By Oliver Lees
Woodend Nursery & Landscaping has taken out two awards at this year’s Macedon Ranges Business Excellence Awards.
Store owner Cassius Armitage walked away from the award ceremony with his team having claimed both the People’s Choice and the Small and Thriving awards.
“I was super grateful, we’ve worked hard for this,” Mr Armitage said.
“The People’s Choice was the one I really wanted.”
Mr Armitage first took over the nursery three years ago.
But faced with strict business conditions of the past 18 months, Mr Armitage, like many of his business peers, sought to pivot the direction of his enterprise.
From selling plant products out of the store, Mr Armitage and his team began delivering products to homes across the shire.
Not long after, the business had evolved once again, to the point where Woodend Nursery started picking up landscaping projects of all sizes.
“We love what we do, getting to transforming people’s gardens, and they love coming in for a bit of therapy and and having someone to talk to,” he said.
“We’re in a privileged position right in the hub of the community.”
Now also with a fully-functioning online website delivering products across the country, Mr Armitage said he’s optimistic the business will continue to blossom.
“I think the Small and Thriving award made sense because we are a niche boutique with a small team,” he said.
“But I think over time I expect us to grow into multiple small and thriving enterprises.”
Mr Armitage said he was enjoying seeing the business community in Woodend continue to support one another.
“I’m the treasurer of the Woodend Traders, and what I’m finding is there is a great support network for other businesses,” he said.
“We’re becoming a real collective. That’s the concept of a modern village — we’re all supporting each other’s businesses wherever possible.”
