Retas’ awards finalists are springing about at news of being finalists
Retailers are jumping about like Benjamin Bunny after hearing the news that they’ve been picked as finalists for the 2024 Retas Awards.
And that’s exactly what Jo Sorrell was doing at Cardies in Stevenage with her pack of Ponks, as her Labrador shop dogs is known.
“We’ve been springing about like Benjamin Bunny,” Jo told PG Buzz, referring to the World Of Beatrix Potter theme that the awards ceremony is taking of at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 4 July.
And she added: “Wow! Exciting news to be nominated for a Retas award for our various community campaigns. Huge thanks to those in our wonderful industry for nominating us. Congratulations and good luck to all our fellow nominees.”
And they were jumping at Dzodzo in Woodbridge too, where co-owner Pete Whiteman said: “Everyone in the store was jumping for joy on hearing the news. It’s a true reflection on the hard work and great service that the team provide 365 days per year.
“It’s wonderful to be recognised by your industry for all the hard work. There’s going the extra mile, but we like to go the extra two miles!
For Highworth Emporium co-owner Aga Marsden, who can be seen celebrating the Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West nomination in the video below with colleague Lorraine, it was also fantastic news.
She commented: “We do love a good card and we always have a great selection of cards for all occasions in our shop therefore we’re absolutely over the moon to hear the latest news – we have reached the finals of The Retas 2024!
“It’s an absolute honour to be in the finals among the very best card retailers in the south west.
“To be recognised by the greeting card industry is a huge privilege. Winners will be revealed on 4 July, so keep your fingers crossed. See you around lovely people and a huge, huge thank you for all your support!”
In the same category, Highworth Emporium is one of the seven finalists with The Card Gallery in Wimborne Minster, where co-owner Dan Lee said: “Wow! We’re so thankful that our little shop gets recognised as a great independent retailer.
“So much work goes into running a business and we’re so proud of how far we’ve come. Despite the challenges and setbacks that only continue, we have a brilliant team, past and present, and wonderful loyal customers!
“Cheers to being an independent retailer!”
In the Best Garden Centre Retailer Of Greeting Cards – Independent category Yarnton Garden Centre is one of the six finalists.
Head of creative Celia Leeson-Cox is already giddy at the new Ohh Deer-designed and fitted greetings area, and enthused: “I’m just soooo thrilled with this news – it means more every year, really!
“How wonderful to be shortlisted for this huge accolade, the timing couldn’t have been better as we’ve just launched our fabulous new card shop – with the help of some very special people at Ohh Deer.
“This is beyond exciting for everyone involved, all the illustrators, and our brilliant publishers, reps and agents, along with our great little team at Yarnton.
“What a wonderful industry this is and we all couldn’t have been happier when we received our email. Thank you to absolutely everyone who has voted for us.”
Pride shone through for Caroline Ranwell, who owns Hugs & Kisses in Tettenhall, as she exclaimed: “We are so, so proud that we’re again a finalist in the Midlands! This is the fourth time that we’ve been a finalist so we are absolutely over the moon!
“These awards are the equivalent of the Oscars in the greeting card retail world so it’s a real honour to be one of the seven finalists in our area. A huge thank you, we can’t wait to see everyone at the awards event at the Grosvenor House Hotel on 4 July.”
Down in Folkestone, Objectables’ owners Tim and Annie Gould are “super happy” at the nomination for the retailer which also its own publishing arm.
Tim laughed: “There are some great other shops – some of which actually sell our cards, thank you – so I’m already practising my happy loser face but, honestly, just being nominated is amazing.
“We have worked so hard and our wonderful staff have worked so hard at making this shop what it has become, not to mention the brilliant customers who, for some insane reason, just keep coming back and the lovely suppliers that sell us all the wonderful stuff. So thank you.
“No amount of Retas of whatever variety will stop us from trying to make this shop the absolutely best we can because if we don’t try and do that what’s the fucking point! Have a lovely day and keep buying f***ing cards – hopefully from us but anyone who’s not a bastard is fine too!”
Deb Came is proprietor of Paperweight in Cardiff, which she runs with daughter Jess, and they’re very proud and excited at their nomination and looking forward to raising a glass at the champagne reception at PG Live.
“What a wonderful surprise we had hearing the news that we were finalists this year,” Deb said. “We’re very excited and proud to have been nominated and it means a great deal.
“Our passion for greeting cards means we don’t feel like it’s our job and we love the joy and enthusiasm our fantastic greeting cards bring to our loyal and supportive customers.
“The theme this year has a special meaning to me as I still have my original Beatrix Potter book collection from my childhood – a long time ago! And I cherish them still. Thank you to all who nominated us, we couldn’t do it without you!”
The full list of finalists for The Retas 2024 awards can be found here, and the winners will be revealed in the ballroom of London’s Grosvenor House Hotel where the event will take on a World Of Beatrix Potter theme, with the full blessing and support of Frederick Warne & Co and Penguin Ventures, with images supplied courtesy of the Frederick Warne Archive.
The Retas 2024 is supported by a strong roster of committed sponsors which includes Abacus Cards, The Art File, Belly Button Designs, Carte Blanche Greetings, Cath Tate Cards, Danilo, GBCC, Hallmark, IC&G, Ling Design, Lucilla Lavender, Meraki, Museums & Galleries, Ohh Deer, Paperlink, Pigment, Progressive Greetings Live, Rosie Made A Thing, Sensations/Express Yourself, Spring Fair/Autumn Fair, UK Greetings, W Select, Wendy Jones-Blackett, and Woodmansterne Publications.
To be among the UK’s best greeting card retailers as well as some great card publishers at the ceremony, you can book your tickets online to The Retas now 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.
