New award, The Shinys was created to acknowledge businesses who are really helping their customers.
Australians have flooded CHOICE with stories of generosity, as the consumer advocate recognises Australian businesses for acts of COVID kindness.
“The Shinys are about saying thank you to people, who despite going through their own unique challenges during COVID-19, have used their businesses to help the community,” says CHOICE Managing Editor, Marg Rafferty.
“With over 700 nominations spanning from the suburbs of Perth to Bruny Island the winners of the Shinys went above and beyond to help their communities through COVID.”
Big Brand Awards
NRMA – assisting essential workers and vulnerable community members.
Greater Bank – credit card relief for struggling customers.
Local Champion Awards
Hotel Bruny, Bruny Island, Tasmania
The George Harcourt Inn, Nicholls, ACT
Busy Bee Deli, Como, WA
Daughter in Law, Melbourne, VIC
“With their businesses facing the biggest disruption of a lifetime, hundreds of small hotels, delis and restaurants across the country fed our essential workers and stepped up for people experiencing homelessness and unemployment,” says Rafferty.
“These small businesses from across Tasmania, Western Australia, the ACT and Victoria kept their communities fed and The Shinys are their communities saying thank you.”
Honourable mentions
Supermarkets
There were almost 100 nominations for supermarkets, with Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, IGA and other smaller grocers being commended for their response to COVID-19 situation.
Pharmacies/chemists
More than one nomination recognised their local pharmacist for not just delivering medications but making sure community members were able to receive other essentials safely while self-isolating.
Setting the standard
Time and again, nominators told CHOICE about the newfound commitment to supporting those who supported them, saying they were a ‘life support system in our time of need. We will not forget’.