Sitting pretty in the Hall of Fame of the Eastside Business Awards
This year’s winners have been announced in the prestigious business awards, with an upholsterer coming out on top.
The 2025 Eastside Business Awards saw McConnell’s Furnishings & Upholstery enter the Hall of Fame in recognition of their longstanding contribution to the vibrant fabric of businesses in the council area.
McConnell’s was one of the 10 winners on the night, with Pavé Cafe taking out two of the eleven awards. (See below for the full list.)
The judging panel included City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Mayor Robert Bria and Jim Plouffe and David Simmons from Solstice Media, the publisher of InDaily, CityMag and SALIFE.
Bria said each year he is “increasingly impressed” by the businesses nominated for the awards.
“Particularly new businesses and those who are consistently well supported by their clients and customers,” he added.
“Those businesses nominated year after year have clearly made a lasting impression on clients and customers and developed a strong sense of loyalty based on the quality of their offering and exceptional customer service.”
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This year’s judging came down to the wire, said Simmons.
“It’s always difficult to pick a Hall of Fame winner but this year’s was particularly challenging considering the exceptional field to choose from,” he said.
“McConnell’s Furnishings & Upholstery is one business though that I think the community would absolutely understand and celebrate being named a Hall of Fame inductee.”
The company, founded by John Murray in 1995, began life in a shed in Edward Street, Norwood before moving to its current showroom and workshop on Magill Road.
“Initiatives like the Eastside Business Awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution of service-based businesses to the community, and a chance for customers to show their appreciation to business owners that’ve built strong, independent businesses in the area,” Simmons said.
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“Having grown up in the area, personally I really enjoy getting to reflect on my years attending these businesses and meeting the colourful personalities that run them.”
The council area is home to more than 7000 businesses across a wide range of industries, with key main street precincts of The Parade, Magill Road, Payneham Road, Kent Town, Stepney and Glynde Corner.
Bria has previously called The Parade “the engine room” of the council’s economy.
He said the strip continues to perform strongly, thanks to it being “an accessible and inviting precinct for people of all ages and backgrounds who enjoy a cosmopolitan street vibe during the day and night”.
“The Parade enjoys numerous characteristics that aren’t seen on most main streets, including hotels, a cinema complex, a dance theatre and football stadium, which adds to the impressive and diverse offering for locals and visitors,” he said.
“One of the most important features of The Parade – yet one that is rarely spoken about – is that is very family friendly, which means children and young people are important players from both a social and economic perspective.”
The annual Eastside Business Awards, an initiative of the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, has been running since 2018.
Bria is confident the Awards are making a positive impact on the local economy.
“I am often approached by Award finalists and winners who tell me that being recognised boosts advertising and marketing outcomes for their business, and positively impacts staff morale and wellbeing,” Bria said.
“They genuinely appreciate the support they receive from the clients and customers who nominate them, which gives them confidence to invest in their business and continue operating in our City.”
