Karla and her team of Bathurst therapists were named winners at a prestigious gala dinner and awards evening held at The Star, Sydney, on Saturday night.

Karla said the win was unexpected, and was delighted when the medi spa was announced as the winner.

“There were 49 in the category and the competition was tough, I was literally in shock when they announced us,” she said.

The salon has won the award previously in 2010 and 2012, and this year’s win caps off an incredibly successful couple of months.

Six months ago the day the medi spa took out two national titles in the 2017 Australian Beauty Industry Awards in September.

In those awards Karla was announced as the winner of the Business Director / Owner of the Year category while her team of 12 therapists were announced winners in the Salon Team of the Year category.

“It certainly has been an amazing year,” she said.

There were no other businesses from the Central West represented at the awards, and Karla said she felt incredibly proud to stand up on stage, receive her award, and put Bathurst on the map.

“I always say where we are from, and it’s amazing to hear people say even though were in a regional area we can still be the best in Australia.”

The awards are judged by a panel of judges who look at the business, their website, social media as well as mystery shop the business as part of the judging.

Karla said she is a firm believer in training and said the fact her staff are at the cutting edge of industry developments which set them apart from other therapists.

The Australian Small Business Champion Awards is the only national recognition program for Australian Small businesses.

The program aims to recognise outstanding Australian small businesses and encourage high standards of excellence.