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Kip McGrath Ōrewa owner Burnett Bakker has received the Best Local Area Marketer Award for New Zealand at the education franchise’s 50th anniversary conference in Sydney.
Bakker, who has owned the Ōrewa centre for two years, says the award recognises the relationships the business has built with local schools, families and community organisations.
She says her approach has been to become actively involved in the community rather than focus on marketing in the traditional sense.
Over the past two years, Bakker says Kip McGrath Ōrewa has supported school galas and silent auctions, women’s health and breast cancer fundraising events, and the New Zealand Wheelchair Basketball Association.
The centre has also partnered with another Kip McGrath franchise owner to sponsor road safety booklets and writing books for Year 1 and 2 students.
Bakker says not every initiative produces an immediate result, but community involvement is about continuing to build relationships and being willing to try new ideas.
“Businesses have a responsibility to support the communities that support them,” she says.
Bakker says receiving the award in front of franchise owners from New Zealand and Australia was a proud moment and she was pleased to bring the recognition back to Ōrewa.
