Sky Eye claims S.M.E. Business of the Year Award

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 18 December 2017, 12:00AM

Fa'aso'otauloa Sam Saili and the team at Sky Eye have won the Samoa Business Network’s S.M.E Business of the Year Award.

The accolade was presented during the Network’s Business Innovation & Young  entrepreneur’s awards evening held at Kofe Haus, Vaitele, on Saturday.

The award was among many other awards presented to recognise excellence, creativity and innovation in 2017. 

A proud Fa’aso’otauloa thanked S.B.N for the award and acknowledged the efforts of his family who are involved in the business. 

He also encouraged other business owners present to believe in their business and to not be discouraged when their business pitch gets rejected in the early stages.

Special guests included the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupai, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce, Lemauga Hobart Vaai.

The Guest Speaker was Mata’afa Hans Wesche of Tahiano Design who were behind the development of the Samoa Airways uniform.

He spoke about the challenges of being a young entrepreneur in Samoa as well as the big breaks they have had since launching their brand at the Samoa Sinnet Fashion Show in 2016. 

Minister Afamasaga spoke about why it is important to hold these types of events to recognize the various S.M.E in Samoa.

According to him, all businesses that are using social media and websites to promote their business will benefit from the installation of the Tui Samoa cable

He said that the government of Samoa had been working hard to get the cable up and running and despite some delays he is looking forward to launching this in the New Year.

 He said he supports the Business Innovation & Young entrepreneurs awards to encourage the Young Entrepreneurs, especially those using online technology to take their business to the next level. 

 He also encouraged the business owners to believe in themselves, and not to pay attention to critics, who will always be there.

President of the Samoa Business Network, Afamasaga Jackie Curry was pleased with the turnout and the positive response to the Awards, 

“It was great to acknowledge the innovation and hard work of all the business owners and representatives present. 

The Awards was not just about the winners, but more about recognizing some of the small to medium enterprise businesses who are taking Samoa to the next level online, and developing new innovative ways of doing business. 

We hope to make this an annual event, and we are also looking at holding Business Awards in New Zealand in 2018, to recognise our Samoan businesses based in NZ.”

 “We would like to acknowledge our 2017 Main Sponsors who have supported all our events: Taula, SSAB, Tanoa and Liquor Planet. 

Event Sponsors for our Christmas Party & Awards were - Taula, SSAB, Kofe Haus, Natalie Burgess Photography, Lucias Catering & Krush. 

Prize Sponsors were - Eveni, Taumeasina, Tanoa, Le Manumea Hotel, SSAB & E-Life Tumeric. “

“Samoa Business Network, will continue to hold Business Networking events in 2018, as well as workshops, and continue to connect our Samoan businesses in Samoa & New Zealand.  We are also planning to launch S.B.N. in Australia in 2018 so we are very excited about that.”

S.B.N Business Innovation and Young Entrepreneur Awards.

Criteria for the awards are:

• Business must be innovative, trendy and taking Samoa to the next level in their industry

• Must be active on Social Media

• The business owners must be under 30 years for the young entrepreneur category.

 

Category Business/ Individual

WINNER New Innovative Business Idea

1. Whipped Apia

2. Chef John

3. Sky Eye

4. Krush/ Laupele

Whipped Apia

Best Online Business Model

1. Samoa Market

2. Makeki Online

3. Samoa Planet

4. Eveni Makeki

Online Best

 

Social Media Profile

1. Eveni

2. Rae Photography/ Lexis Closet Samoa

3. Mailelani

4. Nourish

5. Jordan Kwan Photography

6. Krush

Eveni

 

Most Creative Store/ Cafe Layout

1. Janets

2. Nourish Café

3. Pacific Jewell

4. Eveni

Nourish Cafe

 

Best Samoan Export Brand Online

1. E-Life Tumeric

2. Misiluki

3. Pacific Jewell

4. Fuatino’s Oil

5. Eveni

Eveni

 

Best Online Presence - Health & Beauty Services

1. Peatas Salon & JBC Makeup

2. Misiluki Spa

3. Vanity Ink – Tamara

4. Top Cuts Barber684

Peatas Salon/ JBC Makeup

 

Innovative Fashion Label of the Year

1. DMF

2. Pele Creations

3. Tahiano Designs

DMF

 

Innovative NGO

1. Samoa Institute of Sports

2. High Tech Youth

3. Samoa Cancer Society

Samoa Cancer Society

 

Young Entrepreneur Awards

1. Kalais Stanley-Chewlit

2. Jaydin Meredith

3. Alexia Rae-Costello

4. Molly Tomasi

Jaydin Meredith

 

Entrepreneur of the Year

1. Lisa Vaai

2. Sam Saili

3. Stephen Sua Leota

4. Etuale Scanlan

5. Kevin Schuster

Etuale Scanlan

 

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 18 December 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>