The Gift Awards 2023: The Winners

The winners of The Gift Awards 2023 –uniting The Gift of the Year Awards and The Greats Awards - were announced at a glittering event, held at London’s Royal Lancaster hotel on 11 May.

Hosted by comedian Sara Barron, the awards event was attended by some 400 guests, spanning gift retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, reps and agents, who shared in the joy as delighted winners made their way to the stage to collect their trophies.

In her welcome speech, Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association, told guests: “The 2023 Gift of the Year Awards were our largest to date with almost 1,000 entries, and over 90 industry judges lending their expertise to bring you all here this evening as worthy finalists. The result was our most diverse competition ever reflecting emerging trends, industry movements and changing customer behaviour. Never has the competition been so unpredictable, which makes this evening’s awards ceremony so exciting.”

Added Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net: “The 2023

Awards saw an unprecedented level of engagement from retailers and suppliers alike, evidenced by the wealth of nominations from the gift industry at large, as well as from the huge number of gift retailers self-nominating and putting themselves forward.”

The final award of the evening was The Greats Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by the British Allied Trades Federation (BATF), which was presented to Clare Harris, founder and managing director of Talking Tables by Louise Hadfield, head of central services. Winners of both The Greats and the Gift of the Year Awards are featured on pages 21-35. (View the party pics on pages 18-19).

The Gift Awards 2023 were enthusiastically supported by a strong roster of sponsors, with Spring Fair and Autumn Fair as headline supporter. Companies included: Aspin; Ashleigh & Burwood; Autumn Fair; Bira; Brand Licensing Europe (BLE); British Allied Trades Federation (BATF); Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Crafter’s Companion; Gift Republic; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair; Harrogate Nursery Fair; Home & Gift; HousewaresNews.net; Joe Davies; Lesser & Pavey; Life Charms; Method UK; N. Smith; Products of Change; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live; Qalara; Source Home & Gift; Sourcing Support Asia; Splatter; Spring Fair; Start Licensing; Talking Tables; The Giftware Association; Top Drawer; Trade Counter UK; Wallace & Gromit and Widdop & Co.

Multiple gift independent Brocante, winner of The Greats 2023 Best In Store or Window Display category, recently opened two new gift and lifestyle stores, to include a seventh in Cornwall – a second outlet in St Ives - and a first in Devon, located in Salcombe, bringing the total number of Brocante stores to eight. Other Brocante stores are located in Mevagissey, Fowey (x2), Charleston and Perranporth, with a visit to the store equating to “a personal shopping experience.”

Having spotted and opportunity when a former Paperchase outlet closed down in Morningside, Edinburgh, (following the multiple’s demise), Michael Apter, owner of gift and card independent Paper Tiger, wasted no time in snapping it up, adding a third gift and card shop to his retail portfolio in the city.

The new store, which opened on 12 May, features Augustus Tiger on one of its sides, created by awardwinning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner.

Established in 1981, Paper Tiger was originally part of the Studio One group of companies, with owner Michael at the helm for the past 25 years.

l Gift indie Bentleys in Stourport-on-Severn is celebrating its 70 year milestone anniversary l Fair trade brand Earth Squared has achieved B Corp certification, furthering the company’s commitment to operating its business as a means of positive change, as well as creating feelgood fashion accessories. l The Natural History Museum Collection from Blueprint Collections was crowned the winner of the Best Brand Licensed Gifting Product or Range at the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2023 (B&LLAs) held in April.

At the helm are Stephen and Julie McHale who bought the business in 2006.

Above: Bentleys is celebrating 70 years.

Below: A bag from Earth Squared.

Just seven days after winning a Greats trophy as winner of the Best Retailer Initiative category, (see page 23), Maybugs, which has stores in Bexhill-onSea, Eastbourne and Hailsham, was doubly honoured to receive the prestigious High Street Hero award at The Small Awards organised by Small Business Britain.

Greg and John were presented with their award by TV presenter Sue Perkins and Dan Welch from TSB Business Banking, the awards sponsor.

“We were gobsmacked to be recognised as the best independent high street business in the UK for all the community work we do. It’s amazing,” exclaimed Maybugs’ Greg Rose. “When we set up Maybugs six years ago we could never have dreamt of winning such an important accolade and it drives us to grow Maybugs and build on its success.”

Added co-owner Jon Dale: “We’ve always believed that we can only be successful if the towns we are in are successful too, and we will continue to keep promoting all the independents local to our stores to benefit the towns as a whole.”