A boutique wallpaper art and signage business born out of a Carlton garage has taken the top award in the 2022 Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards.
Grafico Group was awarded the Small Business of the Year at a ceremony last night in recognition of its innovation, creative marketing, sustainability initiatives and long-standing connection to the City of Melbourne.
The business was founded in 2004 by designer Damian Corney as part of a university project. Grafico Group from North Melbourne, which supports local jobs, producing custom print wallpaper, mosaic tiles, vehicle wraps and premium vinyl wrap colours.
Homewares, clothing and accessories company MAKE Designed Objects and local knitwear house Knovus were finalists for the prestigious award.
The Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards also recognised the achievements of 49 Melbourne business owners who’ve been operating in the City of Melbourne for more than 10, 20 and 40 years, including:
- Wendy Scully Millinery, a fascinator and millinery business at Emporium Melbourne.
- Dungeon of Magic, a specialty games store located in the basement of the Royal Arcade in Melbourne.
- The Chicken Pantry, an iconic poultry and game shop at Queen Victoria Market.
- You Day Spa, an oasis at the Paris end of Collins Street.
- Clementine’s, an orange-themed gift shop stocking Victorian-made goods on Degraves Street.
The Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards have been celebrating small businesses and their stories since 2005. These awards were formerly known as the Lord Mayor’s Commendations Awards.
For the full list of award winners, visit the City of Melbourne website.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
“Melbourne’s small businesses are the engine room of our economy, and they continue to make our city the place it is today – thriving with ideas, innovation, creativity and sustainability.
“I want to congratulate all of our award winners, who have contributed so much to our city through the most difficult trading period in living memory.
“Damian Corney and the team at Grafico are a leading example of a Melbourne-owned and operated business which has achieved huge success on a national level. We’re thrilled to recognise their achievements and look forward to seeing them further prosper.”
Quotes attributable to Small Business portfolio lead Councillor Jason Chang
“Small businesses are critical to our economy, and together, create thousands of jobs for Melburnians and contribute to the buzz our city is word-renowned for.
“These awards are a celebration of many years of hard work, often building a small business from the ground up, establishing a loyal customer base and adding real flair and character.”
