The UK’s finest gift retailers are recognised at glittering awards ceremony
Some 400 guests – to include the cream of gift retail, leading gift suppliers and trade show organisers – made a beeline for the glamorous Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane this afternoon (May 4) to see the winners crowned at The Greats Awards 2017, organised by leading giftware trade magazine Progressive Gifts & Home (the sister magazine to Progressive Greetings).
Taking crystal as its theme to celebrate the Awards’ 15th anniversary, it was certainly a glittering, glitzy occasion, with everyone enjoying a magnificent lunch, created by the chefs at the Grosvenor House, stand up comedy from actor and comedian Charlie Baker, and music from jazz trio Midnight Blue.
Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home, commented: “Despite the many curve balls that retail throws at independents and multiples year after year, the best continue to rise to the challenge and it is these ‘greatest of the great’ gift retailers that we were delighted to recognise and reward this afternoon.”
PG Buzz is delighted to reveal that the 2017 Greats Awards winners were:
Retail Employee of the Year 2017
Nicky Leach, sales assistant, MiMi (hw), Hartley Wintney
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – London (inside M25)
Source, Spitalfields and South Woodford
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Home Counties, South and South East
England at Home, Brighton
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – East Anglia
Feathering Your Nest, Rayleigh
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Midlands and Wales
Rhubarb, Great Malvern
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – North and Northern Ireland
The Shop at The Emporium, Clitheroe
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – South West
Daisy Park, South Molton
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Scotland
Papyrus, Glasgow
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Best Newcomer South & Wales
Mooch, Ealing
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Best Newcomer Midlands, North and Scotland
The Lion’s Paw, Bridge of Weir
Best Specialist Multiple Gift Retailer
Between The Lines
Best Department Store Retailer of Gifts
Barkers Home, Northallerton
Best Non-Specialist Retailer of Gifts
The Barn at The Hollies Farm Shop, Little Budworth
Best Lifestyle Or Homewares Retailer Of Gifts
Lily’s Attic, Witney
Best Gift Retailer Of Jewellery & Fashion Accessories
Melbury Gallery, Dorchester and Sherborne
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Gifts
Garsons, Esher and Titchfield
Best Museum Or Visitor Attraction Gift Shop
ZSL London Zoo
Best In-Store Or Window Display
Rossiters, Bath
Best Online Or Mail Order Gift Retailer
IWOOT iwantoneofthose.com
Best Retail Initiative
Chester Zoo for its Never Forget fundraising campaign
Best Service To The Independent Retailer- Bronze Award Winner 2017
Gisela Graham
Best Service to the Independent Retailer – Silver Award Winner 2017
Joe Davies
Best Service to the Independent Retailer – Gold Award Winner 2017
Widdop and Co.
Honorary Achievement Award – Winner 2017
David Hicks
The photos of the The Greats awards will be uploaded to the official website by Monday 8 May www.thegreatsawards.co.uk
