The Retas Winners 2019 Revealed At A Frida Fiesta

The UK’s very best greeting card retailers were officially recognised at The Retas greeting card retailer awards ceremony, which took place today (July 10) at The Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, London.

The sell out event, which this year took on a ‘Frida Fiesta’ theme after the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, was attended by over 400 greeting card retailers, publishers and suppliers.

Welcoming guests, PG’s co-owner Warren Lomax said:As with so many of the talented retailers that we celebrate today, Frida’s skills were totally self-taught, not only that but she overcame adversity to produce brilliant end results of astonishing beauty. And much the same can be said of the inventive entrepreneurial retailers here who have fought the tough retail landscape using their own passion and tenacity to craft an inspiring retail environment to delight customers.”

The Retas 2019 saw greeting card retail stockists from right across the retail spectrum recognised, rewarded and celebrated. Among the worthy winners are Cardzone (Best Specialist Multiple), John Lewis (Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards) and Blue Diamond Group, which was crowned Greeting Card Retailer of the Year.

Now in its 15th year, The Retas, organised by Max Publishing, owners of Progressive Greetings magazine are the only dedicated awards for greeting card retailers.

The event was hosted with great aplomb by comedian Pippa Evans, whose wonderfully crafted ditty about greeting card retailing went down a storm.

In keeping with the fact that The Retas had moved to the Grosvenor House Hotel from The Dorchester in protest of the hotel owner Sultan of Brunei passing barbaric anti-human rights laws, the £4,000+ proceeds of the charity raffle were divided between Amnesty International and The Light Fund.

WhatsApp Image 2019-07-10 at 15.40.42

And here are The Retas Winners 2019….

 

Greeting Card Retail Employee Of The Year

Mandy Baker, manager of Celebrations, Aylsham

 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – London (inside the M25)

Medici Gallery, South Kensington

 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Counties

Red Card, Petworth

 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – East Anglia

Sincerely Yours, Shenfield

 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West

Island Greetings, two stores in St Helier

 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales and the Midlands

In Heaven At Home, Market Harborough

 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland

Bailey’s Cards and Gifts, Southport and Crosby

 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Scotland

Bluestone Gift Shops, Largs, Glasgow, Lochgilphead and Barrhead

 

Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer or New Branch – South

Objectables, Folkestone

 

Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer or New Branch – North

Cards & Gifts, Sheffield

 

Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards

Blandfords of Broadway, Hereford and Ledbury

 

Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – North

Boroughbridge Post Office’s The Well Good Card Shop, Boroughbridge

 

Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – South

Mooch, Olney and Towcester and two stores in Northampton

 

Best Greeting Card Small Multiple (4-20 stores)

Zo & Co, four stores in Greater Manchester and Cheshire

 

Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards

John Lewis, Oxford St

 

Best Supermarket Retailer of Greeting Cards

Sainsbury’s

 

Best Non-Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (4+ stores)

Utility, three stores in Liverpool and one in Manchester

 

Best Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (20+ stores)

Cardzone Group – 130+ stores

 

Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards

Blue Diamond Group – 30 garden centres

 

Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative

Cardies – for its community street art programme

 

Best Greeting Card Wholesaler

Budget Greeting Cards, nine branches UK and Eire

 

Greeting Card Retailer of the Year

Blue Diamond Group

 

Photos from The Retas will be available to see and download from the awards’ website (www.theretasawards.co.uk) over the next few days and the event will be covered in full and glorious technicolour in the August edition of Progressive Greetings magazine.

MORE NEWS
SWan Mill gifted Feature Image
 
David Byk adds stationery and calendar firm to Ling, GBCC and Penny Kennedy group...
Budget 2024 Feature Image
 
Labour’s tax raid condemned as ‘anti-High Street’ and ‘betrayal’ of indie retailers...
Don L TRibute Feature Imagen
 
Industry stalwart John Charlton pays tribute to Don Lewin...
Loxleys 170 Feature Image
 
Loxleys wraps up big birthday celebrations and looks to the future...
Adam jollyes Feature Image
 
Cardfactory top dog makes the move to pet retailer Jollyes in January...
LF call Feature Image
 
Cardies have a week for charities to apply to The Light Fund...
Get the latest news sent to your inbox
Subscribe to our daily newsletter

The list doesn't exist! Make sure you have imported the list on the 'Manage List Forms' page.