A host of Richmond businesses have been nominated thus far for the annual Small Business BC Awards.
The awards are held every year to find out which small businesses in the province are knocking it out of the park in one of six categories.
Once nominated, voting is open to the public to show their support for that business as part of a three-stage process: nomination and voting; virtual pitching and judging; awards ceremony and winner announcement.
The nomination process is open until March 8, with the voting taking place right now, before five finalists being announced later in the spring for each category.
One of the Richmond businesses nominated, Go2Girl Services is on the hunt for its third accolade in recent years, having won Best of Richmond and Richmond Chamber of Commerce awards last year.
Go2Girl Services – primarily a household cleaning firm – has been nominated in three categories.
Its owner/operator, La Toya Barrington, said she was surprised to hear about the nomination, but is excited to take part.
“It’s nice to know that I’ve made a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Barrington, referring to her nomination, presumably from a client.
Barrington started the business as a side hustle in 2013 to bring in extra income while a single mom of three kids.
It wasn’t until 2017 that she realized her “job on the side” had potential to be a bona fide business.
“I didn’t have a name at the beginning, but people would call me their ‘Go2Girl’ so that kind of stuck,” said Barrington of her business that now employs six people.
“I was doing so well and kept getting calls and had a wait list so I thought it was time to make it official.
“We still have a wait list to this day and we’re just about to put the second vehicle on the road. Things are really taking off and we’re working on a third vehicle right now.”
Other Richmond businesses nominated so far include:
Lubberts Landscaping & Maintenance; Rogue Bookkeeping; Rowe Event & Show Services; Vero & Co Studio; Advantage Speech-Language Pathology; Innovation Networks Inc; Clean Break Home Services; Advantage Speech-Language Pathology and Go Pro Mobile Car Detailing.
To vote for one of those businesses, go to SmallBusinessBC Awards.
