Community & Business
26 October, 2023
Best Bi-Rite in Australia
Local retailer Oakey Electrical took out the national and influencer awards at Bi-Rite’s 25th anniversary conference which was held in Fiji.
Eighty stores across the country were eligible for the award.
Business owner Andrew Langton flew back to Australia last week and said it was a pleasant surprise.
“It’s nice to be awarded,” he said.
“We’ve built up a business based around people provided products at the right price.
Alongside Andrew representing the business were wife Nicole, and staff member Courtney Riethmuller, who joined the team in 2016.
Oakey Electrical was also awarded ‘Influencer of the Year’ for its social media campaigns, led by Courtney.
Andrew said that over 180,000 people engaged with an ad for Sunbeam Coffee, which caught the attention of the judges.
It’s yet another successful moment in the history of the 52 years old business, which was opened by Andrew’s parents Peter and Mary Langton.
Oakey Electrical has been based at its current address of 104 Campbell Street, Oakey since 1974.
It joined the Retravision group, and was one of the company’s most successful franchisees before its collapse in 2012.
Oakey Electrical received the Retravision “Store of the Year” Award in 2011 and took five other awards that same year.
Andrew and Nicole took over the business in 2010 and switched to their present membership of the Bi-Rite Home Appliances group, which they’ve been with for the past 10 years.
In recent years, the company has become more social media focussed.
Besides the afore-mentioned Sunbeam coffee machine advertisement, the store has featured guest appearances from the Oakey Bears.
Staff regularly take part in fun, short advertising videos online that are designed to promote customer engagement.
The success of the business saw the owners make the decision to expand and take over O’Shea’s Bi-Rite Electrical store in Dalby earlier this year.
Oakey Electrical is a major sponsor of local community groups and events, with Andrew and daughter Danielle serving on the executive of the Oakey Chamber of Commerce.
Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb visited Oakey Electrical this year to discuss local issues with Andrew and his team.
Andrew said the support of the Oakey and wider Darling Downs community over the past 52 years has helped ensure the success of the business.
“We’d like to thank the community for being there and supporting us,” he said
“One of the things I tell my staff is that the customer always comes first.
“We try to make (Oakey Electrical) a happy workplace for everyone who works here.
“(As a result), we don’t have a high turnover of staff.”
