(Host) Let's move to small business now. Uh outstanding international success by any business with total annual turnover not exceeding 10 million Australian dollars. Small businesses make up a large percentage of total Australian exports. So it's not surprising that this is an incredibly competitive category. Presenting this award is Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew McKiller. and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry are the 2025 judging sponsor and have been a long-term supporter of the awards. And this category is proudly sponsored by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. >
Audeara Limited
Audeara Limited is a global hearing health leader specializing in innovative solutions for people with hearing challenges.
Biteriot
Biteriot grows and markets premium Australian apples and cherries as well as pure coldressed apple and cherry juice.
BixeLab
BixeLab deliver internationally benchmark testing, certification and training services for biometric and digital identity technologies.
Cycad International
Cycad International is an experienced exporter of rare sciad plants and mature boab trees.
icetana AI
icetana AI provides AI powered software transforming existing security camera systems into intelligent surveillance platforms.
Molecule2Market
Molecule2Market supports the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries by bringing innovative medical treatments from the lab to patients.
Pixelforce
Pixelforce specializes in designing and developing successful web and mobile applications for entrepreneurs and businesses.
Three Warriors
Three Warriors is a certified organic Australian made skincare brand. It creates self-tanning products that support skin health and deliver a sun-kissed glow.
(Andrew McKellar – Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Well, thank you and uh good evening and uh on behalf of uh the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and our great network of uh uh chambers of commerce in each state and territory. I think this is the perfect award uh for ACI to be presenting tonight uh because we love small business. We know that small business is the heart and soul of the Australian economy. More than two and a half million small businesses out there employing uh more than 5 million Australians.
Uh they're making a great uh contribution. And as we walk around the corridors uh in this building talking to MPs and senators, talking to ministers and shadow ministers, to the major parties, the minor parties, the crossbench, we have one simple message for all of our political uh leaders and that is we want you to just be unequivocally supportive of small business.
So I think it's uh I think it's uh I think there's no greater measure no no greater measure of success for any small business and that is to get into the export uh game. Uh and I think uh this is a a um very much justified reward this evening and I'm very proud to announce that the winner of the small business category this year is Three Warriors.
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) Megan's making me do the speech tonight first. So, thanks for that, Megan. Um, thank you to Trade Tasmania First for backing us. We wouldn't be here tonight if it wasn't for you guys. So, massive thank you to you guys. Uh, and to Austrade for having us here tonight. I founded the brand uh due to my own health journey. um it was over nine years ago actually and uh I wanted to create a high-performing skin first beauty product that made you feel confident in your own skin that we could get ingredients locally from Tasmania.
We are Tasmanian. Um that was certified organic, toxic free, vegan and cruelty-free. That's what I did. I created it made me feel confident in the most vulnerable time of my life. We now sell a product every 30 seconds. um without the we've had incredible international growth uh recently launching into Harrods the most pristine retailer in the world and I wouldn't be able to do it without my incredible business partner Megan P. microphone's on yours darling.
(Megan Pate – Three Warriors) Hi [laughter] thanks guys. Prior to walking into tonight, I think um we'd spoken about speaking about the provenance story of our brand and our ingredients and being from Tasmania and how much that played into our values and our ethos and everything else. But once sitting here for the last like two and however many hours, it actually it sat with me that we're all doing the exact same thing. And the reason that we're doing that, the reason that we're like killing ourselves every single day and hustling and showing up is because we're just so proud of where we come from and we want to put that on the world stage.
So that's what I would much rather give a little bit more attention to is how much every single person in this room is showing up every single day and just living truly values uh brand or lifestyle or for me like Tasmania where you come from and just wanting to share that with other people and I think that's very very special.
(Host) Now before you go, marketing must be a huge element of of getting your product sold. So how can you talk us through like getting in front of some so a business like Harrods, like a retailer like Harrods? How did that all come about?
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) That's a answer for you, Megan. [laughter]
(Megan Pate – Three Warriors) Um, look, I actually think it's a long game. It's not something that happens instantaneously. I started meeting with Harrods four and a half years before we were stocked in Harrods and building relationships with the buyers and and everyone in influential circles there and I think so often within the the spaces that we are we see these social media you know things ignite you think it happens overnight it doesn't it like real relationships and real networking it it takes a long time you just see the highlights reel.
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) Having a good product um a good marketing and Believing in something that you are so passionate about, it really what is makes you get successful in with your brand. Definitely.
(Host) Who are the three warriors? You three in the voice we heard on the [laughter]
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) Basically the three warriors is um my brother, sister and I. We lost my dad in a boating accident when I was 10. Uh and my mom called us three the three warriors. So it's definitely a tribute to my father. Uh that's where the name comes from.
(Host) A really beautiful heartwarming success story. [applause] um you deserve all the success um you know to be able to jump through those hurdles to be able to get on shelves and to be able to sell do you sell is it mainly retail or on or online that you
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) Both
(Host) But to be able to get to that point you know you've obviously believed in the product um how hard was it to to get it to the point where people wanted to buy it every 30 seconds
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) I think at the time um
(Megan Pate – Three Warriors) well I think the reason that the business is so
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) He does this to me all the time
(Meagan Pate – Three Warriors) I know every table time he's got his shins are still um but it it is a testament to a good product because exposure to many many businesses and unless your product is great your community loves your product you won't survive and we haven't done any funding we don't have any VC we don't have any debt we're still self-funded and the reason that we're here is because our product talks for itself so we can happily give our product away and we know that it will return fivefold So that that's a huge thing when it comes to marketing.
(Host) Let's hear for three warriors.
(Corbin Halliday – Three Warriors) Thanks very much, guys.
