On Cloud Nine Gift Award Winners Share Their Joy

After a hugely exciting night at The Gift Awards on 11 May, winners were fast off the mark to celebrate and shout about their tremendous achievements.

“Totally thrilled to have won the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – London, South, South East & East Anglia award,” exclaimed Libby Holden, owner of Lovely Libby’s in Rayleigh. “I still can't believe it, we're all on cloud nine!”

Added Jo Williams, owner of Joco in Nuneaton, winner of the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Midlands & Wales category, who shed happy tears of joy on hearing that the shop had won the category: “To celebrate, we held a live window display, with people coming in to congratulate us, while volunteers sat in the window eating, drinking and playing games.”

Also sharing her delight was Karen Ritchie, owner of The Rowan Tree in Budleigh Salterton. “I'm absolutely thrilled to have won, having worked so hard for almost 20 years to make the Rowan Tree such a special and much-loved shop,” said Karen. “The trophy is sitting proudly in the main shop window and is currently creating a lot of interest.”

Also thrilled to bits was Heidi Hopkinson, owner of Serendipity in Kirkham. “Winning the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – North, Northern Ireland & Scotland category has blown us away. We will be planning events where we can celebrate, to include our next big live fashion event.”

The countdown has begun to Progressive Greetings Live, which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre on Tuesday 6 June and Wednesday 7 June. Good news for Greats 2023 winners and finalists is that they will receive a Gold ticket to spend on orders placed at the show.

Billed as ‘the greatest greeting card show in the world, big names once again include Hallmark, UK Greetings and Woodmansterne, through to favourites such as Rosie Made A Thing, Wendy Jones-Blackett and Belly Button Designs. Newbies meanwhile, will be showcasing designs in Springboard Intro.

As with previous years, meeters and greeters’ dresses, will be made completely out of cards with this year’s themes featuring Summer Brights, Green Seen & Bleu-n Away, Animal Magic, and Diversity & Inclusion.

Both visitors and exhibitors will be able to enjoy a delicious free lunch on both days of the show, along with complimentary tea and coffee and an invitation to the fabulous first-night party at the end of the opening day on Tuesday 6 June. Visit www.progressivegreetingslive.com

Thursday 29 June is the big ‘Look Out London’ day, with Cardgains’ managing director Penny Shaw hoping that some 75 people from across the gift and greetings industries will be pounding the capital’s streets in a 25-mile loop, starting and finishing in Paddington.

This year’s Challenge is setting out to raise money to help beat motor neurone disease, a cause close to the industry’s hearts following the death of industry legend David Hicks last year, founder of Really Good and Soul. All monies raised will go to the MND Association.

“Anyone can take part, you don’t have to be a Cardgains member or supplier,” explains Penny. “Our aim is to raise £25,000 – £1,000 for every mile.”

Visit www.cardgains.co.uk/charity

Above: The Cardgains Charity Challenge walk is being held on 29 June.

In the run-up to the King’s Coronation, gift indies saw commemorative keepsake memorabilia flying off the shelves.

At Mooch, which has stores in Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn, coowner Jon May concurred that the King’s Coronation provided a much-needed sales boost following Easter.

“After the success of the Jubilee, it was difficult to predict whether the Coronation would have the same hype and excitement,” added Jo Barber, owner of No. 14 Ampthill. “What started slow soon gathered pace and was a great revenue injection into what would have been a quieter month.”

As Pete Whiteman, coowner of Amore in Woodbridge, puts it: “The public are still very interested in Royal events and business for us was brisk.”

With a development strategy of organic expansion and acquisition of selected high quality brands, Gallery Direct has acquired Art Marketing, bringing together the two brands within the home interiors and outdoor market. Art Marketing will bring deeper expertise to the wall décor category, widening Gallery’s art offering through their in house artists and designers.

Nigel Waller, managing director of Art Marketing, is remaining within the Gallery business and will take on a new role as category director for wall décor.

Peter Delaney takes on a new role of sales and product director, and Michael Last, ceo of the Gallery group, will take on the responsibilities of finance, customer service, people and operations, becoming managing director of Gallery Direct.

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Michael: “Over the next few years we are set to scale and grow our business and are pleased to welcome Nigel and the Art Marketing team into the Gallery group, to help us on this journey.”