Tony Antonious- Polivac International
Tony Antonious is the managing director of Polivac International, Australia’s leading manufacturer of commercial cleaning equipment and a major exporter of advanced cleaning technology worldwide. Tony was one of our remarkable finalists for the 34th Annual Small Business Award.
Q: What brought Tony to Australia?
A: Tony came to Australia after completing a degree in agricultural science in Egypt, only to find no job opportunities or future prospects there. He decided to migrate to Australia for a number of reasons, mainly to start a new life with his wife and later, to raise their three children in a peaceful environment.
Q: What struggles did Tony face when looking for work in Australia?
A: One of the main challenges Tony faced upon his arrival in Australia was the language barrier, as he did not speak English at the time. Despite being an electrical technician in Egypt, his experience and qualifications were not recognized in Australia. Therefore, Tony initially started digging ditches as a labourer to make ends meet. As his English improved, he moved into sales jobs and eventually started his own electrical maintenance business with his brother.
Q: How did Polivac International begin?
A: Polivac International began after Tony's electrical contracting business ran into financial difficulties when two of their largest clients went into liquidation. This led to the decision to sell their business. Initially, they intended to use a broker to sell the business for them. Disappointed with the service, Tony decided to sell it himself. It was this experience that made him identify a gap in the market for a more professional, comprehensive, end-to-end business brokerage service.
Q: What growth has the business experienced since its inception?
A: Since its inception, Polivac International has developed under Tony's leadership from a small business into Australia’s leading manufacturer of commercial cleaning equipment and a major exporter of advanced cleaning technology worldwide. The company's product range is diversified and multi-functional, covering areas such as hard floor maintenance, carpet cleaning, concrete grinding and polishing, to wood floor sanding.
Q: What factors does Tony attribute to the success of the business?
A: Tony attributes the success of the business to several key factors, including having a well-trained and loyal workforce, investment in the distributor network, close engagement with suppliers of spare parts and raw materials, reinvestment in technological advancements and product development, and a unique suite of products focused on floor care.
Tony pictured with Joseph Assaf AO, Founder and Chairman of the EBA
"I think Australia is the best country in the world, it's unbelievable the opportunity here; you can be anything you want, just look up, look far, and see what you want to be."
-Tony Antonious
