The Retas Awards winners celebrate picking up prestigious trophies
It’s not every morning you get to wake up with Reta but Creative Cove’s Sandra Jervis embodied the joy of all 2023 Retas Awards winners when she posted her morning-after selfie from her hotel room.
“After an extremely late night out in Soho,” Sandra told PG Buzz, “Reta and I had a lie in, a leisurely breakfast and worked out our plans for the day before making our journey home to Wales.”
And it was a thoroughly enjoyable morning after the fabulous ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Thursday afternoon, 6 July, when host and comedian Jake Lambert kept the 400 guests laughing as the best greeting card retailers were honoured.
Sandra picked up the first-ever Best Greeting Card Retailer Wales trophy for her Creative Cove store in Lampeter, and she added: “I am so unbelievably honoured to have won it for Wales! I was an absolute bag of nerves and unsuccessfully holding back the tears before it had even got to my category!
“That emotion hasn’t left, I’m still overwhelmed and overjoyed, it’s one of my proudest moments as, being recognised by people who love the same thing as you and champion those same values, there isn’t a feeling like it. The pure emotional release when it was announced, because no matter what, you always hope but fear is greater – let’s just say the tears took a while to stop!
“I had an absolute blast, everyone did. It’s such a wonderful time spent together, we all really take something from it. Thank you so much for your vision and passion and enabling us to share in it.
“After breakfast, Reta had a fabulous day out. We walked around the Olympic Park (like a true champion!), went for ice cream (she particularly liked the lemon flavour) before hopping on the train to start the journey home!”
For Diverse in Brixton, owner Anita Thorpe was poorly so handed over Retas duties to sales assistant Amina Abdallah. who definitely won the prize for the most enthusiastic award recipient as she stepped up to collect the day’s first trophy.
“It was disappointing not to be there,” Anita said, “but so exciting to have won. I couldn’t believe it when Amina called me, she’s a bundle of fun!
“We’re so thrilled to have won Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer London. When I received the call as I was ill in bed, I couldn’t quite believe it. I just kept saying ‘We won? We won?’ Recovery swiftly followed!
“I’d like to thank the judges and, also, all the amazing card brands that supply us with a never-ending stream of innovative and creative cards that keep our customers coming back. This is as much their award as ours.”
Reta also got to have some adventures on her way home with Julianne Moore, owner and director of MiMi Hartley Wintney, and sales manager Sarah Connor, who collected the Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer Of Greeting Cards South award.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you – Sarah and I had the best day,” Julianne told PG Buzz, “Our table companions were lovely, our chat with Dan Mayhew from Spring Fair was great, food was delicious and to win on top was the best feeling.
“When we heard our name called we all on table 33 shrieked with excitement and happiness – it was fabulous to share the joy with strangers that have become friends.
“Our trophy’s journey home was eventful and it is now ensconced in our window in Hartley Wintney with our invite, brochure, etc.”
For Donna Stocks it was her first Retas outing having run The Beverley Card Company singlehandedly since opening in 2020, and the store relocated within the Yorkshire town earlier this year, earning her the Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer for those who have opened a new store since 2020.
Donna beamed: “I didn’t in my wildest dreams expect to win a trophy on my first visit to the Retas, being part of such a prestigious event was enough.I was in complete shock when It was announced I was the winner of my category . I think my beaming smile on the photos with my cherished trophy said it all.
“This makes all my efforts worthwhile, I love what I do and I’m passionate about my business, it’s not been an easy ride with Covid hitting three times in my first year but I took the plunge and expanded now and I’ve never looked back. Congratulations to all the businesses and independents involved.”
“We came with no expectations of winning, although there is always a little hope in your heart that it might be you!” so said Heather Middleton, who runs Bazaar in Barnstaple. “The whole afternoon was magical and we thoroughly enjoyed it, the atmosphere was amazing.
“When the finalists in the Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer South West category were announced a cheer went up around the room. As the winner was revealed I looked at my husband Phil in sheer disbelief as a massive rush of adrenaline and emotion sprang us to our feet to receive our trophy.
“This award means everything to our family at Bazaar. A huge thank you to our card suppliers and customers for their loyal support. Thank you to everyone at Progressive Greetings, and Rosie Harrison of Rosie Made A Thing for sponsoring our category.”
Top of the pops on the day was Postmark as owners Mark and Leona Janson-Smith took both the Best Greeting Card Small Multiple award and the prestigious overall Greeting Card Retailer Of The Year following the doubling of its estate to 15 stores in the past few months.
“We’re still buzzing,” Leona exclaimed. “What a day! After such an intense six months we are absolutely thrilled to have been named as winners. This really is for the whole team, who have dug in and helped us pull off something we, at times, didn’t think we were going to achieve.
“We’ve also been very lucky to have the full support of our partners at Cardzone and from suppliers across the industry.
“We have had loads of lovely feedback from everyone on social media and my mum loved all the pics!”
And Cardzone buyers Jo Allen and Sally Wyles were called to the stage to collect the Best Specialist Multiple Retailer Of Greeting Cards trophy and, from his holiday sunbed, trading director James Taylor said: “We were delighted and pleasantly surprised to win an award which we’re excited to share with the business for everyone’s hard work! Sally and Jo looked to have had an amazing day, the pictures are lovely!
“We’re also really pleased for Postmark on winning two awards, the main one being retailer of the year – hopefully that’s some amazing publicity for both brands with our widened supply network now. “We’ve had some lovely messages from suppliers and, of course, will ensure we don’t miss our next year.”
The full list of The Retas Awards 2023 winners can be found here, and more comments from the happy trophy holders will be featured on the next PG Buzz. All the photos from the day’s festivities can be found and downloaded here.
Top: Cheers to Reta! All Thursday’s winners had a wonderful day
