Dracakis named 2012 Champion Jewellery Store

Posted May 01, 2012 |

Sydney-based retailer Dracakis Jewellers has been named Champion Jewellery Store at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards.

It is not the first time the second-generation family business has graced the podium at the awards, previously winning the title in 2007.

The award was presented at a gala dinner at the Westin Sydney on Saturday, April 21, recognising the jewellery retailer for exceptional operation along with other small businesses from several categories.

The business was launched in 1980 by Greek immigrant Paul Dracakis with his three sons all now working full time across the Mosman and Warringah Mall Boutique Stores.

Nic Dracakis, a valuer and buyer at the Warringah Mall boutique, said the process from getting nominated to winning was extensive and intense.

“You first have to be nominated by your customers and then gain votes from them through the local newspaper,” Dracakis explained. “Then, judges come in as mystery shoppers and rate your store and service.”

Dracakis said after nomination there was a local area business awards competition, in which they won their category.

That victory gained the business a nomination for the national awards, which required further judging and mystery shopping that evaluated service, product, presentation and more.

Dracakis believed their hard work ethic and high quality stock were crucial in winning the award.

“My brothers [Peter and Theodore] and I manage this business with an eye for quality,” Dracakis said. “Our business is unique, all of our engagement rings are hand crafted, we’re totally self sufficient and we have high customer service.”

The well-known jewellery business is already promoting the accolade on its website and Facebook, and Dracakis said they will promote it in-store as well.

“At the end of the day, it’s just great to win a local award. To win a national award is very humbling, it’s a testament to our business, to where we are, and where we want to be going,” Dracakis said.

He added they have eyes on next year’s prize, and would love to become the first jeweller to win the award back to back.

“We’re human beings, we can get complacent, but there is definitely a driving motivation to win it again,” he said. “No one else has done it before, that’s something we will aim to do and improve in certain areas. There’s always room for improvement in every business, and we’re going in the right direction.”