon Motorhomes, an award-winning motorhome manufacturer, who are one of Barefruit’s clients. Horizon Motorhomes won best NSW Manufacturer at the Caravan and Camping Industry Association awards in October, and some of their success can be attributed to work produced by Barefruit Marketing which includes the development of a national marketing strategy comprising design, website management, social media management, advertising, events, PR and online marketing.

Claire Harding said it was a joy to be nominated for the awards alongside one of their clients.

“The My Optus Business Awards are such a well-known and respected awards program, and it is such a great honour to be recognised together with our client, Horizon Motorhomes, for all our hard work.

“We are thrilled that our work is ‘bearing fruit’, and has led to success for our clients, notably Horizon Motorhomes who were awarded the CCIA’S Best Manufacturer award for the second consecutive year”.

“We are so proud to be putting Ballina on the map both with ours and Horizon’s nomination and really proud to be living and operating in the Northern Rivers and a part of the local community.”

“Barefruit was established with one thing in mind – we want to do what we love, for people and brands that interest and inspire us. We want to be part of their business and help them grow,” Claire says.

“We didn’t win this time, but being a runner up is such an achievement for both us and our client Horizon Motorhomes – big thanks to our respective teams for getting us to the shortlist of these national awards.”

Being shortlisted in the national awards tops off a particularly successful 18 months for Barefruit, who were Winners of the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Awards 2016 ‘Business of the Year’ and 'Best Professional Service', Winners of 'Best Professional Service' at the Ballina Chamber of Commerce Awards 2016 and winners of three awards in 2015, the ‘Best Home-Based’ and ‘Online Marketing’ Award at the Ballina Chamber of Commerce Awards, ‘Excellence in Small Business at the Northern Rivers Business Awards’ and were also ‘State Finalists’ in the NSW Business Awards.

We won – Lennox Head’s Business of the Year 2016!

It’s the award that all Lennox Head business owners would love to win, but only one can take it home.

The winner of Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Awards ‘Business of the Year’ was announced last night at Club Lennox and we couldn’t be prouder!

We took home the award for Business of the Year, as well as the award for the Professional Services category.

"We are so honoured to win an award so close to our hearts and home, especially being up against so many other wonderful contenders, many of which we know - it must have been a tough one for the judges,” Chief Juicer Claire Harding says.

“We proudly live and raise our family in the beautiful town of Lennox, and, chose to start our business here," she says.

Employing a team of specialists to suit our clients. With three account managers that support us and act as our clients’ day to day point of contact, as well as graphic designers, web designers, photographers and key industry partners.

We are greatly involved within the local community. Supporting and working with local businesses including Beef+Beach Lennox Head who also took home the award for the ‘Best Visitor Experience’ last night.

“We are very proud to be Lennox residents, business owners and a part of the local community. Barefruit was established with one thing in mind – We want to do what we love, for people and brands that interest and inspire us. We want to be part of their business and help them grow,” Claire Harding says.

Winning an award isn’t something new for us - in 2015 we won, ‘Best Home-Based/Online Business’ at the Ballina Chamber of Commerce Awards, ‘Excellence in Small Business' at the Northern Rivers Business Awards and were also ‘State Finalists’ in the NSW Business Awards in Sydney.