This year, Canberra’s small businesses have gone through hell.

From a Christmas period affected by choking smoke and the threat of bushfires to being battered by hail and forced to pivot during COVID restrictions, it’s safe to say our business owners deserve a pat on the back and a serious holiday. But what if you could give them something more?

A joint initiative created by HIT104.7, creative agency Coordinate and HerCanberra, Hits of 2020 will see Canberrans throw support behind their favourite local businesses—and propel them into the spotlight.

Did your heartache for the hardworking team at your local florist, café, restaurant, beauty salon or boutique? Now is your chance to give them the shout out of a lifetime and put them in the running to win an epic business boost package that would see them scoop tens of thousands of dollars in business development, branding and media coverage. And all you have to do is vote.

Divided into categories with a musical twist—think: Gums & Roses (nurseries and florists), New Kids On The Block (best startups), Top of the Shops (best retailer) and Food Fighters (best restaurant or takeaway)—each category will have a winner, who will win the instant boost of the Hit Squad and Hit Food Truck handing out free coffee to customers from 11 am–1 pm the next day.

Ned and Josh will be there too, making sure HIT104.7 listeners know all about the category winner and their offerings! They’ll even leave behind a bright window sticker to let future customers know they’re in good hands, as voted by locals.

In November, the business with the most votes will receive a mammoth prize package including advertising across HIT104.7 and HerCanberra, and brand development from Coordinate to take their business to the next level.

How to vote for your favourites is simple—just head to hit.com.au/canberra/win. But don’t delay—category winners will be picked each weekday, starting from today, Monday 19 October, so make sure you head to hit.com.au/canberra/win to cast your vote.

While HIT104.7’s Ned and Josh only came to Canberra from Western Australia in 2017, it didn’t take long for local businesses to make their mark. Staying at QT Canberra for their first six weeks, they eagerly explored the restaurants of Civic, becoming instant fans of Canberra’s food scene.

“We didn’t eat a homecooked meal for a month and a half…it was just incredible,” says Ned. Since then, the boys have moved northside, which has allowed them to find their own ‘locals’. It’s these businesses—and everyone else’s favourite locals—that the pair are excited to hero through Hits of 2020.

“This feels like a really fun way to shine a light on local businesses that we all rely on for our day to day lives in Canberra,” says Josh. “In amongst all the negatives of 2020, hopefully, this can be a bit of a positive.”

For the pair, who have lent many a sympathetic ear as Canberra businesses battled through, Hits of 2020 represents a way to give back in a meaningful and ongoing way.

“It’s potentially a game-changing level of exposure for the winner,” says Josh. “The prize could change the landscape for a small business. For the participants who don’t take out the win, hopefully, it is still an opportunity to get in front of the community and yell ‘open for business’ pretty loudly.”

For Coordinate, an advertising agency that’s had roots in the Canberra community since its inception in 2005, Hits of 2020 is their way of giving back to a city that has supported them throughout the years.

“Canberra is at the core of our business and in a way, it does feel like our duty to help the community during tough times like these,” says Logan Ayers, Creative Strategist at Coordinate.

“Throughout the lockdown period, Coordinate was very proactive in its thinking. We were always trying to push the creative boundaries and tried to uncover unique ways to promote consumer confidence in a time of unprecedented uncertainty. We believe that this campaign does that.”

“Through rewarding small businesses around Canberra, the Hits of 2020 campaign will allow people to feel a little more confident about the future and gives small businesses the opportunity to shine.”

And for us at HerCanberra?

“The chance to help local businesses get a leg up in what has been a horror year is a no brainer for us,” says Online Editor Beatrice Smith.

“All year we’ve heard stories of local businesses struggling—and have had some hard times as a small business ourselves. So when Coordinate approached us with the idea for Hits of 2020, we knew we wanted to help out.”

“Our hope is that Canberrans get behind their favourite businesses and give them the boost they deserve. We can’t wait to write about the winners, and share their story with our readers.”

T&Cs apply, see the website for more information.
Hits of 2020 is proudly presented by HIT104.7, Coordinate and HerCanberra