Tough judging session sees greeting card publishers’ products in 16 categories
Just a day after over 120 judges finished their work, the Gift Of The Year 2025 shortlist has been unveiled, with card publishers appearing in no less than 16 of the 20 categories.
“We received an overwhelming number of entries this year, with over 900 received,” confirmed PR and marketing manager Chris Workman from awards organiser The Giftware Association.
As well as the 15 companies shortlisted for Cards, Wrap & Stationery, the expanded products from publishers also appear in Affordable Gifts; Beauty, Bath & Spa; Children’s, Educational & Pre-School; Contemporary Gift; Design & Craft; Ethical & Sustainable Gift; Fashion Accessories, Textiles & Jewellery; Festive & Occasions; Garden & Outdoors; Health, Wellbeing & Accessible Gifts; Heritage Gifts including Commemorative, Collectable & Charitable; Home & Kitchen; Home Fragrance; Made In The UK; and Pet Gift – the full shortlist is available here.
Rosie Made A Thing, The Little Dog Laughed, Nicole Elders, Fox Under The Moon and Widdop And Co top the list for publishers with three places apiece on the shortlist, while Meg Hawkins, Sam Jayne Design, Go La La!, Santoro, Letterbox Love, Coffeenotes, Border In A Box and Yop & Tom each appear twice.
Chris added: “These entries represent the most exciting, unique, and commercially-viable products in the industry. The judges have been judging for three weeks, with many reporting that it has been one of the toughest years yet as the standard of products has greatly increased with so many great products to choose from.”
Following the online judging by over 120 retailers and industry folk, which ended yesterday 2 January, the next stage is the live judging round, which will take place at Spring Fair over 2-5 February at Birmingham’s NEC, where the judges get the chance to see, touch and experience the products in person, and also showcases the products in the Gift Of The Year pavilion for all visitors and exhibitors to view.
“Over 230 brands took part, with over 100 new to the awards,” Chris said.“It’s been a bumper year with lots of new exciting brandsand also lots of exciting new products too, with the shortlist slightly bigger this year to allow more brands to shine.
“The general consensus from the first round of judging is that there were some amazing products entered with the judging very tough. The new categories have been very well received too, with Made In The UK one of the top categories this year.
“All entries showcased the creativity, innovation, and quality of the home and gift industry. Our panel of judges has carefully reviewed the first round of submissions to select the very best products in each category.”
Following the live judging, the winners will be revealed at The Gift Awards 2025, alongside the winners of The Greats gift retailer awards, a prestigious black-tie ceremony taking place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 15 May 2025. This event will unite the industry, celebrating the finest products and recognising the hard work of the brands and suppliers that make the home and giftware world so vibrant.
The full Gift Of The Year 2025 shortlist is available here, publishers nominated are:
Cards, Wrap & Stationery 
Botanical Design Stencil, Another Studio
Coaster Cards By Sam Jayne, Sam Jayne Design
Flower Seed Calendar, Border In A Box
Gardening Journals, Yop & Tom
Gift Kindly Recycled Xmas Wrapping Paper, Talking Tables
Let’s Get Organised, From You To Me
Make Your Own Lovable Lobster, Clockwork Soldier
Monthly Planner 2025, Coffeenotes (Epic Print)
Mushroom Print Recyclable Eco Paper Sticky Tape, Also The Bison
Sticky Jots, Rosie Made A Thing
Storybook Cards, The Art File
The Book Cafe Swing Card, Santoro London
The Logbooks – Send Me Instead Of A Card, Onneke
Wallypops 3D Cards, Ink And Ivy Group
Write Me Roses, Pikkii
Affordable Gifts
A Hug In A Book – Fox Under The Moon
Happy Hour Cocktail Book, Rosie Made A Thing
Walkies Treat Tins, The Little Dog Laughed
Beauty, Bath & Spa
The Signature Hand Cream Collection, Meg Hawkins
Children’s, Educational & Pre-School
Peppa Pig Rainbow Reward Chart, Widdop And Co
Thoughts & Feelings Collection For Children, Fox Under The Moon
Contemporary Gift
Seeded Card & Bracelet , Letterbox Love
Design & Craft
Calligraphy County Maps, Nicole Elders
Ethical & Sustainable Gift
Vent For Change Luxury Collection, Vent For Change
Fashion Accessories, Textiles & Jewellery
Bamboo Socks, Belly Button Designs
Boxed Gold-Plated Sterling Silver Jewellery Cards, Crumble & Core
For Her Silver-Plated Beaded Bracelets, Letterbox Love
Festive & Occasions
13 Nights of Halloween Advent Calendar, Something Different Wholesale
Christmas Coaster Cards By Sam Jayne, Sam Jayne Design
Festive Favourites Advent Calendar, Gibsons
Filthy Gorgeous Seasonal, Go La La!
Pirouette Countdowns 3D Advent Calendar, Santoro London
Garden & Outdoors
Flower Seed Calendar, Border In A Box
Gardening Journals, Yop & Tom
Health, Wellbeing & Accessible Gifts
Serenity Wellness Planner Collection, Widdop And Co
Thoughts & Feelings Collection For Children, Fox Under The Moon
Thoughts Vs Facts Notepad, Sunshine Lane
Heritage Gifts inc Commemorative, Collectable & Charitable
Royal Shakespeare Company x Nicole Elders – Master Of Insults, Nicole Elders
Home & Kitchen
Calligraphy County Maps, Nicole Elders
Fred, Mushroom Collection, Widdop And Co
Magnificent Mugs, Rosie Made A Thing
Home Fragrance
Funny Smells Fragrance Sticks, Go La La!
The Signature Home Fragrance Collection, Meg Hawkins
Made In The UK
Pack of 3 Stitched Notebooks Tutti Frutti, Coffeenotes (Epic Print)
Pet Gift
Dog Walkers Bag, The Little Dog Laughed
Pet Gift Walkies Treat Tins, The Little Dog Laughed
