"I'm shaking" Holly Baker stated after being told her salon is the Overall Business of the Year in the 2021 Port Stephens Annual Awards.
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The owner and operator of Forever Hair and Beauty in Medowie was one of 25 Port Stephens businesses notified last Thursday that they were a winner in the Examiner's awards.
"I'm honestly speechless," Ms Baker said. "It's been a tough two years and it's nice to be recognised and rewarded for the hard work we've put in. This win is recognition of the business, my staff, recognition of that hard work. It's an amazing feeling."
Ms Baker further thanked her clients for their support and all who voted for Forever Hair and Beauty in the awards.
Forever Hair and Beauty, which has been operating for seven years, was declared the Overall Business of the Year after scoring the highest mark out of all the finalists during the judging process. Judging is carried out by a team of individuals independent of the Examiner.
Winners in the 26 categories of the 2021 Port Stephens Business Awards were visited by the A Beautiful Occasion team, on behalf of the Examiner, on Thursday with the news, a bouquet of flowers, chocolates and their trophy.
Traditionally, winners are notified during a gala dinner. However, the presentation was cancelled for 2021 due to COVID restrictions and instead the Examiner opted for an in-person visit as a nice surprise for winners.
It was an extra special day for A Beautiful Occasion, which won the florist category in the awards. Amy and Sara were enjoying the experiencing of notifying winners when they were themselves were told they had won a category.
Ms Baker had already received two surprise visits from A Beautiful Occasion on Thursday morning with the news Forever Hair and Beauty had won the beauty therapy and hairdresser categories in which they were a finalist.
The 2021 Port Stephens Business Awards winners:
Ms Baker was left "speechless" following a visit by the Examiner team on November 25 with the news that Forever Hair and Beauty was the overall winner of the awards, earning her a third trophy, flowers, champagne, chocolates and an advertising package with the Examiner worth $30,000.
Forever Hair and Beauty has previously won category awards in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
A complete list of the 2021 Port Stephens Annual Award was published in the December 2 edition of the Examiner.
Readers will hear from the award winners in the December 9 edition of the Examiner.
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