Enterprising Rural Women Award 2011

Do you know someone who runs a successful small business from a rural location?

Now would be the time to bring to their attention the 2011 RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award, as entries close on Friday 18th March.

This is the third year we have run the award, and it's a great opportunity for rural women to showcase their businesses to a wide audience.

The award attracts extensive media interest, and previous entrants have enjoyed a real publicity boost through articles in local and national print media, and on radio and television.

 

 

Winning the South Island prize in the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award last year has had a positive spin off, especially increasing my local sales - I'm definitely busier because of it. Tracey Robinson, Cosy Toes Ltd.

This year's awards is being sponsored by Telecom, Access Homehealth Limited, and Rural Women New Zealand.

Judges Tina Symmans, Telecom's Director of Corporate Relations and John Ayling, Chairman of Access Homehealth Limited, will join RWNZ National President Liz Evans in the challenging task of selecting a North Island and South Island finalist, as well as the supreme winner. Each award includes $1000 in prize money.
An exciting award ceremony will be part of our National Conference 2011 in Auckland in May.
Further information and entry forms can be found at www.ruralwomen.org.nz.

Merino Singlets for Adults!

Look what we have been up to the last couple of months! These beautiful 100% merino singlets for woman are due to arrive and will be online to buy in March 2011. Just in time for our Autumn and Winter season.
Cosy Toes is expanding every year and this year we are introducing more adult merino socks and adult merino clothing.

Enterprising Rural Womens Awards 2010

The supreme winner of the Rural New Zealand Enterprising Women Award 2010 was awarded to Tineke Verkade along with her Waikato based business, Homeopathic Farm Support Ltd.

Runner up and South Island winner was awarded to Tracey Robinson of Rotherham, North Canterbury along with her business Cosy Toes ltd, who set up her online merino wool sock business after experiencing frustration that wool socks were not available for her two preschoolers. She set up her business in the rural township of Rotherham with a population of approximately 300 using the internet to supply a niche, high quality product using innovative marketing, including social networking sites.

The award recognises an outstanding rural businesswoman running her own enterprise and celebrates the success of all rural women entrepreneurs.

Rural Women New Zealand national president, Margaret Chapman said rural businesswomen often have to overcome additional geographical and technological challenges in running their businesses.

The award ceremony was held at the Rural Women New Zealand national conference in Oamaru last week.

Tracey Robinson feels very honoured to be named the South Island winner but unfortunately could not travel to the awards ceremony because of flooding which closed the road north of Oamaru on that day with no diversions. “It was a very big build up of approximately two months looking forward to the ceremony and when we heard the road was closed with no diversions – I didn’t know what to think! My presentation was emailed down to Oamaru so they could read it out on my behalf and then I spent a very quiet, rainy night in Christchurch with my partner waiting by the phone for the results.”

“Entering these awards has been really good for me personally as it has reminded me that what I am achieving is great and sometimes that can be taken for granted when you are in the middle of it all. Rural Women New Zealand managed the awards very well and I really enjoyed meeting with Theresa Gattung at my interview held in Wellington in April.”

Tracey adds “I did not get to meet Tineke at the awards ceremony as planned but we have talked over the phone in the past couple of days. She is a very lovely and a motivated woman who has come up against some massive hurdles along the way and now employs six homeopaths. It’s amazing what she is doing in her business and I congratulate her and wish her every success.”

Rural Women New Zealand thanks their award sponsors, Ballance and Access, and award judges, Theresa Gattung and Doug Langford.

Nominated for Award

Rotherham's Tracey Robinson is one of this year's Rural Women New Zealand entrants in the Enterprising Rural Women Award 2010.
Tracey runs Cosy Toes Ltd, an online mail order business specialising in 100% merino clothing and other products for babies and children.

New Merino Wool Tops for Cosy Toes

Just new for Cosy Toes....Devine little 100% merino short sleeve baby tops. These are very soft and the colours are just gorgeous!
Made in New Zealand and fully machine washable.

Baby sizes: 000 (0-3 months), 00 (3-6 months), 0 (6-9 months) and 1 year.