Sharing spoils of great idea

From Page 34 Daily Telegraph 27 June 2007. By Andrew Carswell, Photograph Justin Lloyd.

• ‘SUCCESS is all the more satisfying when it is shared, Sydney entrepreneur Naomi Simson believes. And there are plenty celebrating her success. Thanks to her flourishing gift-giving company RedBalloon Days, Ms Simson has effectively empowered 900 small businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The firm, which sells adventure and experience oriented gift vouchers, is now one of 22 finalists for the 2007 Telstra NSW Business Awards announced yesterday.

Gift ideas in RedBalloon Days’ extensive catalogue range from the adventurous quad biking, kayaking, abseiling and horse riding, to the more tranquil chocolate tasting, dance lessons, spa retreats and even cooking classes.

“We are a gift-giving business, but we don’t just give gifts, we give experience vouchers to allow people to do something they’ve always wanted to do.” Ms Simson said, adding that her firm provides 900-odd affiliated businesses with a global shop-front.

The Pyrmont-based company will sell close to 80,000 gift vouchers this year – double last year’s total – but it has not all been easy since the firm was launched three weeks after September 11, 2001.

“Honestly we thought we were never going to sell anything. I had managed to invest my savings into what was apparently the ugliest website on the planet and I didn’t know the first thing about online marketing,” she said.

The winners of the 2007 Telstra Business Awards will be announced at a gala dinner on July 27.’

This acknowledgement is for all the wonderful suppliers who are a part of our RedBalloon community. Because you do what you do every day – we get to do what we do. Thank you

We are excited to be finalists in the Telstra awards on your behalf – representing a diverse and growing segment of the Australian economy. Thanks, guys. This is just the beginning of what we have planned over the next few years.