Business
Mark Currie, Mark & Co, Builder
Mark Currie started out as a builder but his career — and life — took a turn following a car accident. “I was in a car accident and ended up with breaks in every part of my body. As a result, I ended up going into the corporate world,” he explains. Mark has since returned to the construction game, and for the past four years has operated Mark & Co, handling restorations, renovations, and construction jobs both commercial and domestic.
Ramy Benjamin, The Safety Depot, Panania
The Safety Depot provides head-to-toe work and safety wear for all manner of industries: work shoes, hi-vis clothing, P2 masks — everything from head to toe. “From the very top of your head to the toes of your feet, we cover it! But it’s not just about wearing a hard hat or long sleeves to protect from the sun. Believe it or not, we have a business that’s built around recommendations for shoes; short last, long last, sizing. With work
Michael Vale, Hospitality Consultant
What can Michael Vale’s unique time-tested skills and experience do for your Sydney cafe? Michael Vale is a veteran Sydney hospitality operator, creator, consultant and project manager personally responsible for the conceptual creation and launch of more than 46 Sydney operations, with 18 of those being cafes. Three of his launches were featured on Channel 7 Sydney Nightly News. Michael brought Café Del Mar to Sydney, arguably the most famous Café group in the world. He was also a driving
Nathan Thomas, Tradiez
You can’t go anywhere in Sydney without spotting a tradie. Plumbers, builders, electricians — they’re everywhere! And, according to Nathan Thomas of Tradiez, perhaps more so than ever. “I think nowadays, more so than 10 or 15 years ago, I feel like there’s more tradies around. That’s part of the reason why we went with the name Tradiez; it’s intentionally broad.” Tradiez is a one-stop supplier of all things a tradie needs to get their job done: tools and materials,
World Copper Recycling, Revesby NSW
Reza Hassani came to Australia from Afghanistan some 20 years ago, seeking freedom and an opportunity to succeed through hard work. “I had a dream to one day have a big shop; my own scrapyard, my own business,” he recalls. That dream has since become a reality with World Copper Recycling in Revesby. “We work with plumbers, air conditioning companies, sparkies — all the tradies — and anything to do with metal. They call us and we pay them to
Tony Tannous, TAG Automotive, Milperra
With more than 45 years’ experience in the automotive industry, Tony Tannous knows his cars. And he’ll know exactly what your car will need should you bring it to him and the team at TAG Automotive. “In my work, I understand every vehicle. Every vehicle, every truck — whatever! Some people specialise in European cars or BMWs but they can’t do Holdens or Fords; they can’t do Mitsibishis or Toyotas,” Tony says matter-of-factly and with no hint of hubris. “All
Monique Calcagno, Mousse & Co
They say manners maketh man, but according to Monique Calcagno, hair makes men and women. “You have a bad hair cut you have a bad day, right?” she asks. As the proprietor and head stylist at Mousse & Co, Monique knows hair and how integral it is to a person’s sense of self. She also knows how important the stylist-client relationship is. “When people come in you’ve got to be friendly, you’ve got to be inviting. The one thing we
Lloyd Coetzee, JSC Conveyancing Services
A boutique conveyancing firm with an office in Ramsgate, JSC Conveyancing Services are focused on property transactions in Sydney, providing legal advice and conveyancing services to both vendors and purchasers. The JSC office boasts decades of experience across all types of property, including residential, commercial, industrial and rural land. “My father, who is still in the business, starting doing conveyancing as a retirement job, and then something became available here and that’s how it all started for me,” explains Lloyd
Newlay Eggs: A Legacy of Quality and Service
In May 2024, Lawrence, Simon and Andrew took the reins of Newlay Eggs, a business that had been a staple in Sydney’s food supply for more than 35 years. The Newlay Eggs journey began in 1989, when Bob Gadge decided to create a company that delivered the freshest and highest quality eggs across the city. Now, with Lawrence, Simon and Andrew at the helm, the legacy of Bob lives on, strengthened by a shared commitment to exceptional customer service and
Pepe Saya
Batch churned, handcrafted cultured butter Since 2009, Pepe Saya and his team have been churning out Australian cultured butter. In that time they have gone from the Carriageworks Farmers Market to shops nationwide; from being served in first class on airlines to being exported across the globe. Their market and their premises may have changed in that time, but Pepe Saya’s commitment to quality and taste has never waivered. “I am inspired by innovation to better the world; I am
Nicholas Vanos, The Deli Erskineville
From a previous life in the corporate world, Nicholas Vanos is now the proprietor of The Deli Erskineville, a family operated establishment that pretty much does what it says on the box: it’s a fine food deli on the main street of quiet but cosmopolitan Erskineville. But working in food wasn’t something Nicholas expected to do. “I was looking for something to feed my soul,” he says. Not that working in food came completely out of left field; Nicholas’s mother
Jackie’s Floral Gallery – Kingsgrove
Jackie has been operating Jackie’s Floral Gallery in Kingsgrove for 13 years, providing flowers for all occasions: weddings, christenings, Valentine’s Day — you name it. Jackie also sells pot plants, giftware, homeware, trinkets and knick-knacks. “I ask people how long they want the flowers to last for, what it’s for, what reason, or if they’d like to have a nice plant. If we’re fair and generous with our flowers, customers will continue to come in,” Jackie says. “My customers become
Moe, Hariri Chicken
From sating the appetites of regular patrons to sponsoring local sporting teams, Moe and the team at Hariri Chicken have very much become an important fixture in the Kogarah community — growing to meet its culinary and social needs. “The community is forever adapting, especially here in Kogarah. You’ve got this entire pool of different ethnicities and people coming and going; with major medical and work hubs nearby, you get to see all walks of life,” Moe says. “It’s funny
Mihalatos & Associates Solicitors – Bexley NSW
Lara Mourad and Vanessa Papadopoulos – Mihalatos & Associates SolicitorsBexley, Sydney Mihalatos & Associates Solicitors was founded by siblings Esmae Mihalatos-Koutsoukis and Spiros Mihalatos. The firm is a well-established legal practice based in Bexley, Sydney, and are a generalist firm practicing in a wide variety of practice areas. Among the talented team at Mihalatos & Associates are solicitors Lara Mourad and Vanessa Papadopoulos. For Lara, becoming a lawyer has been a lifelong ambition which was realised when she completed her
Konstan Jewellers – Dulwich Hill NSW
I’ve been a jeweller since the early days, and whatever I learnt, I learnt on the bench. A good friend of mine, a Czechoslovakian man, taught me everything that I know. And I took it on from there, and did what I did.” “We love making custom-made jewellery; we’ve been here for 22 years and that’s what we pride ourselves in: the making of handmade jewellery for our clientele in Dulwich Hill and surrounding areas. We pride ourselves on the
Nonna’s Bakery – Wetherill Park NSW
From a village in the mountains of Calabria, Italy, the recipes for the bread made by Nonna’s Bakery have been passed down from generations, and across the ocean, to arrive in modern-day Sydney where they are made to perfection. “Since coming to Australia in the 1950s, we’ve taken those traditions and techniques and used them, first at Vieto Bakery, which my dad’s mum owned with her brothers, and now here,” explains Tony Sergi. “Seeing where this business has come from