Published on 01 March 2023
All smiles for business award winners
Winning the Outstanding Growth award in the South Australian 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards was wholly unexpected for the owners of Incredible Smiles dental clinics.
A colleague had nominated the business a few years before, but Incredible Smiles co-owner Dr Anisha Sanghavi said the business wasn’t ready.
“When we started our first dental practice 10 years ago, we didn’t have a business background,” she said.
“We had learned a lot but the high standards of the Telstra awards showed us we still had a way to go.
“We worked out what was expected and built up from there. We then nominated for the 2023 awards and were successful. I didn’t expect to win and I am over the moon.”
Anisha and her partner Dr Mitesh Sanghavi moved to Adelaide 10 years ago to start their own dental practice. They started in the northern suburbs and now have clinics in four locations: Munno Para, Angle Vale, Woodville and – from January this year – Seaford Meadows.
Anisha said the expansion in the number of clinics was important in winning the award, but it wasn’t the only one factor.
“We now have 12 dental practitioners and four hygienists, but the Outstanding Growth award isn’t just about numbers and financials. It’s also about new ideas, about building a great culture and creating a talented team,” she said.
“Our aim has always been to build a progressive, modern practice. We wanted to bring the best service possible to our clients and we have thrived because of it.
“We don’t want our doctors to come and go. We operate on the principle that our clients need security of care.
“To achieve that we’ve concentrated on caring for and training our staff, offering traineeships, developing leadership from among our team, and introducing new treatments and technology as they arise.”
As for every business, it has not been smooth sailing. COVID put pressure on revenue as well as delaying expansion down south. Anisha and Mitesh have also been raising a young family during the time.
“Success has been about hard work. We held strong and kept positive. We learned along the way,” said Anisha.
“And we have always gone our own way. I always wanted to do what others were not doing.”
As a state winner, Incredible Smiles will now compete for the Australian Telstra Best of Business Outstanding Growth Award. Winners of the national awards will be announced in Melbourne in March.
The City of Onkaparinga’s Economic Growth and Tourism team helped Incredible Smiles identify its new site in Seaford Meadows.
“Attracting businesses like Incredible Smiles to Onkaparinga improves our community’s access to health services,” said Business Growth and Investment Officer Glenn Hickling.
“It also increases local employment and supports our local economy.”
The council’s Business Onkaparinga program supports local businesses of all sizes to thrive, grow and enjoy the benefits of connection and collaboration.
See Business Onkaparinga at https://www.onkaparingacity.com/Services/Business-support or inquire about support for your business via email: business@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au.
IMAGE: Telstra Outstanding Growth award winners Mitesh and Anisha Sanghavi