Launched in the Spring of 2023, the annual Best of Shop Local Augusta Contest brings the community together to recognize and celebrate the best small businesses in Augusta. This highly anticipated event gives locals the chance to nominate, vote for, and support their favorite businesses, highlighting the hardworking entrepreneurs and small businesses that make our community thrive.
Whether you’re a business owner looking to gain recognition or a loyal customer eager to show some love, here’s everything you need to know about this exciting two-phase event!
How the Best of Shop Local Augusta Contest Works
The contest is designed to be fair, fun, and community-driven, giving businesses of all sizes an opportunity to shine. It takes place in two phases:
📌 Phase 1: The Nomination Round
During this phase, the community nominates their favorite businesses in 145 categories. This is your chance to get your favorite local spots on the ballot and help them move forward to the final voting round.
✔️ Who Can Nominate? – Anyone in the community! Whether you’re a customer, employee, or business owner, you can submit nominations.
✔️ How to Nominate:
1️⃣ Visit the Best of Shop Local Augusta contest page.
2️⃣ Browse the 145 categories and nominate your favorite local businesses.
3️⃣ Businesses with the most nominations in each category move on to the final voting round!
✔️ Nomination Categories Include:
- Food & Drink – Best Coffee Shop, Best BBQ, Best Food Truck, etc.
- Retail & Shopping – Best Boutique, Best Gift Shop, Best Bookstore, etc.
- Health & Wellness – Best Yoga Studio, Best Massage Therapist, Best Gym, etc.
- Home & Garden – Best Plumber, Best Electrician, Best Realtor, etc.
- Professional Services – Best Photographer, Best Web Designer, Best Accountant, etc.
- Entertainment – Best Performer, Best Trivia Host, Best Karaoke Host
- Wedding & Events – Best Florist, Best Planner, etc
💡 Tip for Business Owners: Encourage your customers to nominate you by promoting the contest on your website, social media, and email list!
📌 Phase 2: The Final Ballot Voting Round
Once the nominations are tallied, the top businesses in each category advance to the final voting round. This is where the community casts their votes to determine the winners!
✔️ Who Can Vote? – Anyone in the community can vote for their favorite businesses.
✔️ How to Vote:
1️⃣ Go to the Best of Shop Local Augusta voting page.
2️⃣ Browse the finalists in each category and vote for your favorites.
3️⃣ You may only submit ONE vote per valid email address throughout the voting period
✔️ What Happens Next?
- After the voting period ends, votes are tallied, and the winners are announced.
- Winning businesses receive recognition, a “Best of Shop Local Augusta” badge, and promotional opportunities to showcase their award.
🏆 Why It Matters: Being named a “Best of Shop Local Augusta” winner is a huge honor that can help businesses attract new customers, build credibility, and strengthen their reputation in the community.
Click here to see a list of the most recent winners
Why You Should Participate
🎉 For Businesses:
- Gain recognition and credibility as a top business in Augusta.
- Attract new customers and strengthen your local presence.
- Boost brand visibility with a Best of Shop Local Augusta winner badge.
- Engage with your loyal customers by encouraging them to nominate and vote!
💖 For the Community:
- Support the small businesses that make Augusta unique.
- Discover new businesses to try and love.
- Help your favorite local businesses gain well-deserved recognition.
How to Get Involved
📢 Business Owners:
✅ Start spreading the word about nominations and voting.
✅ Engage your customers—remind them to nominate and vote for you!
✅ Use social media, email marketing, and in-store promotions to encourage participation.
👥 Community Members:
✅ Nominate your favorite businesses during the nomination round.
✅ Vote daily for your favorites during the final voting phase.
✅ Share the contest with friends and family to support local businesses.
Mark Your Calendar & Get Ready to Vote!
The Best of Shop Local Augusta Contest is more than just an awards competition—it’s a celebration of the incredible small businesses that make our community strong.
Sign up for Shop Local Augusta newsletter be notified when the next Best of Shop Local Augusta community poll opens for nominations
Are you ready to support your favorite businesses? Nominate, vote, and be part of the movement to celebrate Shop Local Augusta’s best!
