By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

All right, busy business people — it’s time to boast about your businesses.

The Business Journal of North Idaho's 14th annual Best of North Idaho competition opens Sunday.

It’s the one time of year consumers, customers and clients rally for their favorites so those shops, restaurants and service providers can spend the entire year celebrating the fruits of their labors.

"It’s a big advantage when a business is voted in a people’s choice award to be the best of the best," said Advertising Director Kari Packer, who coordinates the contest. "It's a point of pride. It's a distinction that you can’t purchase. You may have the most beautiful storefront or the most advanced services, but it's a people’s choice award and you cannot purchase that kind of credibility. You have to earn it."

While a few redundant categories have been eliminated in this year's Best Of, voters will enjoy nominating their top picks for new categories, such as window coverings, educators, lumber yards, outdoor living spaces, solar electric provider and permanent cosmetic providers. Familiar favorites such as recreation and entertainment, automotive, real estate and senior services have returned.

Also new this year, participants will only be able to nominate their favorite businesses one time per category per email for the entire nomination period.

"It makes it easier for participants so they don’t have to vote every day," Packer said. "And it levels the playing field."

The nomination period closes Jan. 31. Nominees will be vetted and whittled to the top five in each section.

Final voting period will take place Feb. 8 through Feb. 16. The top two in each category will be hailed as the best of 2020.

Winners will receive certificates, complimentary promotional goodies and they'll be invited to celebrate their awesomeness at the Best Of Party March 26 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.

"We just really try to continue to improve the platform every year to ensure that it's a fair competition between all the businesses," Packer said. "The work that you have done in the last 365 days is going to be what makes or breaks it. Ask your customers to support you. We want to be a steward for the voice of the community."

Visit cdapress.com/bestof to nominate your favorites and cast your votes for North Idaho's best.