A dream that started three years ago to have a mother and daughter enterprise has resulted in Rhonda Cooper and Samantha Portelli taking out Rhino Award for Excellence in Small Business at this years awards.
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Their business, Ruby Maine, has been in existence for close to 15 years and was previously located in Narromine. Rhonda and Sam took over Ruby Maine three years ago and put a breath of fresh air into the business, moving it to Dubbo and putting their own spin on things.
Rhonda said that they were very proud to have been recognised with the award and it was a good reminder of why they decided to take on Ruby Maine. “Owning and running a small business requires a significant amount of hard work and dedication, and receiving this award gives us some reassurance and recognition that we are heading in the right direction as retail business owners”.
Ruby Maine is the result of their dream to have a mother and daughter enterprise and Rhonda said they are extremely happy with their ever-changing eclectic mix of treasures in their lifestyle emporium. “We frequently attend buying trips, sourcing unique and interesting pieces to complement our boutique which has allowed us to deliver an emporium offering fashion, shoes, accessories and gift solutions from Australian and international labels and brands,” she said. “We have a shared sense of attention to style and detail, and we pride ourselves on customer care focusing on giving our special Ruby customers a relaxed shopping experience”.
Rhonda said the award wasn’t just for them but for their dedicated staff, along with the many loyal customers that have made Ruby Maine such a success. “We have always had a team of enthusiastic and customer focused ladies. We have a strong mix of experience, knowledge and flair and we simply be here without the amazing effort from all our team,” she said.
Small, local businesses are an industry that constantly have to adapt and evolve to keep up with changes from larger companies and online businesses, and it is something that Ruby Maine has done well. Rhonda said that no matter what different products and ranges they stock or what marketing they do, their key to success is always keeping customers at the heart of their business.
“We keep our focus on attention to detail and of course, understanding our customers and their individuality, providing them with personalised service and product knowledge,” she said. “Our customers and our team are what makes Ruby Maine special, and along with the Chamber of Commerce and all the sponsors, we can’t thank them enough”.