Melbourne-based boutique printed wallpaper art and signage business, Grafico Group, has taken the top award in the 2022 Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards.

Presented to Damian Corney, CEO, Grafico Group by the City of Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, the 2022 Small Business of the Year award recognises the company’s innovation, creative marketing, sustainability initiatives and long-standing connection to the City of Melbourne.

“Damian Corney and the team at Grafico are a leading example of a Melbourne-owned and operated business, which has achieved huge success on a national level. We’re thrilled to recognise their achievements and look forward to seeing them further prosper,” said Capp.

“We were pleasantly surprised about winning the award as we were only aware we were finalists, and didn’t find out until on the night of the ceremony that we’d won, so we were quite thrown back,” Corney told Print21.

“We’re proud to accept the award. Melbourne is a big part of who we are, and has certainly influenced a lot of our design work over the years,” he added.

Grafico was founded in 2004 by Corney, then a graphic designer, as part of a university project. The company has since grown and relocated twice to larger premises in North Melbourne, where it has expanded with new digital print equipment, a growing team, and enhanced services and offerings to its clients.

Combining its passion for motor vehicles with its extensive skills, the Grafico – Auto specialist division soon emerged, and in 2012, Grafico – Walls was launched, and is now the official distributor of custom print Italian mosaic tiles.

Grafico is also a sponsor of The Block TV show on Channel 9, where its team is regularly featured designing and applying its custom print wall coverings products throughout the homes.

“We look forward to finding a wall at Grafico to hang this award on,” said Corney, acknowledging that it is testament to his team “who worked hard over the pandemic years to ‘pivot’ and adapt to the ever-changing world we do business in”.

The Lord Mayor’s Small Business Awards also recognised the achievements of 49 Melbourne business owners who’ve been operating in the City of Melbourne for more than 10, 20 and 40 years.

“I want to congratulate all of our award winners, who have contributed so much to our city through the most difficult trading period in living memory.

“Melbourne’s small businesses are the engine room of our economy, and they continue to make our city the place it is today – thriving with ideas, innovation, creativity and sustainability,” said Capp.