By Martin Vedris

BRISBANE: The fortunes of E3! continue to rise with the Brisbane-based company winning two Australian Business Awards as the company is beginning its new European venture with an office in Zwolle in The Netherlands.

E3! specialise in developing OEM consumer electronics products for retailers including Coles and Big W, and distributors. The company also operates as a manufacturer’s representative for brands including SAKAR, A4 Tech, G Cube, and Autodrive. E3! also distributes licensed Crayola, Dummies, Girlfriend, VW, and Lamborghini products.

Last week the company announced it was opening an office in The Netherlands to source and design product for select European retail networks and distributors. Today the company released news that it has won two awards from the Australian Business Awards 2008.

The Australian Business Awards were established in 2003 as an independent organisation that incorporated in Australia as a propriety limited company. On its website, the awards entity states that “as a private sector initiative, the Australian Business Awards program is not dependent on or affiliated with any larger or controlling entity and does not rely on the financial support of government or other organisations.”

The also states that, “All entries are judged by a panel of business experts and academics based on specific criteria underpinned by the programs values of success, innovation and ethics.”

The judging was conducted across seven main areas: leadership, impact, adaptability, corporate culture, customer and market focus, uniqueness and evidence of success.

The Awards attracted 1,726 entrants from across various industries and E3! won two awards: 2008 Australian Business Award for Enterprise, and 2008 Australian Business Award for Innovation.

“Richard, Jill and I are very proud to accept these awards,” said Vanessa Jordan, director a co-founder of E3!, who was herself nominated for the 2008 Telstra Business Women’s Awards this year.

“We have an exceptional team that continues to deliver and it is our ability to ‘think out of the box’ that keeps us ahead of our competitors. It is our flexibility and creativity that allows E3! to offer good service and great value to our customers.”