Nimble lender grabs debut award

Written on the 1 July 2013 by Gold Coast PR company Consulting Hall

Southport-based short-term lender Nimble enjoyed a big payday when it claimed one of the honours at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards for June.

The rapidly growing Nimble, which many readers would recognise from its national television advertisements, was named as the winner of the Trades, Services and Professionals trophy at the business awards.

The Marine Parade-headquartered business offers short-term loans to cash strapped consumers and operates 100 per cent of its lending business online.

Previously known as the Cash Doctors, Nimble was founded in 2005 by Greg Ellis and Sean Teahan who were frustrated with the lack of consumer-friendly short-term borrowing options in Australia.

In the early days the pair mowed lawns to keep the business afloat as they set about building Australia’s most advanced technology platform for assessing, approving and paying loans.

Today, existing customers can access loans in seconds via mobile devices or computers and the money is paid straight on to prepaid Visa cards.

The company, which now has about 100 employees, attracted external investment for the first time in 2012 from Damien Waller, Les Webb and Sam Friend.

Another Gold Coast business that has an amazing success story to tell is the Touch Up Guys, which won the Family Business category.
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Started in 1991 by Fred and Cheryl Hawken, the mobile paint and bumper repair business now has more than 100 franchisees operating throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The company is now expanding into the United State and they have plans to roll out another 200 franchises within Australia over the next 5 years.  

In the other categories, Jet Dryer has blown away the competition to  claim the emerging business trophy, serial success story Condev Construction won the Manufacturing and Construction honours, marine and leisure products specialist M-Tech secured the Mayor’s Innovation Award, and skincare company Alpha-H cleaned up in the Retail, Wholesale and Distribution section.

Perennial favourite Timezone Surfers Paradise grabbed the Tourism, Hospitality and Events award, Hive Web Studio won the Knowledge Management and IT section, MCV Enviroworks cleaned up in the Environment and Sustainability category and Medical Rescue Australia hoisted the Health and Wellbeing trophy.

Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards president Ian Cousins urged more businesses to get involved in the 2013 awards.

“The one thing that all our awards winners say to us is how much they have benefited from taking part in the event,’’ said Mr Cousins.

“It doesn’t matter whether they simply win a monthly award or a major annual honour, they all say they the recognition and satisfaction they receive is amazing.

“And that does not include the marketing opportunities that arise from winning one of these awards.”

The organisers are now calling for entries for the July awards with entries due on July 1.

All the monthly winners from 2013 will eligible for the annual awards which will be presented at the Black Tie Gala Presentation in November.

Sponsors include Gold Coast City Council, Suncorp Bank, Virgin Australia, AusIndustry, Michael Sing Lawyers, Griffith University, Regional Development Australia and Gold Coast Airport.

And our major supporters are SMART Advertising, Consulting Hall, Surfers Inkspot, Jupiters Gold Coast, Regina King Photography, Staging Connections, Bond University & KPMG.

The awards’ media sponsors include the Gold Coast Bulletin, NBN Television, 92.5 Gold FM &  90.9 Sea FM.