Publishers make grade in 8 of 19 Gift Of The Year categories after live judging
Four intense days of live judging have culminated in today’s exciting announcement of the finalists for the Gift Of The Year 2023 – with greetings publishers making the grade in no less than eight of the 19 categories.
All the judges’ votes over Spring Fair last week have been counted by awards organiser The Giftware Association to reveal which six products are official finalists for each category, with the winners and highly commended products to be announced at The Gift Awards, alongside The Greats gift retailer awards, on 11 May, 2023.
Among the hopefuls will be publisher Go La La! which has expanded into gift products and made the finals with three different ones in Beauty, Bath & Spa, Ethical & Sustainable and Home Fragrance, while Cardology is in Branded Gift, Little Green Paper Shop has two products in the Cards, Wrap & Stationery list, alongside Crumble & Core and Wendy Bell Designs, Nicole Elders is in Home & Garden, and Letterbox Love is in both the Contemporary Gift and Under £15 categories. The full list of finalists is below or can be viewed here.
A record-breaking total of 60 judges from across the gift and greetings industry made their way to The GOTY display at Birmingham’s NEC, along with many visitors taking advantage of the display to check out new products.
The GA’s pr and marketing manager Chris Workman said: “It was great to be back at Spring Fair to live judge again and for longer, allowing more judges to complete their in-person judging which we know is so important – it was a record for any of our live judging days.
“It attracted a great deal of attention to the area of non-judges who were looking for great products, so we hope businesses who were exhibiting got traffic from our stand as well as those non-exhibitors still getting interest and follow ups.
“Being able to hold the judging during Spring Fair makes perfect sense for the future and, speaking to judges on the day, we found this was a great time for them to buy from the competition and go meet the companies behind the products.”
For the second year running, the lavish 11 May awards ceremony at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel will bring together The GA’s GOTY and The Greats gift retailer awards organised and owned by Max Publishing, publishers of Progressive Greetings magazine, where both gift product excellence and retail prowess will be recognised and rewarded.
In addition, Gift Of The Year finalists are also in with a chance of winning the coveted Judges Choice award, previously won by greetings publisher Go La La!, Ginko and Willsow.
Sarah Ward, ceo of The GA, added: “We are delighted that Gift Of The Year 2023 has been so well supported by the whole gift community, from Hyve Group’s commitment as headline sponsor to our strong roster of category sponsors, in addition to the widespread engagement from the suppliers who entered, and the great care and attention to detail from our enthusiastic judges. I can’t wait for everyone to celebrate together at The Gift Awards on May 11!”
Once again, The Gift of the Year awards will also be announcing the People’s Choice award which is judged by the general public, enabling everyone to vote for their favourite product across all of the Gift of the Year categories.
This year, The Giftware Association has opened it up to all shortlisted products again and hopes it will be its biggest year yet, so there is still an opportunity for a shortlisted company to get through to become the third ever People’s Choice winner – the 2022 trophy went to Cardology for its Battersea Cats & Dogs Home Pop Up Card Collection, and the company is in with a chance again with its Peter Rabbit range.
To find out more about The Gift Awards click here, tickets and tables for the awards event on 11 May can be booked via the Max Publishing digital box office here or by contacting event organiser clare@createvents.co.uk or 0118 334 0085.
Gift Of The Year 2023 finalists
Beauty, Bath & Spa
Bath Time Candles by Cotton & Grey
BrambleWood Handmade Soaps by Bramblewood Soap Co
County Collection Candles by Home County Co
Eau Lovely by Enesco
Filthy Gorgeous Box Sets by Go La La!
Morphee by Whitestep
Branded Gift
Build Your Own Wallace & Gromit Rocket by Build Your Own Kits
Disney Home by Widdop And Co
Emma Bridgewater Brighter World by Elite
M&S Colin & Percy Baking Kits In A Bottle by The Bottled Baking Co
Peter Rabbit Pop Up Card Collection by Cardology
V&A Bookaroo Collection by If
Cards, Wrap & Stationery
Boxed Sterling Silver Jewellery Greeting Cards by Crumble & Core
Eco Plantable Seed Paper Calendar by Little Green Paper Shop
Eco Plantable Seed Paper Crackers by Little Green Paper Shop
Fabulously Flat Paper Pens by If
Nebula Gift Wrap by Wendy Bell Designs
Vent Refillable & Recycled Weekly Planners by Vent For Change
Children’s Educational & Pre-School
Grow Your Own Name by Global Journey
Grubs & Bugs Little Green Fingers Gardening Range by Fallen Fruits
Make Your Own Dinosaur Timeline & World Map by Clockwork Soldier
Mini Sausage Dog In A Little Box by Rex London
The Sockettes by The Puppet Company & Wilberry Toys
The Space Station by Puzzle Post
Commemorative & Collectable
Bucket List Scratch Books by Gift Republic
Corgi Toys James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 by Blue14 D2C
David Bowie Album Jigsaw Puzzle by NMR
Hope the Whale Jewellery And Accessories Range For Natural History Museum by Just Trade
Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative by Victoria Eggs
The Jubilee Collection by Sew Heart Felt
Contemporary Gift
Bar Chocolates by Motif by The Silver Crane Company
Brick Compatible Letters by Made Happy Gifts
Samantha Morris Mug & Pet Bowl Set by Mclaggan Smith Mugs
Scion Living by Enesco
Seeded Pet Loss Sympathy Gift by Letterbox Love
Velvet Accordion Lamp by Gingko Design
Design & Craft
Bertie Bunny Needle Felting Kit by The Crafty Kit Company
County Map Art Prints by AVMS art
Create Your Own Paper Pocket Money Kits! by Clockwork Soldier
Go Genius Times Tables The Board Game by Whiz Kid Hames
Paint By Numbers Gingerbread House By CrafTin by The Silver Crane Company
The Letterbox Craft Gift Range by Swash Consulting t/a Gin Etc
Ethical & Sustainable
Emma Bridgewater Rice Husk Picnicware by Elite
Filthy Gorgeous by Go La La!
Honest Bottle by Honest
Love Coco Coconut Bowls by Love Coco
Reusable Silicone Straws In Handy Travel Tins by The Silicone Straw Company
Trashy School Bag by Trashy Bags Africa
Fashion Accessories & Jewellery
Deirdre Reading Glasses by Goodlookers
Hippy Go Lucky by Sock Academy
Recognised Statement Popons by Recognised
Recycled Lorry Curtain And Inner Tube Martha Tote Bag by Cycle Of Good
Recycled Polycarbonate Sunglasses by Peace Of Mind .925
The Whisky Watch by Fiodh
Festive & Occasions
Born In The . . . by From You To Me
Christmas Mini Marshmallow Toasting Kit In A Matchbox by Marvling Bros
Festive Gingerbread Cat Playhouse by Puckator
Festive Village Matchstick Puzzles Alternative Christmas Cracker Set by Marvling Bros
Puzzling Crackers by Puzzle Post
Rudolph Reindeer Festive Laundry Balls by Little Beau Sheep
Food & Drink
Bar Chocolates By Motif by The Silver Crane Company
Gastronomic Trio Tubes by Ross & Ross Gifts
Personalised Glass Chopping Boards by Dinky Artist
Popcorn Kitchen Giant Moneybox Popcorn Bottle by Popcorn Kitchen
Steak & Chips Gift Sets by Ross & Ross Gifts
Trilogy Microfarm Kit by Teeny Greeny
Games
Don’t Be A Dik Dik by Ginger Fox (Hacche Retail)
Hexagone by Professor Puzzle
Phone Escape Room Escape From Shackle Prison by Boxer Gifts
Sounds Fishy by Big Potato Games
The Good Life by Allingham Games
The Missed Flight by Puzzle Post
Home & Garden
Frida by Widdop And Co
Grow Your Own Name by Global Journey
Peter Rabbit Grow Your Own Herbs by Fizz Creations
Solar Powered Light Up Terrarium by Gift Republic
The Gentleman’s Tea Towel Collection by Nicole Elders
Wildlife Botanical Wallpaper Collection by Lola Design
Home Fragrance
Botanical Cast Fragrance Diffusers by The Foxglove Tree
CAHM Luxury Fragrance Range by The Cahm Collective
Candlemeleon by Candlemeleon
Funny Smells by Go La La!
Nature’s Garden Collection, Large Pots by St Eval
Pick and Mix Soya Wax Melts by Freckleface
International
BosilunLife Luxury Nordic Moments Butter Dish by AllGoodThings
BosilunLife Trendy Breakfast Mugs Gift Set by AllGoodThings
Campo Marzio Ariana Handbag by Campo Marzio
Campo Marzio Afrique Roller Ball Pen by Campo Marzio
NarraTea Planet by Narrafood Publishing
Nordic Custom-Made Dart Boards by AllGoodThings
Kitchen & Dining
EKU by Auteur
Mr Creations Ice Cream Station by Fizz Creations
Personalised Glass Chopping Boards by Dinky Artist
Samantha Morris Mug & Pet Bowl Set by Mclaggan Smith Mugs
Yvonne Ellen Slogan Range by Yvonne Ellen Home
Yvonne Ellen Sushi Range by Yvonne Ellen Home
My Gift Of All Time
A Very Oddsock Christmas by Sock Academy
DIY Terrarium Kit 3L by Fallen Fruits
Large Classic Cuddly Paddington Bear by Rainbow Designs
Refillable Candle by The One Co Cheshire
The Bottled Baking Co Baking Mixes In A Bottle by The Bottled Baking Co
William Morris At Home Canine Companion Dog Walker’s Kit by Heathcote & Ivory
Novelty, Tech & Gadgets
Big Screen Games by Big Potato Games
Cat & Dog Hair Removers For Pikkii by With Creative
Drum Light Speaker by Gingko Design
Flexilight rechargeable collection by Thinking Gifts
Leaf Cleaning Tongs For Kikkerland by With Creative
Mr Lint For Kikkerland by With Creative
Under £15
Apples To Pears Gift In A Tin by Widdop And Co
Mindful Picture Books For All Ages by Fox Under The Moon
Reusable Silicone Straws In Handy Travel Tins by The Silicone Straw Company
Seeded Pet Loss Sympathy Gift by Letterbox Love
Stojo Pocket Cup by Auteur
The How To Become… Series by Recent Toys
Top: Six finalists have been picked per Gift Of The Year category
