BUSINESS AWARDS

The awards that keep on giving

 MICHAEL WALLS

OVER a career spanning almost 40 years, events maestro Steve Loe has clocked up some impressive stats.

As CEO of event management company Precedent Productions he has presided over 1,020 awards ceremonies, handed out 31,500 trophies and created in excess of 100 awards programs for diff erent industries.

He is probably best known as the guiding force behind the Local Business Awards program, held over 30 areas in Australia – including the Central Coast.

While Steve has few peers in the business awards programs space, it’s his passion and simple recipe for success that makes his legacy so impressive.

As the Central Coast prepares for the second year of the Local Business Awards, CCBA publisher Michael Walls spent time with Steve to explore the evolution and highlights of the Local Business Awards Program.

CCBA: Steve, can you give our Precedent Productions CEO Steve Loe at last year’s Central Coast Local Business Awards.

readers some background on the Prec

edent Local Business Awards, how and SL: We are proud to say the process Th e Star in Sydney when the country was why they started? of the awards has continued to develop forced into lockdown, as well as having

SL: Growing up in a small corner and evolve along with each technolomany plans in place for our 26 Local Busistore from the age of 1 to 25, I saw fi rstgy boom over the past 36 years. Our ness Awards nights. Whilst it has been an hand how incredibly hard my parents customers are the businesses who are unbelievably challenging and confusing worked without receiving any recognition part of the program; the public who vote time for all, our main priority has been for the business they had built or for their for the businesses; the sponsors; who checking in on our small business owners contribution to our community. For my provide fi nancial support and our media to make sure they know we aren’t only an family and I, the business was not just an partners who promote the program and awards program, but a support network income; our whole life revolved around it. we recognise all of them must continue Aft er 28 years of trading, the family busito benefi t from our program as the world ness was sold and a great legacy ended changes. All registered businesses have without any fanfare or acknowledgement. their own personal business profi le page Th is is when the idea of a recognition where from the comfort of their home or program was born. work can provide their business details,

And so, in the 1980s, I started the questionnaire answers and team photos. Small Business Awards in the Inner West Online voting has been embraced by all, of Sydney as a voluntary community as well as the ability to purchase tickprogram. In the years to follow, it grew to ets for the events online. We have also be a cocktail party, free of charge, where evolved with Facebook and Instagram, we would celebrate that year’s winners. ensuring we have a welcome presence onNot long aft er, the fi rst presentation line as well as making sure our customers evening our patrons paid to att end was can promote the awards easily on their held at a restaurant made to fi t only about own social media pages. And this year, we 100 people. We managed to squeeze have introduced a personalised QR Code 180 guests into the room that night – poster for each business in the awards. this was the moment I realised we had Th ese initiatives are slowly replacing an ever-growing community of small the paper nomination forms that once business owners, all of whom wanting appeared in the local newspapers and to be involved year aft er year. Soon, the were distributed to local businesses. At program had grown to the extent to Precedent we are always looking for ways which a dedicated management team was to reduce our environmental impact required. Th is is when Precedent Producwhilst still maintaining the easy processes tions was launched. our customers are used to. Local Business Awards CEO Steve Loe

It was clear the time had come to give CCBA: Can you tell us about your congratulates last year’s winner Melissa Rothero. small businesses the recognition they most memorable gala event? deserved on a bett er and bigger scale. From SL: I am lucky to have so many memhere to help. Our team has worked the Inner West, the awards has grown to orable moments from my 36-year career. tirelessly to re-organise each awards night now represent 26 areas in total around New One that stands out was in 1994, having so that our businesses can still have a South Wales, as well as our National prothe opportunity to launch the singing night to feel special, which we feel is of gram, the Australian Small Business Chamgroup ‘Human Nature’ before they were a utmost importance this year. Our awards pions Awards. Th is year marks the 36th household name. Th e group performed at evenings will commence from September Birthday since the beginning of the original all our event nights that year and were an 16th with 2-3 events happening around program and the best is yet to come. absolute hit. Around the same time was New South Wales each week, and whilst

CCBA: Th e awards have been when we would transform Th e Sydney we’re still working around number successful for a long time, even as the Fish Market auction room fl oors into a restrictions and cramming a year’s work world embraced technology. Why do grand ballroom for a seafood industry into fi ve months, we are still managing you think that is? night. From there, we’ve grown to host to touch base with every business who Champions evenings at the State Th eatre is a Finalist and it brings us much joy to

THE COAST LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS and the Quodos Arena to name a few with over 2,000 guests in att endance each year and state of the art entertainment. ensure them that our 2020 program is still going ahead. CCBA: How has the market re

To enter the Central Coast It’s special moments like these where I would take pause and admire our growth sponded this year with COVID-19? SL: Despite everything 2020 has

Local Business Awards go to and commitment to making our busibrought us, we were delighted to be overwww.thebusinessawards.com.au. nesses feel as special as possible with an whelmed with such a positive response

Entries close September 3. The gala presentation event will be unforgett able night. CCBA: Creating events amidst COVID-19 is certainly incredibly chalfrom our voters this year. It is clear the business client bases recognised they needed to show their support in any way held on Monday, November 30 lenging. How has your team managed? they could, and as a result we were reat Mingara Recreation Club. SL: We were a week out from hosting our famous annual Champions event at ceiving 10,000 – 12,000 nominations per week at the height of the pandemic. Now, CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2020

“It’s special moments like these where I would take pause and admire our growth and commitment to making our businesses feel as special as possible with an unforgettable night.”

– Steve Loe.

with a record number of Finalists in each area, our tickets to the events are highly sought aft er with a waiting list for seats in each area. We are so touched by the way in which our small business community has rallied together through this time, and the only reason this year has been made possible for us is because of them and their unrivalled endurance.

CCBA: Why do you do what you do?

SL: My greatest joy in life has always been to give without expecting anything in return. What I do get back in a happy smile or an excited person or group on stage receiving their acknowledgement is truly the reason for all my satisfaction. My business, Precedent Productions is the source of my energy. It’s the reason I get up every morning and it’s my life. I fi nd endless joy in including everyone in celebration, conceiving and creating atmospheres that transcend time and space and connecting people in warm recognition of each other and their milestones.

CCBA: What’s planned for the Local Business Awards for the future? What’s the 10 year vision? Any major changes planned?

SL: I have every confi dence our program will continue to evolve, grow and provide the same benefi ts for each local community as they always have. Technology will always change and therefore so will the way we work, but the personal touch of Precedent Productions and our inbuilt understanding of small business and what it takes to survive I believe makes us irreplaceable. We aim to see more of our programs starting and growing within all corners of our nation, as well as continuing to appeal to our younger generations of entrepreneurs as an important and valuable community to be a part of. And, perhaps my personal 10 year vision is to be happily retired, but still a guest at our awards nights ready and eager to present trophies to the winners.

CCBA: You’ve seen thousands of successful businesses, what are the top three qualities you think a successful business owner needs?

SL: One; understand your customers and provide the best products and services for them. Two; your team is everything, they make the business, so look aft er them. Th ree; set your goals and focus on them and you will achieve.

To enter the Coast Local Business Awards or for more information visit: www.thebusinessawards.com.au. CCBA is the official media partner for the awards and will produce special features to celebrate winners and finalists. Visit www.coastba.com.au

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