Feature
Best Shopping
From the tastiest scoops to the splashiest influencers, here are your winners of the 2024 readers’ choice awards!
best florist
Farm Nine
With beautiful market arrangements to make your kitchen island more vibrant, or the creative team to bring flowers to life for your next special event, Farm Nine is the perfect florist for any occasion, big or small. Founder Niesa Putigna says it best: “Flowers give you their entire lives. From the moment they are picked, they are cherished and gracefully arranged, and chosen by you to be a part of your life—to love, nourish, and be loved in return.”
Runner-Up: Betty J’s Florist
best car dealer
Headquarter Honda
Genuine advice, expert staff, and a personalized buying experience. All wrapped up with a red bow.
Runner-Up: Past & Present Motorcars
best gift shop
Swalty Sisters
A funny, funky, and—dare we say—swalty boutique shop where you can spend the afternoon laughing with your friends.
Runner-Up: Polka Dotz
best home goods
LiveTrends Boutique
Rooted in Winter Garden, this boutique has sprouted into an international phenomenon, offering unique greenery galore.
Runner-Up: Jake McKenna | Jake of All Trades
best golf cart dealer
Ultimate Carts
With a service-focused team and various brands, you’ll find the “ultimate” ride that suits your needs and budget.
Runner-Up: Creative Cartz
best car dealer
Headquarter Honda
Genuine advice, expert staff, and a personalized buying experience. All wrapped up with a red bow.
Runner-Up: Past & Present Motorcars
best specialty shop
Ruby & Rust
More than just an “indoor jungle,” this tiny space has a huge personality. Houseplants, botanicals, apothecary, teas, and more.
Runner-Up: LiveTrends Boutique
best farmer’s market vendor
The Fairy’s Elderberry
Paris Bacchus is (elder)berry excited to spread some natural healing goodness in the community.
Runner-Up: Gingers Baking Co
best clothing store
Doxology
Created by two best friends with a heart for service, this bespoke shopping experience blends fashion, accessories, jewelry, books, gifts, and home decor, all in a beautiful setting with a dedicated chapel, giving you a moment to pause.
Runner-Up: Apricot Lane
best specialty shop
Ruby & Rust
More than just an “indoor jungle,” this tiny space has a huge personality. Houseplants, botanicals, apothecary, teas, and more.
Runner-Up: LiveTrends Boutique
best farmer’s market vendor
The Fairy’s Elderberry
Paris Bacchus is (elder)berry excited to spread some natural healing goodness in the community.
Runner-Up: Gingers Baking Co
best clothing store
Doxology
Created by two best friends with a heart for service, this bespoke shopping experience blends fashion, accessories, jewelry, books, gifts, and home decor, all in a beautiful setting with a dedicated chapel, giving you a moment to pause.
Runner-Up: Apricot Lane
Your votes matter
Thank you for participating in our inaugural readers’ choice awards! Each of these honorees illustrate the truly diverse talent and excellence within our community. A few categories were decided by just one or two votes, so we mean it when we say that every vote counted!
We are especially grateful to anyone who contributed extra votes to help us raise $4,000 for two local charities.
Lift Disability Network
Disability has a far-reaching impact — not just on the individual, but also on the family that supports them. Due to their unique challenges and limitations, disability families are more likely to experience loneliness, poverty, and helplessness.
Lift Disability Network creates opportunities for these families to connect to one another, building new support systems and a welcoming community. Throughout the year, Lift provides camps, community events and family services that elevate life for families and individuals impacted by disability.
Funds Raised: $2,000To Support: liftdisability.net
Polka Dogz Pet Rescue
Polka Dogz specializes in second chances. Its mission is to rescue senior, disabled, neglected, and abandoned dogs, which are less likely to be adopted in ordinary shelters, and provide them with shelter, medical care, and love that they may have never gotten before.
Polka Dogz is 100% donor-supported and needs both funds and donations of daily-use items such as dog food, treats, toys, and cleaning supplies. Above all else, their goal is to find forever homes for their animals, but volunteers and foster home applicants are just as vital to their success.
Funds Raised: $2,000To Support: polkadogz.org
