Three Ballard businesses and one Interbay company have been named Mayor Greg Nickels Small Business Award winners.

The winners include the Ballard and Greenwood Sip and Ship, Cupcake Royale and Verite Coffee (also the West Seattle location), Annie's Nannies and Gravity Payments in Interbay.

The business owners, along with representatives from six other winners from around the city, will accept the award at a ceremony at Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

“Small businesses are the economic engines that employ local people and provide innovative products and services throughout our city – small business owners are my heroes,” said Mayor Nickels in a statement. “They add character to our neighborhoods and create gathering places that make Seattle so wonderful.”

Every year, 10 small businesses in Seattle receive special recognition for their accomplishments through the Mayor’s Small Business Awards presented by Wells Fargo. This is the 25th year of the program.

Annie’s Nannies
Annie Davis & Suzanne Royer McCone - (206) 784-8462

2236 N.W. 58th St., Suite 101

Annie Davis founded Annie’s Nannies in 1984 in response to a need for nanny placement agencies in the Northwest. In its 25 years in business, Annie’s Nannies has grown from a one-person, part-time operation into an agency that employs five full time staff—and has located jobs for thousands of others—while setting industry-wide best practices in domestic employment.

Annie and her daughter, Suzanne Royer McCone, along with their wonderful staff, have perfected the art of matching nannies and families in the greater Puget Sound Area. Employees and job-seekers at Annie’s Nannies are treated as a vital resource, where all are valued and rewarded. Annie’s Nannies is active in their community, contributing to schools and local fundraisers. With honesty and integrity as integral values, Annie’s Nannies strives to ensure that “every child under a nanny’s care is safe, happy, and constantly learning.”

Ballard Sip and Ship / Greenwood Sip and Ship
Stephen and Diana Naramore – (206) 789-4488

1752 N.W. Market St.

Stephen and Diana Naramore founded Ballard Sip and Ship in 2002 as a one-stop-shop for shipping and mailing, espresso drinks and snacks, and one-of-a-kind gifts, inspired in part by another small local business, the Queen Anne Mail and Dispatch.

Now at two locations in Ballard and Greenwood, Sip and Ship provides a community gathering place where customers can shop, mingle, and connect. Both stores are invested in their surrounding neighborhoods, donating their popular custom-made neighborhood gear (T-shirts, hoodies, hats) and sustainably-roasted coffee to local schools and organizations.

Many of the stores’ cards and gifts, as well as sandwiches, donuts, and other snacks, are sourced from other local businesses.

Cupcake Royale and Vérité Coffee
Jody Hall – (206) 782-9557

2052 N.W. Market St.

Founded in 2003 with only seven employees, Jody now operates four neighborhood locations in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Madrona, and West Seattle. In addition to supplying Seattle with its favorite food addictions, Jody has advocated in Washington, D.C. for healthcare reform that would make it easier for small businesses to buy affordable and comprehensive insurance for employees – one way she makes sure that her staff shares in the rewards of her business.

A daily huddle among managers and employees ensures that everyone in the organization is on the same page, from company sales goals to customer service strategies. Giving back to the community is paramount as well; last year, they donated more than 25,000 cupcakes to local organizations, schools, and children’s charities, helping raise an estimated $200,000 for various programs throughout Puget Sound.

Gravity Payments
Dan Price and Lucas Price – (866) 701-4700

1434 Elliott Ave. W., Suite C

Dan Price co-founded Gravity Payments in 2004 as a 19-year-old freshman at Seattle Pacific University with his brother Lucas. After working in payments processing in high school, Dan realized the need for a small-business-friendly payment processing company that could negotiate rates and service with vendors.

By providing around-the-clock availability and high-quality service, Gravity Payments has since grown from two employees to a staff of 42, and has saved its business customers approximately 20 million dollars in credit card processing fees.

Through its charitable giving program “Gravity Gives,” Gravity Payments donates 10 percent of its annual profit to organizations that focus on air quality initiatives, services for needy family and children, and global poverty.

According to the city, this year’s winners represent a cross-section of Seattle’s small businesses and illustrate the diverse nature of small business in the variety of services, locations and strategies for success. To qualify, the business must have no more than 100 employees and gross revenues of less than $10 million.

The five judges involved in this year’s awards included small business owners, previous awards winners and representatives of community development organizations.

After a confidential review of the nominations and rounds of deliberation, they selected this year’s winners

Other winners include:

Alki Kayak Tours (West Seattle)
Nyhus Communications LLC (Downtown)
Schemata Workshop (Capitol Hill)
SH Worldwide (South Lake Union)
Shen Consulting, Inc (Capitol Hill)
X-BAR (Pioneer Square)

The awards ceremony details:

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 13
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Reception from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Formal Program starts at 6:30 p.m.)

Where:
Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Avenue, Seattle (Between Spring & Seneca) www.townhallseattle.org

Parking:
Street and area garages; also Parking at Convention Center Main Garage (Entrance is on 8th Avenue between Seneca and Pike Streets)
Discounted parking vouchers ($4) are available for pick up at event

Tickets:
Tickets may be purchased online (brownpapertickets.com/event/84535) for $20.
They will also be sold at the door of the event; please bring a check or cash.