Some 400 retailers, publishers and trade suppliers celebrated together
The UK’s very best greeting card retailers were officially recognised at The Retas 2024 greeting card retailer awards ceremony, which took place today (4 July) at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Mayfair.
The Retas 2024 saw greeting card retail stockists from right across the retail spectrum duly recognised, rewarded and celebrated.
The ever-popular event, which this year took on a Beatrix Potter theme, was hosted by comedian and radio presenter Andrew Ryan and was attended by some 400 greeting card retailers, publishers and suppliers.
Welcoming guests, PG’s co-owner Jakki Brown paid tribute to The Retas finalists and winners, saying: “Beatrix Potter was very much a woman ahead of her time. Today though, we are here to celebrate some rather special greeting card retailers who are very much of our time, and what a time it has been in the last year with the ongoing challenges of trade, with card retailers having to understand and anticipate the nuances of their customers’ tastes and needs as well as adapting to the challenges presented by the likes of changes in footfall, the Royal Mail issues and general cost-of-living constraints.
But as the impressive list Retas’ finalists testify, just like The Flopsy Bunnies, whatever obstacles they have faced in the Mr McGregor’s garden of real life, they have bounced back, full of ‘hop’ and optimism!”
The Retas Awards 2024 Winners are…
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – London
Nor, Beckenham Place Park and West Norwood
Award sponsored by Ohh Deer
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Counties and South East
Objectables, Folkestone
Award sponsored by Hallmark Cards
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – East Anglia
Dzo Dzo, Woodbridge
Award sponsored by Abacus Cards
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West
Highworth Emporium, Highworth
Award sponsored by Rosie Made A Thing
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales
Paperweight, Cardiff
Award sponsored by Progressive Greetings Live
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Midlands
Set, Leicester
Award sponsored by International Cards and Gifts
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North West
Wishes Cockermouth, Cockermouth
Award sponsored by UK Greetings
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North East
Strickland and Holt, Yarm
Award sponsored by Wendy Jones-Blackett
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Scotland
The Bay Tree Company, Edinburgh
Award sponsored by London Stationery Show
Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer
Cards & Moor, Yelverton
Award sponsored by Carte Blanche Greetings
Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards
Kemps General Store & Bookshop, Malton
Award sponsored by Woodmansterne Publications
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – North
Proudfoot Group
Award sponsored by Lucilla Lavender
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – South
Stationery House, Somerton, Clevedon and Wrington
Award sponsored by Pigment
Best Greeting Card Small Multiple
Postmark
Award sponsored by Ling Design
Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards
Morley Stores
Award sponsored by Spring & Autumn Fair
Best Supermarket Retailer of Greeting Cards
Sainsbury’s
Award sponsored by Danilo
Best Non-Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards
Waterstones
Award sponsored by Cath Tate Cards
Best Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (20+ branches)
Cardfactory
Award sponsored by Paperlink
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards – Independent
Yarnton Home & Garden, Yarnton
Award sponsored by Museums & Galleries
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards – Multiple
Notcutts
Award sponsored by Woodmansterne Publications
Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative
Presentation Cards & Gifts, Barrowford for its Mother’s Day and Easter charity initiative with Open Door
Award sponsored by N Smith Packaging & Display
Best Greeting Card Wholesaler
BGC Wholesale
Award sponsored by Xpress Yourself
Greeting Card Retailer of the Year
Postmark
Award sponsored by The Art File
Photos from The Retas will be available to view and download from the awards’ website (www.theretasawards.co.uk) over the next few days and the event will be covered in full in the next edition of Progressive Greetings magazine.
The Retas, organised by Max Publishing, owners of Progressive Greetings magazine are the only dedicated awards for greeting card retailers.
