Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards: October winners include JSW Powersports

A Gold Coast business that started life as a backyard venture 26 years ago and has blossomed into a multimillion-dollar empire has earned a Gold Coast Business Excellence Award. Full list:

Kathleen Skene

4 min read

November 18, 2024 - 12:05PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

Business

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A Gold Coast business that started life as a backyard venture 26 years ago and has blossomed into a multimillion-dollar empire has earned a Gold Coast Business Excellence Award.

JSW Powersports, which owner Jeff McNiven started in 1998 to service personal watercraft, raced away with the Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award for October.

While the business originally focused on repairs and servicing, the company really started to grow after it branched into selling watercraft under the name Jet Ski Warehouse in 2001.

JSW Powersports marketing manager Oliver Bennett said that during the 10 years to 2011 the business grew significantly, and the forced a move to a much larger outlet at Ereton Drive, Arundel.

“As part of that move back in 2011, the business was rebranded to JSW Powersports,’’ said Mr Bennett.

“The growth has continued ever since and the business now has five locations, staffed by 65 employees.”

JSW Powersports is now one of six Gold Coast companies competing for the annual trophy for the best Retail, Wholesale and Distribution company on the Gold Coast at the Gala Awards night at The Star on Saturday November 30.

The October winners in the other categories of the Gold Coast Business Excellence

Awards were:

* Tourism, Hospitality and Events Award: Eventco Group

* Mayor’s Innovation GC Award: Wash Drones

* Education, Training and Employment Award: Klepper Training Academy

* Emerging and Micro Business Award: QPuzzles

* Family Business Award: Walsh Accountants

* Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award: JSW Powersports

* Manufacturing Award: Fixx Nutrition

* Construction and Trades Award: TEW Solutions

* Professions and Services Award: All Care Australia

* Health and Wellbeing Award: Natures Farmer Sea

* IT and Digital Business Award: GCIT

July 1, 2024:

A Gold Coast sports nutrition company, founded in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is now enjoying its own golden run.

Nexus Sports Nutrition was launched in 2017 as a one-person operation while founder Adam Jarrett was completing his university degree and working at the Games.

Mr Jarrett recognised a gap in the market for high-quality Australian supplements and started the business to meet the demand.

He was soon joined in the business by co-director Shane Berland and the pair have steered the company through a period of incredible growth.

The Molendinar company now employs more than 75 people, and sells more than 250,000 units a month through a network of more than 3000 distribution points throughout Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.

The company’s incredible achievements has been recognised in the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards, with Nexus Sports Nutrition winning the Mayor’s Innovation Award.

Nexus Sports Nutrition will now be one of six companies that will compete for the annual award in November.

Mr Jarrett said the company started by partnering with gyms and fitness centres to ensure its products were where fitness enthusiasts shopped.

“We cater primarily to fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals, who seek convenient and effective ways to enhance their wellbeing,’’ he said.

Mr Berland said the pair was striving to innovate with new products.

“We have continued to lead in product innovation by successfully launching a groundbreaking protein sparkling water product that has captured the market’s attention and is replacing traditional sugary soft drinks,” he said.

Other June winners in the other categories of the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards were:

● Education, Training and Employment Award: Education Australia

● Emerging and Micro Business Award: Friends Civil Engineering

● Family Business Award: PHJ Services

● Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award: dnata catering & retail

● Manufacturing Award: Marine Air Flow International

● Construction and Trades Award: Maco Electrics

● Professions and Services Award: MinterEllison Gold Coast

● Health and Wellbeing Award: Oasis Dental Studio

● IT and Digital Business Award: TechConnect IT Solutions

● Tourism, Hospitality and Events Award: Joy & Joy

June 3, 2024

An entrepreneurial teenager, innovative construction group and inventive beach gear company have been recognised at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards for May. See the full list of winners.

Among the winners was Molendinar-based Dynamic Hydro Excavations, which was named winner of the Construction and Trades category.

Carpenter Andrew Smith started the company with one bobcat in 2003 and his company cut its teeth working on Gold Coast Council contracts, allowing it to buy its first tipper truck.

After seeing a vacuum trailer – capable of moving earth using water instead of mechanical buckets – he was intrigued by the possibilities and decided to build his own.

“While the first vacuum truck had some problems, it performed the required job well

and demand for our services grew,’’ he said.

Dynamic Hydro Excavations founder Andrew Smith.

The business has since grown into the largest vacuum truck company in Australia, with more than 130 staff and 120 different pieces of plant and equipment.

Mr Smith said the company, which has five depots in Queensland and New South Wales, was now looking to introduce satellite yards throughout the country so the business could service clients nationwide.

He said the company was also looking at international opportunities.

Dynamic Hydo Excavations will now be one of only six companies that will compete

for the annual Construction and Trades Awards in November.

The May winners in the other categories were:

• Mayor’s Innovation GC Award: Glitter Girl