From thousands of entrants from around the country, just 29 have made the Online Business and Specialised Retail Small Business Finalists lists of the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards; a prestigious and comprehensive program that celebrates the growing number of Australian women in small business.
The only national annual awards program of its kind created specifically to spotlight the economic and social contributions of women in small business – spanning all capital cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns – the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is arguably the most diverse in terms of the breadth of represented industries and sectors.
Now in its second consecutive year, the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards features more than 65 categories, judged by an independent panel of representatives who have relevant experience or understanding of small business operations.
Among this year’s most competitive categories, Online Business and Specialised Retail Small Business are proving among the most challenging categories to judge, according to Awards founder and Precedent Productions managing director, Steve Loe.
“The quantity and quality of entrants in the Online Business and Specialised Retail Small Business categories in particular is truly remarkable and so the ultimate selection of this year’s finalists has by no means been an easy feat,” he said.
“When the Champion Judges evaluate entries, they consider all aspects of a small business: its strategies, innovative initiatives, customer service, vision, growth, charitable and community support – to name but some of the judging criteria.
“We’re simply blown-away by the incredibly high calibre of Australia’s female-led small businesses and – while it’s certainly a welcome challenge – the next round of judging is bound to be even more challenging, as we continue to nut-through the impressive finalists to reach one winner per category.”
Online Business category finalists:
Billycart Kids (QLD), Booxies (VIC), Box’d Night In (NSW), Buggez Bugeyes (WA), Bundl Australia (NSW), Cheers Sweetie (NSW), Danya Clairvoyant (VIC), East Forged (QLD), Essential Shift Consulting (NSW), Jaimie Abbott Communications (NSW), Medical Aesthetic Supplies (QLD), Oh Flossy (NSW), Postix Sticker Club (NSW), Strawberry Solutions (NSW), Sunset Coast Publishing (WA) and Your Bliss (QLD).
Specialised Retail Small Business category finalists:
B Eco Family (ACT), Birdies (NSW), Blossom Hair Body Face and Wig Boutique (NSW), Harry and Kit (QLD), HeyDoodle (VIC), Milkbar Breastpumps (NSW), Mini Murray and Me (NSW), Moulton Galleries (NSW), Muk Mat (QLD), Ride Proud Clothing (QLD), Silkflora (NSW), The Spoonie Society (VIC) and The Store of Requirement (QLD).
In addition to honouring business category winners, the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards also showcases the achievements of four individual category winners – Young Small Business Champion Woman Entrepreneur (aged 30 and younger), Small Business Champion Woman Entrepreneur (aged over 30), Australian Small Business Champion Influential Woman and Australian Small Business Champion Icon.
The 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is sponsored by Nine Plus, CUB, NOVA Employment, Castaway Forecasting, Xcllusive Business Sales and Big Clean. Winners will be announced on Saturday 23 September at a national presentation evening gala event.