Each year, the MADE Awards brings to light a variety of products and businesses that in some cases might otherwise have flown under the radar, from aviation parts to soil amendments for professional landscapers.

The purpose of the awards is to draw attention to manufacturers and makers in the Cape Fear region, revealing that the area is home to more made-in-Wilmington products than residents and even business leaders might realize. 

The Greater Wilmington Business Journal launched the MADE Awards for that very reason, to recognize makers, manufacturers, artisans, designers, small businesses and the businesses that support them in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties.

Those chosen by the judges each year cover a wide range of products being conceived and produced in the local market.

This year, nominations came in from businesses vying in six categories: Manufacturing; Functional Product (examples include tools, gadgets, beauty products, furniture and industrial/medical devices); Arts (such as apparel, accessories, textiles, home goods and stationery); Food & Beverage (such as wine and spirits, dry/baked/canned goods and sustainable foods); Exporter (companies that export outside the United States); and Supporter (examples include patent law firms, manufacturing associations, SBA lenders and retail markets that carry primarily local products).

A panel of outside judges combed through the nominations and were asked to base their choices for winners on several factors, including: 

• Does the business have unique offerings in its market? 
• Which companies are likely to grow sales the most, particularly in other parts of the country and/or internationally? 
• Is the continued growth of the company likely to result in the creation of more jobs in the region and a positive impact on local economic development? 
• and for the Supporter category: Which organization is best equipped to help businesses that make products expand quickly, resulting in more jobs locally and other positive impacts on local economic development? 

In previous years, the Business Journal highlighted three winners for each category, but this year we wanted to amplify the focus on individual companies, so the judging panel selected one winner for each area.

Those winners are profiled on the following pages.

The winners will each have a table at this year’s WilmingtonBiz Conference & Expo, also produced by the Business Journal, on Oct. 2 in the Wilmington Convention Center’s concourse area.

Outside of the annual awards, the Business Journal wants to continue to spotlight the MADE focus this year. Each month in one of our print editions, we’ll feature a locally based company making goods and products in the Cape Fear region.

To be considered for the feature, contact [email protected]. 
 

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To see more on HSM Machine Works, winner for the Manufacturer Category, click here

To see more on Champion Valves, winner for the Functional Product Category, click here

To see more on End of Days Distillery, winner for the Food and Beverage Category, click here

To see more on Backroad Purpose, winner for the Arts Category, click here

To see more on Tayloe/Gray, winner for the Supporter Business Category, click here

To see more on Mirimichi Green Express, LLC, winner for the Exporter Category, click here