Want to know who are the best gift retailers in the UK? Then look no further that the finalists line-up of The Greats 2018 gift retailing awards which have just been revealed.
The Greats Awards, now in their 16th year, were introduced by Progressive Gifts & Home magazine to recognise and reward the UK’s very best gift retailers from right across the retail spectrum.
“Our dedicated awards for gift retailers have risen immeasurably in status over the years and are now universally acknowledged as being true accolades of excellence. This year has seen some stunning entries – reaching the finals is a massive achievement in itself,” commented Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home.
As soon as the news went out at the end of last week, there were whoops of joy from gift retailers the length and breadth of the UK, delighted to discover they appeared in the line-up.
“Oh wow! This is just the best news,” proclaimed Rachel and Paul Roberts, co-owners of Mooch on St Giles Street, Northampton on hearing that their store had made it into the finals of The Greats 2018 gift retailer awards. Meanwhile Joco Interiors’ owner Jo Williams’ reaction was physical as well as vocal: “OMG yeah!!!!! I’m jumping around the office!” with Julianne Moore, owner of MiMi in saying the excitement at the Hartley Wintney shop was at “fever pitch”.
THE GREATS 2018 RETAILER FINALISTS
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year: London (Inside M25)
-The Indigo Tree, Streatham
-Indish Design Shop, Crouch End
-Maiden, Shoreditch
-Max & Melia, Clapham
-Mooch, Ealing
-The Present, Barnet
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year: Home Counties, South and East
-Alligator Pear, Tadworth
-Calliope Gifts, Alton, Dorking and Haywards Heath
-The Chocolate Frog Company, Oakhanger
-Inklings, Hungerford
-Millies of Hailsham, Hailsham
-Something Special, Edenbridge
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year: East Anglia
-Buy the Light, Bury St Edmunds
-Gifted, Norwich
-Love It, Bury St Edmunds and Stamford
-Loveone, Ipswich
-Podarok, Cambridge, London and Oxford
-Quest Gifts, Bury St Edmunds
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year: Midlands and Wales
-The Alphabet Gift Shop, Burton on Trent and Mickleover
-Daisy Chain, Stratford upon Avon
-Mooch Gifts & Home, Stourport-on-Severn
-Roobarb, Bridgnorth
-The Tutbury Present Company, Tutbury
-Uno, Mumbles
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year: North and Northern Ireland
-Belly Button Designs, Manchester and Stockport
-The Gift Gallery, York
-Imaginarium, York
-Love Letters, Anlaby
-Swags & Tails, Waltham
-Utility, Liverpool
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year: South West
-Bibi’s Home, Weymouth
-Brocante, Fowey
-Cats Whiskers, Bishops Cleeve
-Just Trio, Barnstaple
-Just Delights, Penryn
-Frame of Mind, Illminster and Wellington
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year: Scotland
-Cloudberry, Barnton and Blackhall
-The Gift, Beauly
-Keekin’ Glass, Prestwick
-Maia Gifts, Glasgow
-Paper Tiger, Edinburgh
-Pozzi, Buckie
Best Newcomer: South and Wales
-Bromley & Co, Ipswich
-Highworth Emporium, Highworth
-Josie’s, Bideford
-Little Boat Gifts, Brightlingsea
-Lulu Loves, Stubbington Green
-Strawberry Blue, Bath
-Stuff & Co., Midhurst
Best Newcomer: Midlands, North & Scotland
-The Bonny Hoose, Alnwick
-Jaine’s Gift Box, King’s Lynn
-Joco Interiors, Nuneaton
-MOOCH on St Giles Street, Northampton
-Mysa, Edinburgh
Best Specialist Multiple Gift Retailer
-Between The Lines (14 stores)
-Chickidee (6 stores)
-Huttons (5 stores)
-Oliver Bonas (70 stores)
-Smart Ideas (8 stores)
-Vinegar Hill (11 stores)
Best Department Store Retailer of Gifts
-Barkers Home, Northallerton
-Fenwick Bracknell, Bracknell
-Jarrolds, Norwich
-John Lewis, Oxford Street
-Liberty, London
-Strickland & Holt, Yarm
Best Non-Specialist Retailer of Gifts
-The Barn At The Hollies, Little Budworth
-Bookends, Christchurch
-France Iles Gallery, Rochester
-Luxe Cookshop, Northampton
-PennyClares, Newholme
-Ruby & Scarlet, Felixstowe
Best Lifestyle or Homewares Retailer of Gifts
-Etcetera, Hitchin
-Graham & Green, Bath and London
-Love Thy Interiors, Thirsk
-The Old School Beauly, Beauly
-Orange Tree, Topsham
-Robert & Ruby, Pockley
Best Gift Retailer of Jewellery & Fashion Accessories
-Azure, Sidmouth
-Feathering Your Nest, Rayleigh
-The Herbary, Troon
-MiMi, Hartley Wintney
-Pozzi, Buckie
-Soukous, Bristol
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Gifts
-Cannon Hall Garden Centre, Cawthorne
-Caulders, Kirkintilloch
-Frosts Group
-Hawley Garden Centre, Hawley
-Ransoms Garden Centre, St Martin
-Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock, Whitchurch and Woodborough
Best Museum or Visitor Attraction Gift Shop
-The Eden Project, Bodelva
-Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover
-National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
-National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas
-Rheged Centre, Cumbria
-ZSL London Zoo & ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Best In0Store of Window Display
-John Lewis, Oxford Street
-Just Delights, Penryn
-The Merchants House, Marlborough
-Peppertrees, Northampton
-The Pump Room, Bath
-The Shop At The Emporium, Clitheroe
Beat Online or Mail Order Gift Retailer
-Find Me A Gift
-Oklahoma
-Oliver Bonas
-Prezzybox
-rigby and mac
-ZSL London Zoo & ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Best Retail Initiative
-Alligator Pear, Tadworth: for its Mother’s Day and Father’s Day promotions
-Dragonfly Cards & Gifts, Knaresborough: for its Design A Beanie Boo competition in conjunction with Ty
-The Herbary, Troon: for its Gok Wan DreamSpace collaboration
-The Hollies, Little Budworth: for its Monty the Mini initiative
-Lulu Loves, Stubbington: for its Hygge Weekend initiative
-Womacks of Bawtry, Bawtry: for its Christmas initiative
Retail Employee of the Year 2018
-Mark Alexander, retail manager, National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas
-Peter de la Mare, store manager, England at Home, Brighton
-Lucy Hamblin, operations manager, Forget Me Not and Lulu Loves, Stubbington
-Monica Leeder, sales, In Time Studios, Hazlemere
-Liana Moran, visual merchandiser, Cloudberry, Barnton and Blackhall
-Angie Pipe, assistant manager, Alligator Pear, Tadworth
All of The Greats retailer finalists were decided as a result of an industrywide poll of gift suppliers, reps, agents as well as self-nominations from the retailers.
The 2018 winners will be revealed at a glittering, glamorous, ‘Greats’ Gatsby’ event on Thursday May 17 in the Ballroom of the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane,
For tickets contact Clare Davies of Createvents on clare@createvents.co.uk or ring 01183 340085.
