SYDNEY: Sydney printing firm Publisher Textiles has proved it can foot it with the big boys when it comes to business best practice.
The inner west-based company, which has just four employees, was last night the envy of retail and wholesale groups across the state after walking away with the title of best business at the 2009 Telstra New South Wales Business Awards.
Run by husband-and-wife team Mark and Rhynie Cawood, the textile company also took out the best micro business award, open to companies with fewer than six employees.
Launched in 2002, Publisher Textiles produces hand-painted fabrics, using water-based inks, on site at its Leichhardt factory.
The studio, which is also open to the public one day a week, sells its cotton, hemp, linen and silk fabrics for between $84 and $138 a metre.
Speaking this morning Rhynie Cawood, whose clients include Zimmermann, Akira Isogawa, Bird Textiles and Lee Mathews, said the award's rigorous judging process had been of significant benefit to the company.
"It was huge. We’ve gone for grants before and this was way bigger and way more intensive. It was an invaluable experience."
Cwood said the awards helped ensure support for the company's commitment to keep its products Australian made.
The pair will now go on to contest the national awards, taking place in Sydney on August 20.