The Gogh-ing is good for going to top greetings retailer awards
Fancy a lovely day out with great company and good laughs? Then it’s time to grab a ticket for The Retas Awards 2023, with comedian Jake Lambert having just been revealed as the host.
The fabulous invitations have been winging their way to many of the fantastic sponsors and finalists in these greeting card retailer awards so they can attend the Van Gogh-themed event in just a couple of weeks’ time, on Thursday, 6 July, at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Jake Lambert will be the host for the afternoon extravaganza celebrating the best of the retailers in the greeting card industry, as the comedian brings his unique combination of one-liners, short stories and strange thoughts to the cardie community.
He’s known for three sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, an extended run of solo performances at London’s Soho Theatre, and appearances on tv’s Comedy Central Live, Stand Up Sketch Show, Rosie Jones’ Disability Comedy Extravaganza, and The Apprentice: You’re Fired, as well as writing material for shows from The Ranganation through Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, to Bake Off Extra Slice and the Royal Variety Performance.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the invitations have been designed by Beth Kemp at The Art File’s studio, and printed by Loxleys on board donated by Fedrigoni, to pay tribute to the Dutch post-impressionist painter whose characteristic bold colours and expressive brushwork contributed to the foundations of modern art.
In addition, award sponsor Danilo is providing a selection of cards from its licensed Van Gogh range of greeting cards, wrap, bags, calendars and diaries for the menus at the celebration while Origamo will be putting its licensed Van Gogh Museum 3D cards to good use as place cards at the event.
“The engagement for The Retas this year has been incredible, both from retailers entering as well as the groundswell of nominations from publishers, reps and agents about their retailer heroes,” commented Jakki Brown, managing director of Max Publishing, which owns and organises The Retas.
“We were delighted the team at the Van Gogh Museum and its licensing agent, Licensing Link, were fully supportive of the idea to theme The Retas 2023 on the great artist, agreeing we could use his wonderful artworks to celebrate and reward greeting card retailing artistry.”
The full list of finalists can be found here, and all The Retas 2023 winners will be announced at the Van Gogh-themed afternoon extravaganza on 6 July at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, during an event which will be attended by over 400 members of the greeting card community, with a strong roster of sponsors ready to hand out the trophies.
The Retas 2023 sponsors include AfroTouch Design, The Art File, Belly Button Designs, Carte Blanche Greetings, Cath Tate Cards, Danilo, GBCC, Hallmark, Ling Design, Lucilla Lavender, Meraki, Museums & Galleries, Ohh Deer, Paperlink, Paper Salad, Pigment, Progressive Greetings Live, Rosie Made A Thing, Sensations/Express Yourself, Spring Fair/Autumn Fair, UK Greetings, Wendy Jones-Blackett, W Select, and Woodmansterne Publications.
To be among the UK’s best greeting card retailers as well as some great card publishers, book your ticket online via Max-Tickets.net or contact The Retas’ awards manager Clare Hollick, director of Createvents, on 0118 334 0085 or email clare@createvents.co.uk.
