Podium Announces Australia’s ‘Most Loved Local Businesses’

Local businesses communication and payments platform, Podium, and Council of Small Businesses Organisations of Australia (COSBOA) has today announced the winners of Australia’s Most Loved Local Businesses, which includes a specialised biking store and a stigma-busting dental practice.

The campaign aimed to shine the spotlight on a handful of vibrant, dynamic and innovative Australian businesses following an immensely challenging 18 months.

The winners were chosen following an initial list of over 3,000 businesses and the culmination of a nationwide search.

They were analysed based on the quality and quantity of their Google reviews, and selected by Podium, COSBOA and most importantly, their customers.

The Most Loved Local Businesses are:

• The Acoustic Centre (VIC): A 25-year-old specialist acoustic store in Melbourne on a mission to help people fall in love with music, and help rebuild an industry hit hard by the pandemic.
• bikeNOW (VIC): Melbourne’s premier cycling destination and Specialized concept store offering consumers a total solution for all biking requirements.
• City Realty (SA): A passionate real estate business in Adelaide with the vision of empowering its staff and making the process of purchasing or renting a property easier than ever.
• DCM Plumbing & Drainage (QLD): A local Gold Coast favourite plumbing business that has been servicing the community for over 15 years.
• North Brisbane Dental (QLD): The dentist with ‘an exact hand and a warm heart’ on a mission to change perceptions of the industry and remove the fear and stigma of a trip to the dentist.
• Titan Plumbing (VIC): A husband and wife duo who started up 15 years ago with the aim of delivering a small family-run business on a large scale.
• Westside Auto Wholesale (WA): A proud West Australian car dealership that has grown from humble origins to industry leading, all without losing it’s proud local links and heritage.
• Xceed Real Estate (WA): A real estate business with an emphasis on building long-standing, warm relationships, a commitment to its staff, and a passion for philanthropic work in the community.

“We’re so excited to launch Australia’s Most Loved Local Businesses, a celebration of some of the businesses that make up our vibrant community,” said Podium’s country manager, Australia, Dave Schiene.

“Australia is a nation of local businesses, restaurateurs and retailers, dentists and tradies from the tip of Tasmania to the top of Darwin, and from East coast to West.

“Their economic contribution to Australia is immense, their social contribution infinite.”

“In reality, this report could’ve featured almost two-and-a-half million local businesses. Instead, we could feature only eight, but they’re a diverse representation of the millions of businesses who stand beside them.

“These eight businesses have earned the love and trust of their customers, as seen and measured in their online reviews.

“Reviews also play a huge role in local business success, with more Australians than ever before being influenced by online reviews.

“Over the last 18 months, local businesses have faced unprecedented challenges. In spite of that, they’ve innovated, adapted and continued to provide essential products and services to the customers who love them.”

In addition to being named as one of the eight, The Acoustic Centre, bikeNow and Xceed Real Estate were awarded COSBOA commended status.

The Acoustic Centre was recognised for its charitable actions helping out other small businesses in the music industry, while bikeNOW, was chosen based on its positive impact on community fitness, safety and sustainability through their cycling programs.

Xceed Real Estate was chosen simply for their warm service and philanthropy.

“(Local businesses) know their customers personally, sponsor local teams, contribute to community and cultural activities and are often where local kids get their first job,” said COSBOA CEO, Alexi Boyd.

“We could have chosen any of the eight businesses featured in this report but unfortunately had to narrow it down to three!

Online reviews have only become more influential since the start of the pandemic, with Podium research finding 84 per cent of Aussies were influenced by reviews when discovering local businesses, while 28 per cent actively read a business’ reviews while standing outside before deciding whether to go in.