Damian Borg, who founded Scrub by Damian in 2021 when he was just 13 years old and counts autism and ADHD as his superpowers, has been crowned 2024 Junior Small Business Champion Entrepreneur at the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
Based in Mount Vernon, Borg’s small business is called Scrub by Damian.
The Scrub by Damian range includes eco-friendly and preservative-free indulgent scrubs, bath salts, shower steamers, room sprays, loofah soaps and bath oils. Borg founded his small business after seeing the success of his younger sister’s small business and sells his products at local markets and online.
Announced winner at the Awards’ National Presentation Evening Gala Event on April 13 at Sydney’s The Star, Borg received a customized statuette trophy and certificate and gained invaluable kudos as a nationally recognized small business leader.
Crediting his mother, Leanne, for helping his small business reach such success, Borg, who is now 15 years old and gearing up for the HSC, said he aspires to be an advocate for neurodivergent teens.
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards is the only recognition awards program that celebrates the achievements and considerable economic, social and cultural contributions of today’s 2.5 million small business operators from right across the country. The Awards specifically highlight the finest of Australia’s small businesses in the retail, services, and manufacturing industries.
This year marks the 26th consecutive year of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards and its most successful year to date, with more entries received this year than any year prior.
“This year’s Awards saw more than 5,500 small business submissions from cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns in every Australian state and territory,” said Steve Loe, awards founder and managing director of Precedent Productions, which coordinates the Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
“The judges simply could not look past the entrepreneurial prowess of Damian Borg. Damian is the epitome of a Junior Entrepreneur. His business is booming, and he seems to have an excellent grasp on how to manage a healthy work-life balance.
“Operating a small business today requires steadfast commitment, leadership, savviness, creativity, people skills, vision, social consciousness and a spirited drive – all elements of success that our independent judging panel pinpointed as among the key reasons for their selections of this year’s Champions.
“I am blown away by the growth of this program and its intensifying spotlight on the most deserving small business operators, who valiantly serve their communities and encourage us all to strive for success with ample drive, determination and fortitude,” Loe said.
Hosted by popular Nine presenter and journalist Jayne Azzopardi, this year’s National Presentation Gala featured star-studded entertainment fitting to the Champion Awards’ biggest year in more than a quarter of a century. Dami Im, Harrison Craig, Johnny Manuel and Stefanie Jones were among the red-carpet event’s headline stage acts.
The Awards were supported by Presenting Partner the Commonwealth Bank, and Major Partners Nine Ad Manager, NOVA Employment, Castaway Forecasting, Big Clean, Xcllusive Business Sales and Boa.
For more information – including a full list of 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Award winners – visit businesschampions.com.au.
