Electra ditches entry fee for popular Top Shop category

The Electra Business and Innovation Awards board has made the call to remove all fees surrounding entry for the Top Shop Awards.

It has been a tough few years across Aotearoa and this decision has been made to support local businesses by providing a free and easy-toaccess marketing opportunity via this popular award.

“Our board is passionate about supporting local businesses and encouraging the prosperity of our regions,” Business Ka¯piti Horowhenua Inc chairman Brendan Duffy said.

“We acknowledge how difficult the last few years have been for local businesses and want to respond by supporting them with this opportunity to profile and market their businesses. We realise this is only a small action, but we hope this gesture demonstrates our commitment to the local business community.”

Top Shop is aimed at recognising those providing excellence in customer experience in the Horowhenua and Ka¯piti regions. Businesses register to enter the competition, then their customers do the talking, via a text-to-vote campaign that allows the public to vote for the business that delivers the best customer experience.

Votes are then tallied and finalists named for each region, and a winner will be announced at the Electra Business and Innovation Awards night on September 30.

Top Shop is for all customer-facing businesses not just those with a shopfront — anyone with customers can enter.

Top Shop is now open for business registrations until May 9, with the text to vote opening from May 16 to May 30.