PERTH: Womenswear label Morrison has taken out top prize in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for the Western Region Young Business Category. A spokesperson for the event confirmed Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year program spanned 11 months during which nominations were sought across five regions in four categories. Following the nomination and judging period, each region hosted a gala presentation dinner at which regional winners were unveiled.
With Morrison's regional win announced in late July, winners from each of Australia's five regions - northern (QLD); eastern (NSW and ACT); southern (VIC and TAS); western (WA): and central (SA) - would become finalists in the national award program. The national winners would be announced on November 29.
A statement from Ernst & Young said Morrison founders Kylie Radford and Richard Poulson were to be admired for selling their private assets, shunning venture capital and relying on the quality of their brand vision and product.
Founded in 2002, Morrison's combined business is now running at an annual turnover approaching $10 million. New stores opened over an 18 month period include three new Morrison stores and a children’s concept store - Mini Morri.