The sun was shining and there were beaming smiles all round as the winners of The Greats gift retailer awards 2021 were revealed yesterday (September 23) at a lovely afternoon event, held at the historic Honourable Artillery Company in London.
Organised by Progressive Gifts & Home and GiftsandHome.net, The Greats event brought together the cream of gift retail, leading gift and greeting card suppliers, trade show organisers and reps and agents – with the Awards compered by stand-up comedian Stuart Goldsmith.
In her welcome speech, Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home and GiftsandHome.net, said: “Currently, with the UK hopefully through the worst of the pandemic, it’s finally a time to look forward, and I would like to praise the resilience, the resourcefulness and the lateral thinking of all our finalists,and our industry in general, in what has been a rollercoaster time for everyone.”
She continued: “Your success comes from having your finger on the pulse of what your customers want, and in being able to diversify quickly as the pandemic has demonstrated.”
The ceremony culminated with the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award, which was awarded posthumously to Robert (Bob) Illingworth, the former chairman of Widdop & Co, in recognition of the huge contribution he made to the giftware industry. His grandson Stephen Illingworth, Widdop & Co’s creative director delivered a superb and suitably touching speech about his grandfather.
“Grandpa saw out recessions, wars, crises, the advent of the internet and he always told me that in tough times that is when our industry thrived as the creators of affordable gifts that bring happiness. If he were here today, he would be relishing the challenges we all face right now, from shipping to supply chain, Amazon selling to pricing,” said Stephen. “He would be quietly so honoured and thrilled to be acknowledged for his lifetime’s work and our whole family, especially my granny, who is here today, thank you all so much for this award and the support recently and over so many years from across the trade. Congratulations to everyone in the room today – winners and finalists- he would have been proud to be amongst you.”
The full list of The Greats Awards 2021 winners as well as photos of them receiving the award from the category sponsor and host Stuart Goldsmith are here in all their glory…
Retail Employee of the Year 2021 (sponsored by Method UK)
Winner: Kirsty Hammond, manager, No.14 Ampthill, Ampthill
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Midlands and Wales (sponsored by Harrogate Christmas & Gift)
Winner: Mooch Gifts & Home, Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Scotland (sponsored by Allsorted)
Winner: Original Artists, Gourock
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – North and Northern Ireland (sponsored by Joe Davies)
Winner: Robert & Ruby, Helmsley
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – South West (sponsored by Progressive Greetings Live)
Winner: Highworth Emporium, Highworth
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – East Anglia (sponsored by Heritage Art & Design)
Winner: Lovely Libby’s and Olive Branch, Billericay, Brentwood and Rayleigh
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – London (inside M25) (sponsored by Gift Republic)
Winner: Jumping Bean, Beckenham and Honor Oak
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Home Counties, South and South East (sponsored by Wrendale Designs)
Winner: Lulu Loves Home, Stubbington
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Best Newcomer Midlands, North and Scotland (sponsored by Progressive Greetings)
Winner: Keepsakes Scotland, Inverness, Loch Lomond and Pitlochry
Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – Best Newcomer South & Wales (sponsored by Carte Blanche Greetings)
Winner: The Bean Hive, Kettering and The Bean Hive By The Sea, Falmouth
Best Specialist Multiple Gift Retailer (sponsored by Products of Change)
Winner: Lark
Best Department Store Retailer of Gifts (sponsored by Ahleigh & Burwood)
Winner: Roys of Wroxham
Best Non-Specialist Retailer of Gifts (sponsored by Start Licensing)
Winner: Oliver Bonas
Best Lifestyle Or Homewares Retailer Of Gifts (sponsored by HousewaresNews.net)
Winner: Josie’s Interiors, Bideford
Best Gift Retailer Of Jewellery & Fashion Accessories (sponsored by Life Charms)
Winner: MiMi, Hartley Wintney
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Gifts (sponsored by Premier Decorations)
Winner: Yarnton Home and Garden, Yarnton
Best Museum Or Visitor Attraction Gift Shop (sponsored by LicensingSource.net)
Winner: Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke
Best In-Store Or Window Display (sponsored by Gisela Graham)
Winner: In Heaven At Home, Market Harborough
Best Retailer Initiative (sponsored by Candlelight)
Winner: The Celtic Company, Welshpool, for its video appeal to the Welsh government
Best Service To The Independent Retailer (sponsored by Exposé Travel)
Bronze Award Winner 2021: Gisela Graham
Silver Award Winner 2021: Joe Davies
Gold Award Winner 2021: Widdop & Co.
Outstanding Achievement Award (sponsored by the Giftware Association)
Robert (Bob) Illingworth
The Greats Awards 2021 were sponsored by the following companies (in alphabetical order): Allsorted, Art & Heritage, Ashleigh & Burwood; Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; The Giftware Association; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; licensingsource.net; Life Charms; Method UK; Premier Decorations; Products of Change; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live, Progressive Greetings magazine; Spring Fair and Autumn Fair and Wrendale Designs.
Top: The winners of The Greats with their ‘stand in’ glass trophies outside the HAC yesterday afternoon.
