The Retas Finalists 2023

Van Gogh Museum celebrates

The Van Gogh Museum celebrates its 50th birthday in 2023. With over 200 paintings, close to 500 drawings and more than 700 letters, the Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh anywhere in the world. The Van Gogh Museum has been inspiring countless devotees with the life and work of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries for over 50 years. All of our products are developed with Vincent van Gogh’s heritage in mind and every purchase contributes to maintaining the Van Gogh Museum activities, during our anniversary celebrations and beyond.

Van Gogh Museum

Welcome to

The Retas

We make no apologies that we are really ‘Gogh-ing’ for it on the Van Gogh theme for this year’s Retas, chosen to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Just as quite rightly there is a whole programme of events underway to celebrate one of the world’s best known and most loved artists, so The Retas 2023 puts those who have excelled in the true artistry of greeting card retailing in the frame for a rightful fanfare.

Vincent van Gogh wrote regularly to his younger brother Theo, an art dealer, in which his letters revealed his mission to create an emotional connection with his art. In July 1882 he wrote: “I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say, ‘he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.” It is now exactly 141 years since Vincent wrote that letter, but it is the same mission that greeting card retailers achieve each and every day with the greeting card selection they curate and offer their customers. They, together with greeting card publishers, are continuing Van Gogh’s legacy - creativity powered by emotion and no mistake.

When we think of Van Gogh, we probably think of his iconic painting Sunflowers but just like a retailer’s approach, this represents just one period in his creative evolution. The super bright hues being a far cry from the traditional style and darker tones of his early works, such as The Potato Eaters. And it is a similar embracing of evolution that has kept today’s Retas finalists and indeed the greeting cards that they stock in tune with consumer tastes…just think of the vivid colours peppering the card displays today!

It is rather sad that in Van Gogh’s short but so productive lifetime he sold so few paintings and made little money. If only he had been able to strike a licensing deal with a greeting card publisher back then, just as the Museum now has with Danilo and Origamo, that were sold in Retas’ finalists stores, his fortunes may have been different!

As Vincent wrote to his sister Willemien in 1888: “I believe that at present we must paint nature’s rich and magnificent aspects; we need good cheer and happiness, hope and love.”

Let’s all drink to that, but best to stick to wine as absinthe has been known to have unfortunate consequences!

We do hope you all have a marvellous time.

The Retas te

Jakki Brown,

Hugs of Thks

We are ever truly grateful to all The Retas sponsors. In addition, as with paintings, it is those finishing touches that make it into a masterpiece. A big thanks to those who have added the finishing touches to this year’s Retas event. They include The Art File for designing the wonderful keepsake invitation, Loxleys for printing them so beautifully on board donated by Fedrigoni Paper as well as Origamo for the lovely 3D placecards, Danilo for the menu cards and Blueprint for the pens, and of course the Van Gogh Museum and its London-based licensing agent Licensing Link for being so accommodating with our requests for imagery and approval to use it.

The Retas are annual awards for UK greeting card retailers. They were introduced and wholly owned by Max Publishing, publisher of Progressive Greetings Worldwide, PG Buzz.net, The Henries greeting card awards, Progressive Gifts and Home, The Greats gift retailer awards, Licensing Source Book, LicensingSource.net, The Licensing Awards, The Brand and Lifestyle Licensing Awards, Progressive Housewares, Excellence in Housewares Awards, Progressive Preschool, Progressive Preschool Awards and Progressive Party.

Warren Lomax, Clare Hollick and Mark Grayson

Below: Jakki Brown (front) with Warren Lomax (right) and colleagues Tracey Bearton and Jium Bullough at last year’s Mary Poppins’ themed Retas event.

of Giving The Artistry

Where your money will go

Every single penny from today’s raffle will go to The Light Fund, our industrywide registered charity, with half of the monies going to Motor Set up in 2004, since its inception, The Light Fund has now raised over £2 million and funded well over 200 charity projects helping men, women and children less fortunate than ourselves, all over the world.

Tracking Vincent

Kindly donated by GBCC

You can follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps with £300 of Eurostar vouchers to take you to Paris or Amsterdam, or Lille for that matter!

Blooming Great

Kindly donated by Pigment

Van Gogh was known for his love of painting flowers, and now you can fill your home with fresh blooms with flowers with £250 to spend with Appleyard Florist.

Artistic Impressions

Kindly donated by Ohh Deer

Feel inspired by a stay at any of the wonderful Artist Residence boutique hotels, with a £250 voucher, then create your own masterpieces with an Artful: Art School in a Box which includes all you need to be the next Van Gogh!

Raffle Tickets

6 for £20

3 for £10

Gogh For It

Kindly donated by The Art File

Create your own sense of style, just like Vincent did, with £300 to spend at Anthropologie on straw hats, delectable clothes and homewares.

Palette Pleasers

Kindly donated by UK Greetings

Vincent’s penchant was for bread, potatoes and absinthe, but you can give your taste buds a real treat by enjoying the gastronomic delights of any of The Ivy Group restaurants with a £250 voucher to savour with friends, family and lovers.

Scent With Love

Kindly donated by Belly Button Designs

You can not only join the Jo Loves’ Scent Artist Club, but also have £250 to spend on the wonderful perfumes and home fragranced collections from the company created by Jo Malone MBE.

Starry Night

Kindly donated by Rosie Made a Thing

A stay at any of the eight delectable boutique hotels in The Pig Group with a £250 voucher to use as you wish. Whether you fancy frolicking by the sea, relishing the rural delights or lapping up city culture, you can enjoy choosing between these wonderful establishments, also revered for their culinary delights.

Sunflowers and Irises Galore

Kindly donated by Abacus

Art Of The Matter

Kindly donated by Woodmansterne

See your garden as a blank canvas and you can fill it with colour and interest with £250 of National Garden Centre vouchers to spend at any of the 14,000 UK garden centres and nurseries.

In’spa’-ration and Relaxation

Kindly donated by Carte Blanche Greetings

Let the pressures of life melt away, with a relaxing and luxurious spa getaway with a £250 Spabreaks.com voucher to spend at any of the 700 spa destinations in the UK and overseas.

Teatime Treats

Kindly donated by Hallmark

A luxury keepsake wicker hamper filled to the brim with Betty’s delights from champagne to Florentines, Yorkshire gingerbread to fine wine – and of course Betty’s tearoom tea!

Deciphering art is equally as tricky as being a real codebreaker. Well, here’s your chance to explore Bletchley Park, the once top-secret home of the WWII Codebreakers as well as a stayover at the famous Villiers Hotel, a lovely former coaching inn.

Ear Ear

Kindly donated by AfroTouch Design

You can ‘Gogh’ to Moulin Rouge or any of the latest theatrical productions, treat yourself a Van Morrison concert or any fave sports event with £250 of Ticketmaster vouchers to spend as you wish.

Absinthe Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Kindly donated by Lucilla Lavender

You can top up your wine racks, fill up your drinks cabinet and shake up your cocktail menu with £250 of Majestic Wine vouchers to spend on whatever tipples take your fancy.

London

(inside the M25)

CRITERIA: Open to all independent retailers in London (inside the M25) which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

to all of this year’s RETAS finalists

East Anglia

Sincerely

CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in East Anglia which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

Abigail’s Cards & Gifts and Just Cards, Norwich and Dereham Cards ‘n’ Things Norwich

LoveOne Ipswich

The Card Centre Felixstowe

Yours Hornchurch and Shenfield

The Eel Catcher’s Daughter Ely

THE 2023 FINALISTS

CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in Wales which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

The Celtic Company Welshpool

Creative Cove Lampeter Halls Llanduff

Charlton Cards Tenby

Daisy Daisy Llanishen

THE 2023 FINALISTS

The Midlands

CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in the Midlands which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Austin & Co

Malvern

Bentleys and Maddison

Birmingham, Harborne, Solihull and Stourport-on-Severn

Hugs & Kisses

Tettenhall

Set Design

Leicester

Something Special Kingswinford

Wishes & Kisses

Boldmere and Solihull

Good Luck

to this years Retas finalists!

Proudly sponsoring

North West England

and Northern Ireland

Celebrations

Bus

&

Reflections

Wishes

CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in the North West and Northern Ireland which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

Bailey’s Ainsdale, Crosby and Maghull

Carlisle

Nantwich and Rugeley

Stop Cards

Gifts Castlederg

The Gift Box Hoole

of Cockermouth Cockermouth

THE 2023 FINALISTS

CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in Scotland which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

Gibsons Haddington

JP Pozzi and Bijou Buckie and Elgin

Pencil Me In Elgin

The Gift Boutique Fraserburgh

Paper Tiger Edinburgh

Penny Black Glasgow

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Best Greeting Card Newcomer

CRITERIA: Open to a new independent greeting card stockist that has opened in the UK since January 2020. The shop does not have to be a greeting card specialist, but needs to have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum, including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

The Beverley Card Company Beverley

Dolly Daydream Presteigne

Cards & Moor Yelverton

Jelly Armchair Cheltenham

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Best Non-Specialist

Independent Retailer of

Greeting Cards – North

CRITERIA: Open to independent shops for whom greeting cards are not their primary product area based in the North of the UK (excluding bookshops and independent garden centres) eg gift shops, sub post offices, children’s shops, gallery shops. The shop does not have to have a dedicated greeting card department, but needs to have shown a commitment to the sector over the last year including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Archerfield Walled Garden Dirleton

Mooch Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn

Nest, Broughton Astley, Stoneygate, Thurlaston

Stationery Supplies

Marple and Wilmslow

Utility Liverpool and Manchester

The Hollies Little Budworth and Lower Stretton

Independent Retailer of

Best Non-Specialist Greeting Cards – South

CRITERIA: Open to independent shops for whom greeting cards are not their primary product area based in the South of the UK (excluding bookshops and independent garden centres) eg gift shops, sub post offices, children’s shops, gallery shops. The shop does not have to have a dedicated greeting card department, but needs to have shown a commitment to the sector over the last year including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

THE 2023 FINALISTS

No.14

The Bay Tree Home & Gift Devizes and Marlborough

Lark London and Woking

Natsons Barnes

Dart’s Farm Topsham

MiMi Hartley Wintney and Wokingham

Ampthill Ampthill

Best Non-Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards

CRITERIA: Open to all retail groups (with 20+ branches) for whom greeting cards are not their primary product area (excluding department stores and garden centre groups) eg varietal stores, fashion outlets, lifestyle chains, bookshop groups. The contenders do not have to have a dedicated greeting card department, but needs to have shown a commitment to the sector over the last year including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

Marks & Spencer

Oliver Bonas

Waterstones

National Trust

The Range WHSmith

Garsons

Best Garden Centre Cards – Independent Retailer of Greeting

Burford Garden Centre Burford

The Grange Garden Centre Melton Mowbray

Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative

CRITERIA: Open to all retailers of greeting cards for a specific development or initiative that has been instigated since 15 April 2022.

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Austin & Co, Malvern for its Nessa's Christmas Dog Food Drive

Expressions, Swindon for its Scouts Post engagement

House of Cards, Home Counties, for its Thinking of You Week activities

Milford Cards & Gifts, for its Turkey Earthquake Appeal activity

Nickery Nook, Bedale for its upcycling cards programme

Stationery Supplies, Marple and Wilmslow for its Festive Friday Design a Christmas Card Competition

BY

Swagger Gifts, Chipping Sodbury, for raising funds for the Turkey & Syria Earthquake appeal selling Charity Goody Bags.

Van Gogh Museum

Greeting Card Retailer Of The Year

CRITERIA: All winners of all the other retailer categories are contenders for this very prestigious award, as such no finalists are featured as that would give away the other category winners! Suffice to say that the winner of this award will have gone above and beyond in their greeting card retailing over the last year.

Above: House of Cards’ co-owners (second left) Miles Robinson and Nigel Williamson collected the trophy from

(far right) Ged Mace, managing director of The Art File at The Retas 2022 and host Sara Barron.

T: 0207 700 6740 WWW.THERETASAWARDS.CO.UK

PROGRAMME EXQUISITELY PRINTED BY METHODUK SUPPORTERS OF THE RETAS

T: MATTHEW PAYNE ON 020 7691 0921 WWW.THISISMETHOD.CO.UK www.vangoghmuseum.nl

The Retas are owned and organised by Max Publishing. This year’s event takes on a Van Gogh theme to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The Museum has kindly granted the use of the Van Gogh imagery for the event.