It’s all about community

If there’s one thing the events of the past year have taught us, it’s that community matters and when tough times strike, the people in our neighbourhood can make life better.

Navigating the Covid-19 pandemic has meant many small businesses have had their toughest year yet, but at the same time they’ve been at the heart of their communities, making life better for the people who live there.

In turn, they’ve felt supported by customers who make an effort to shop local and understand the hard work involved in growing a small business.

According to a recent study commissioned by small business lending specialist Prospa, just over half of Kiwi small business owners say they feel more connected to their local community and customers than they did before Covid-19.

General manager of Prospa New Zealand, Adrienne Church, says the company is excited to be bringing back the Prospa Local Business Hero Awards this year in partnership with Neighbourly and our paper.

The awards are a way of recognising that running a local small business isn’t always easy and saying thank you to the people who work so hard to make Kiwi communities thrive.

‘‘The past year made it pretty clear just how much we all depend on our grocers, pharmacists, retailers and cafes and the magic they can bring to our communities.

‘‘It’s been incredible to see so many New Zealanders supporting local and what better way than to nominate those business heroes going above and beyond.

‘‘If you’re thankful for a small business in your life and think they deserve a boost and a bit of recognition, give them a shout-out today,’’ she says.

Alongside providing products and services so we don’t have to cross town to find what we need, local businesses create jobs, help make a neighbourhood a desirable place to live, and bring people together. Nominating them for the awards is a way of acknowledging that when they’re doing well, our communities do well. After nominations close, a national winner will be chosen from regional finalists.

The winner of last year’s Prospa Local Business Hero Awards was Quoc Tran, who operates Four Square Waikanae Beach.

His nominee described him as the ultimate friendly shopkeeper and Tran says a passion for both the store and being part of the Waikanae

Prizes to be won

All nominated businesses will receive a free 3-month Neighbourly Premium Business Listing and all 11 Prospa Local Business Hero Regional Finalists will receive a $100 Prezzy® card, as will the person who nominates them. The Prospa Local Business Hero National Winner (selected by member vote) will receive a $2500 cash prize from Prospa, $5000 Stuff advertising package and a $2500 Neighbourly package.

To enter go to neighbourly. co.nz/businesshero

community is at the heart of his successful business. Running a business in a popular holiday spot means extra customers during the peak season, but he says it’s the loyalty of the locals that enables the store to be a success all year round.

Tran makes an effort to repay that loyalty by going the extra mile when it comes to greeting everyone with a smile and giving extra help to those who need it.

‘‘It’s a good community,’’ he says.

Right, the national winners of the Prospa Local Business Hero Awards, the owners of Waikanae Four Square, Quoc Tran, Cullen Viet Tran, Joine Viet Tran and Thuy Vu. Above, Adrienne Church is the general manager of fintech Prospa, New Zealand’s small business lending specialist.