Stronger Fitness & Martial Arts, which caters to men, women and children, won last year's Sports & Fitness Business of the Year category.
It's six months since you were recognised in the Merton Best Business Awards 2023. What have the last six months been like for your business?
Winning an award reaffirms the belief that you are doing the right thing and that we are on the right path. This has helped increase the credibility of our brand among the broader community. Within weeks of the event, we received a letter of congratulations from the leader of Merton Council, and local businesses also congratulated us and kindly offered discounts on their services.
Winning the award gives our team confidence and pride that what we do together is recognized. This reflects in the workplace and increases productivity, which ultimately benefits our customers. Winning the award also helps us a lot in networking and building relationships with other companies and organizations. It shows others that we are a company they can trust.
What did it mean to you and your team personally to be recognized at the awards?
At the awards ceremony, I tell myself not to get too excited because I don't think I'll win. Merton's leisure and fitness market is highly competitive with some really great national independent businesses and clubs, making Merton a great district to be part of. But… when we hear our gym's name called, we couldn't be more proud. It's truly a team effort to be recognised for the work we do. It's special to see my teammates' faces light up, to be up on stage together and to be recognised for the efforts we all make to make our members happy and keep improving.
Do you have any advice for companies considering winning this year's award?
Start researching applications early. If possible, attend a Business Awards presentation event to hear from past winners, finalists, and sponsors for tips on crafting your award submission. If you are unable to win an award, please contact the Merton Best Business Awards team. Guidance on how to choose what to apply for and how to identify those that can be used as success stories for your business would be very helpful.
When writing your application, write with the belief that the person reading your story will be impressed by your accomplishments. Showcase the main points of your story with evidence, such as newspaper articles, customer testimonials, and photos from events. I wish you good luck!
