SENIOR-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES HONOURED

Eight Queensland businesses have been honoured for their outstanding customer service, at the annual Seniors Card Business Excellence Awards for 2006.

The Member for Ipswich West, Wayne Wendt, representing the Minister for Communities, Warren Pitt, announced the winners during a dinner and presentation ceremony held at Ipswich Civic Hall tonight

“Businesses that are nominated often provide wonderful acts of kindness for our seniors through extra services, such as free home delivery to loyal customers or caring assistance for seniors with a disability,” Mr Wendt said.

The 2006 winners are:

·Exceptional Business Award:

Plaza Shoe Repairs and Key Cutting, Woodridge

·Business Excellence Awards:

Greater Brisbane

- Furniture Factory Seconds and Liquidation Warehouse, Virginia

Moreton Region

- The Traditional Short Back and Sides Barber Shop, Booval

Darling Downs/South West

- Jacaranda Grove B&B, Toowoomba

Gold Coast

- Aussie Inkjet, Southport

SunshineCoast

- Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Kawana

Wide Bay/Central/Whitsunday

- Whitsunday Wanderer’s Resort, Airlie Beach

North and Far North Region

- Northern Automotive Service and Support, Garbutt

Plaza Shoe Repairs, Gloria Jean’s and Northern Automotive were also regional winners last year.

Highly Commended:

Exceptional Business - Trains 4U, Mansfield

Greater Brisbane - Queensland Irish Association, Brisbane

Moreton - Hair Revolution, Ipswich

Darling Downs/South West Queensland - – Lamtech, Westbrook

Gold Coast - Coast to Coast Rock ‘n Roll, RunawayBay

SunshineCoast - CoolumBeach Dental, CoolumBeach

Wide Bay/Central/Whitsunday - Northside 4 Square Value Plus, Bundaberg

North and Far North - Flame Tree Coffee Lounge, Tully

Mr Wendt congratulated all finalists for their customer service efforts and encouraged them to keep up the good work by offering useful discounts and ‘going that extra bit’ to help older members of the community.

“We received an overwhelming number of nominations for the awards this year, which goes to show that quality customer service and value for money is alive and well in the State of Queensland,” he said.

“Queensland’s senior population continues to grow, with demographic data indicating that by 2020 almost one in five Queenslanders would be aged 65 years and over.

“With our senior population growing steadily, forward-thinking business operators seeking to expand and gain customer loyalty, could benefit by tailoring their service to cater to this growing market.”

The Seniors Card Business Excellence Awards, which started in 1995, is the only Queensland award scheme to reward businesses offering outstanding customer service to seniors.

Only Seniors Card holders can nominate businesses for an award and only Queensland businesses that provide a Seniors Card discount or offer can be nominated.

Seniors Card provides more than 530,000 Queensland seniors with free access to government concessions (depending on eligibility) and business discounts at over 11,000 outlets throughout Queensland.

Media Contact: Joe Begley 3235 4286