The Retas Finalists 2023

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#retas23

© Van Gogh Museum

Thursday 6 July 2023 Grosvenor House Hotel Park Lane, Mayfair London W1K 7TN

www.theretasards.co.uk

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© Van Gogh Museum

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.

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

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.

V

incent 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 We are ever truly grateful to all The Retas sponsors. In addition, as with paintings, it is wine as absinthe has been known to have those finishing touches that make it into a unfortunate consequences! masterpiece. A big thanks to those who have added the finishing touches to this year’s Retas We do hope you all have a marvellous time.

Hugs of Thks

The Retas te © Van Gogh Museum

Jakki Brown, Warren Lomax, Clare Hollick and Mark Grayson

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. le shortly after the event on The Retas website.

Photos of The Retas 2023 awards will be availab

www.theretasawards.co.uk/media

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The Artistry of Giving 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 Neurone Disease Association.

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

Gogh For It

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!

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

Blooming Great

Kindly donated by UK Greetings

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!

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Raffle Tickets 6 for £20 3 for £10

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.

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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.

Art Of The Matter Sunflowers and Irises Galore

Kindly donated by Woodmansterne

Kindly donated by Abacus

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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Congratulations to all the finalists!

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Diverse Brixton

Earlybird Designs Stoke Newington

Gift Crouch End

Medici Gallery Kensington

Mooch Ealing and Fulham

Snap Bow

SPONSORED BY

07

+44 (0) 800 9020900

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

Home Counties and South East CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in the Home Counties and South East 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

Cards 4 Occasions Hayling Island

© Van Gogh Museum

Maddy Moos Totton

Joyce’s Best Wishes Lingfield

Objectables Folkestone

Threads Harpenden

Red Card Petworth

Zest Crowborough

SPONSORED BY

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& to all of this year’s RETAS finalists

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – East Anglia www.abacuscards.co.uk |

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Tel: 01638 569050 |

Email: info@abacuscards.co.uk

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

East Anglia 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Abigail’s Cards & Gifts and Just Cards, Norwich and Dereham

The Card Centre Felixstowe

Cards ‘n’ Things Norwich

The Eel Catcher’s Daughter Ely

LoveOne Ipswich

Sincerely Yours Hornchurch and Shenfield

SPONSORED BY

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You’re all

winners to us

www.rosiemadeathing.co.uk | 0116 4062000 | office@rosiemadeathing.co.uk

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

South West CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in South West 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Bazaar Barnstaple

The Card Collection Bath and Salisbury

Kingfisher Cards & Gifts Sidmouth

PaperGangsta Bristol

Stationery House & Gifts Clevedon and Somerton

Tickles & Co Wimborne

SPONSORED BY

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS LIVE BRINGS PUBLISHERS AND RETAILERS TOGETHER

JUMPING FOR JOY FOR ALL THE RETAS FINALISTS - WE LOVE YOU ALL! PG Live is delighted to sponsor

THE RETAS

Thank you to everyone who was a part of PG Live 2023 Looking forward to next year’s show already…

Tuesday 4 June and Wednesday 5 June

PG LIVE 2024 Tuesday 4 – Wednesday 5 June Business Design Centre, London +44 (0) 7734 111633 www.progressivegreetingslive.com @PGLiveLondon #pglive2024

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

Wales 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

The Celtic Company Welshpool

Charlton Cards Tenby

Creative Cove Lampeter

Daisy Daisy Llanishen

Halls Llanduff

SPONSORED BY

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

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.

© Van Gogh Museum

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

SPONSORED BY

17

Good Luck

to this years Retas finalists!

Proudly sponsoring

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

North West England and Northern Ireland 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Bailey’s Ainsdale, Crosby and Maghull

Bus Stop Cards & Gifts Castlederg

Celebrations Carlisle

The Gift Box Hoole

Reflections Nantwich and Rugeley

Wishes of Cockermouth Cockermouth

SPONSORED BY

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

North East England CRITERIA: Open to all independent greeting card retail stockists in the North East 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Artichoke Tynemouth

Cards & Gifts Dronfield

Castle Cards Barnard Castle

Design@Six Wetherby

Serendipity Newcastle

Thinking of You Denby Dale

SPONSORED BY

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BEST INDEPENDENT GREETING CARD RETAILER

Scotland 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Gibsons Haddington

The Gift Boutique Fraserburgh

JP Pozzi and Bijou Buckie and Elgin

Paper Tiger Edinburgh

Pencil Me In Elgin

Penny Black Glasgow

SPONSORED BY

23

is proud to sponsor BEST GREETING CARD RETAILER - NEWCOMER

bestluck! of

to all the

Finalists with love from

To find out more about our wide variety of gifts, plush and card collections please call us on 01243 792600 or email info@cbg.co.uk cbg.co.uk

www.cbgtrader.co.uk

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@CarteBlancheGrp (Cyan) (Magenta) (Yellow) (BlacK)

@CarteBlancheGrp 21/06/2023 14:23

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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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

The Beverley Card Company Beverley

Cards & Moor Yelverton

Dolly Daydream Presteigne

Jelly Armchair Cheltenham

Occasions Jersey

SPONSORED BY

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Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards CRITERIA: Open to independent bookshops (1-4 branches). The shop does not have to have a dedicated greeting card department, but needs to have shown a commitment to the sector including greeting card selection, product knowledge, customer service, retail environment and marketing.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

The Barnes Bookshop Barnes

Bookends Christchurch

Chorleywood Bookshop Chorleywood

The Guisborough Bookshop Guisborough

The Hedgehog Bookshop Penrith

Regency Bookshop Surbiton

SPONSORED BY

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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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Archerfield Walled Garden Dirleton

The Hollies Little Budworth and Lower Stretton

Mooch Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn

Nest, Broughton Astley, Stoneygate, Thurlaston

Stationery Supplies Marple and Wilmslow

Utility Liverpool and Manchester

SPONSORED BY

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S H A K E YO U R T I T S , i t ’ s t h e RETA’ S !

© 2023 Lucia Heffernan. All rights reserved.

G O OD LUC K fr o m e v e r y o n e a t

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Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

The Bay Tree Home & Gift Devizes and Marlborough

Dart’s Farm Topsham

Lark London and Woking

MiMi Hartley Wintney and Wokingham

Natsons Barnes

No.14 Ampthill Ampthill

SPONSORED BY

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Best Greeting Card Small Multiple (5-20 stores) CRITERIA: Greeting card retailers with four or more stores, excluding department stores, which 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

3 Wishes five stores in the south

Between the Lines 17 stores in the south

Henry & Co nine stores in the Midlands

House of Cards seven stores in the Home Counties

Postmark, 14 stores in London, Birmingham and Glasgow

Temptations seven stores in the Home Counties

SPONSORED BY

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Featuring

Be a part of the UK’s largest collection of greetings publishers, stationery, celebrations and gift wrap suppliers under one roof.

Scan to find out how

autumnfair.com

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Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards CRITERIA: Open to an individual independent department store, specific branch or a department store chain which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including range of greeting cards stocked, product knowledge, customer service offered, shop environment created, marketing, display and competitive edge.

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Atkinsons Sheffield

© Van Gogh Museum

Daniels Windsor

Barkers of Northallerton Northallerton

Elphicks Farnham

Morleys Group eight stores in the south

SPONSORED BY

John Lewis & Partners

Selfridges

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www.danilo.com published by

www.danilo.com

© 2023 Paramount Picture. All Rights Reserved. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and all related titles logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

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Best Supermarket Retailer of Greeting Cards CRITERIA: Open to supermarket retailers which have shown excellence in all areas across the retail spectrum over the last year, including range of greeting cards stocked, product knowledge, customer service offered, shop environment created, marketing, display and competitive edge.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Asda

Booths

Morrisons

Sainsbury’s

Tesco

Waitrose & Partners

SPONSORED BY

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to all The Retas finalists from

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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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Marks & Spencer

National Trust

Oliver Bonas

The Range

Waterstones

WHSmith

SPONSORED BY

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Best Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards CRITERIA: Open to all greeting card retailer groups or chains which 20 or more branches. They need to 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Card Factory

Cards Direct

Cards Galore

Cardzone

Clintons

Scribbler

SPONSORED BY

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Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards – Independent CRITERIA: Open to all independent garden centre retailers with 1-4 branches that have shown a commitment to the sector 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.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Bents Warrington

Burford Garden Centre Burford

Garsons Esher and Titchfield

The Grange Garden Centre Melton Mowbray

Highfield Garden World Whitminster

Stewarts, Broomhill, Christchurch and Titchfield

SPONSORED BY

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Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards – Multiple CRITERIA: Open to all garden centre retailers with five or more branches that have shown a commitment to the sector through the range of greeting cards stocked, product knowledge, customer service offered, shop environment created, marketing and display.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Blue Diamond 40+ centres nationwide

Haskins five centres in the south

Longacres five centres in the south

Klondyke/Strikes 22 centres across the UK

Notcutts 19 centres across the UK

RHS five centres across the UK

SPONSORED BY

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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

© Van Gogh Museum

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

Expressions, Swindon for its Scouts Post engagement

Milford Cards & Gifts, for its Turkey Earthquake Appeal activity

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

SPONSORED BY

Nickery Nook, Bedale for its upcycling cards programme

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

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Best Greeting Card Wholesaler CRITERIA: Open to all wholesalers with any number of branches for whom greeting cards are a significant part of their offer. Retailers and wholesale publishers were asked to nominate which wholesalers they felt had excelled on the service level, breadth of product offered and the marketing over the last year.

© Van Gogh Museum

THE 2023 FINALISTS

Archway Cards Norwich

Budget Greeting Cards Wholesale nine branches nationwide

CAPS Bury

Crosswear Trading Enfield

Greetings House Walsall

Jackson’s Sheffield

SPONSORED BY

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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.

THE 2023 FINALISTS

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.

© Van Gogh Museum

2022 – House of Cards 2021 – Cardzone 2019 – Blue Diamond 2018 – Paperchase 2017 – Postmark, London 2016 – Waterstones 2015 – 3 Wishes 2014 – M&P Cards 2013 – Paperchase

2012 – Mayther 2011 – Bijou, Buckie 2010 – Penmark 2009 – Celebrations, Carlisle 2008 – Scribbler 2007 – House of Cards 2006 – Papyrus, Glasgow 2005 – Celebrations, Carlisle

But which retailer will clinch this top Retas title for 2023?

SPONSORED BY

Retas 2023 outside Cover section & IFC_GF .qxp_Layout 1 28/06/2023 11:56 Page 1

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

© Van Gogh Museum

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.

www.vangoghmuseum.nl

@vangoghmuseum

@vangoghmuseum

@VanGoghMuseum

@VanGoghMuseum