gaukorg GIFTWARE

FINALISTS REVEALED FOR FIRST RETAILER STATIONERY AWARDS

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The Stationery Awards aim to recognise and benchmark good practice and innovation in the retail stationery sector. Each year Stationery Show London plays host to the prestigious Awards and this year, for the first time, the Stationery Awards have expanded to include five NEW Retailer Stationery Awards. 

Starting with just five key categories for stationery retailers to enter, the panel of seven judges each read and viewed all their material online and allocated their scores. 

The first ever Retailer Stationery Award judges panel consisted of: Jane Reucroft, founder and Chloe Bayles, head of wholesale from A Gift From The Gods, Rebecca Saunders, independent retail & ecommerce consultant of Saunders Retail (and ex Not On the High Street/JLP Buyer), Kerri Middleton, managing director of Busy B, Michael Owen co-founder of Lime Stationery & Art, George Wilkinson, managing director of Nuco International and Gemma Bassett, Thirty Under 30 Star Choice and marketing manager of Sinclairs.

“We’d like to thank our judges for taking the time to review all the entries to our five new retailer categories,” said event manager, Hazel Fieldwick.  “It’s been fantastic to involve so many stationery experts in our Awards judging this year.”

“Our congratulations go to all the finalists on being picked out, and we send our thanks to all the other companies and nominees who took the time to complete the entry forms – we appreciate your support!”

All the finalists are listed below.  The winners will be revealed at the Stationery Awards evening on Tuesday 30 April, to which all the finalists will, of course, be invited!

Best Customer Initiative (Instore or Online):

Company: Campaign:
Got2Jot The corporate pop up experience – Bringing Fashion stationery direct to the workplace
Martha Brook Stationery Social 2018
Postmark ‘Post it from the start of time’ – Inhouse franking service, Postmark (Greenwich)
ScrawlrBox The Scrawlr Challenge

Best POS/Merchandised Stationery Display:

Company Campaign Nominated by:
Papersmiths Universe  
Postscript Autumn/Winter 18/19 Nominated by BusyB
Scriptum Fine Stationery Vincero  
Stationery Supplies ‘Find Zen in your Zebra Pen’  

New Store of the Year:

Company
Comme Glom – Online
Papersmiths Brighton and Papersmiths Chelsea

Best Non-Specialist Stationery Retailer:

Company Nominated by:
B&M RETAIL Sinclairs
Little Paperie  
Paperchase Spectrum Noir/Crafter’s Companion
Papersmiths  
The Alphabet Gift Shop Ltd  

Best Specialist Stationery Retailer:

Company
Cult Pens
Martha Brook Ltd
Notable-Notebooks.com (Notable Collections S.L.U)
Penfax
Stationery Supplies
The Green Stationery Company

Ends

For further information please contact:

Vanessa Fortnam, vanessa.fortnam@stationeryshow.co.uk – 01666 824624.

gaukorg GIFTWARE

JENNY SPIVEY – HOW TO PITCH TO BIGGER RETAILERS

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WHEN: 16 MAY 
 
WHERE:  THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATION OFFICES IN BIRMINGHAM 
 
The Giftware Association and former buyer and retail expert Jenny Spivey will be hosting a seminar on how to approach and pitch to larger retailers to help scale up your business.  
 
Following a 36- year career within two of the UK’s most prestigious department stores – Harrods and the John Lewis Partnership – Jenny now uses her knowledge and experience in running her own retail consultancy. As ‘Sense Of Retail‘, she works with both established retailers and suppliers across the home and giftware categories. She also mentors SMEs in the sector, including brands new to market – helping them reach a wider audience and present themselves effectively in a professional and competitive environment, online and offline. 
 
This is a presentation by Jenny Spivey to smaller businesses who are contemplating extending their business to larger retailers. Jenny will outline the opportunities and the challenges that they are likely to be presented with and what they need to do in their approach. It’s a reality check as to what potentially lies ahead. Networking Lunch and Q&A included 
 

To book your place on this event book use the above link or to arrange a 30-day invoice, please contact Simone on Simone.rose@ga-uk.org 

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FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2019 DESIGNER STATIONERY AWARD

This year’s new ‘Stationery Designer’ category has been introduced with the support and sponsorship of GO Stationery, which as a UK manufacturer, is in the almost unique position of being able to nurture a stationery product through its life – from conception and design, right through to retail sale.

Entrants for this Award were asked to supply a maximum of three A3 design boards showing at least three stationery items with the theme ‘The Next Big Thing’.  They had to explain who they thought their designs would appeal to and give an indication of what they thought the likely RRP of each item would be.

This design competition is a unique opportunity for budding stationery designers to work with an experienced production and sales team and see their ideas taken into production and delivered to retailers throughout the UK.  The lucky winner from the finalists below will work with the GO Stationery team to bring their designs to life!

The finalists are listed below, and the Winner will be announced at the Stationery Awards Evening on Tuesday, 30 April.  All Finalists will be allocated two tickets to the Awards Ceremony and will be contacted shortly so that they can nominate who they would like to attend.

The Stationery Designer of the Year 2019 Award finalists are: (this info has also just been revealed on www.stationeryawards.co.uk)

Designer Company
Laura Jackson Laura Jackson Design
Nina Dogmetchi Nina Nou
Soula Zavacopoulos The London Studio
Sian Towner Tiny T-Rex Tales

ENDS

Editors’ Note:

The GO Stationery team is passionate about producing great stationery designs and products for many of the UK’s leading retailers. Based in West London, and proud to be a UK manufacturer, it has a great track record of working with retailers from stationery specialists to fashion brands to develop great quality, market-leading, on-trend stationery.

For further info please contact vanessa.fortnam@stationeryshow.co.uk  | 01666 824624

gaukorg GIFTWARE

NEW EVENTS ADDED TO THE GA’S EDUCATION SEMINAR

The Giftware Association is pleased to announce its just added events to its education schedule. With events being held in our London office in Farringdon, making them easier for the companies who are based down South to get too.

HENRI DAVIS – THREE WAYS TO ENSURE YOUR BUSINESS IS FIT FOR THE FUTURE


The objective of this workshop will help you start this process, we will look at these 3 elements so you understand what this means for your business so you can go away and start to develop realistic plans to take you through 2019 and into 2020 and beyond.
If you are a small business owner thinking about the year ahead or someone in a bigger business company involved in business planning this workshop could suit you, stepping away from your business for a day to discuss your thoughts and share ideas allows you to be objective and see it from a different perspective.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

AN APPOINTMENT WITH JOHN LEWIS

Buyer: Sarah Allbright, Gifts and Candle Buyer The Giftware Association is incredibly excited to announce it is working with John Lewis to curate an event in London to bring buyers and supplier members together. An appointment with John Lewis will take place on the 2nd May in Farringdon, Central London.

LOUISE WELSBY – SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING


Instagram is the best way to reach your gift buying audience but it can be challenging managing the platform in house and growing your audience so that you can make a real difference on your ROI. Hosted By Louise Welsby from Buy From this 4 hour masterclass is designed for anyone who is looking to build their brand online – whether you are a solo entrepreneur or are looking to bring your social media in-house and want your team to feel empowered to take it on.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

NICOLE DAVIDSON – HOW TO SELL MORE AT WHOLESALE – JUST ADDED!

The Giftware Association has teamed up with Nicole Davidson to present a seminar on ‘How to sell more at Wholesale’. The event will take place in Farringdon, London on 10th May and will focus on helping businesses develop the skills to master wholesale selling. Nicole has worked with brands such as Top Shop, Next, Seasalt Cornwall and New Look.
 
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

DAVID GLENWRIGHT – SOCIAL MEDIA MASTERCLASS – JUST ADDED!
 The Giftware Association is excited to welcome back David Glenwright from JC Social Media for a seminar on 15 May to educate our members about strategies to generate leads and opportunities using their Social Media.

This session will look at developing content strategies, understanding the social landscape and the algorithms that power platforms, as well as how best to optimise personal LinkedIn profiles, and use them to generate new leads and opportunities.
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

JENNY SPIVEY – HOW TO PITCH TO BIGGER RETAILERS

This is a presentation by Jenny Spivey to smaller businesses who are contemplating extending their business to larger retailers. Jenny will outline the opportunities and the challenges that they are likely to be presented with and what they need to do in their approach.  It’s a reality check as to what potentially lies ahead.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

STEPHEN SPENCER – BUILDING A FOCUSED AND RELEVANT BRAND – JUST ADDED!
 

The Giftware Association will be hosting an event with Stephen Spencer on helping your business create or refresh a relevant, focused and authentic brand. 

Branding is incredibly important to all businesses and will be the first thing that a potential customer will see or hear about you. Your brand is not just your logo, it’s the emotional experience behind your product or service.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

MEET THE BUYER – THE BRITISH SHOP –JUST ADDED
 

The Giftware Association is excited to announce our ‘Meet the Buyer’ event The British Shop 

This event will focus on giving you quality time to get your products to market.

The British Shop are on the lookout for the following products:

  • Gifts (seasonal, with British character)
  • Gardening (tools, textiles, bulbs)
  • Home Textiles (table cloth, bed linen)
  • Kitchenware (dish, tea towels, mugs, ceramic, useful tools non-electric)
  • Lifestyle (cushions, plaids, doormats, decoration, table lamps, small furniture)

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERS DAYThe Giftware Association will be hosting its Annual Members Day on the 18th June at the Nottinghamshire Golf Course. Expect a day of networking, education and sunshine as The giftware industry meets.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

AN APPOINTMENT WITH JOHN LEWIS – JUST ADDED!

Due to popular demand for the first event, The Giftware Association are adding an extra date to its appointment with John Lewis, this time with the cards, stationery andgiftwrap buyer. An appointment with John Lewis will take place on 28th June in Farringdon, Central London.

The event will be specially curated, with Lisa Rutherford looking for the following products – Cards, Giftwrap, Stationery Collections, Home Office Storage, Spring Seasons (Easter/Wedding). You will have 20 minutes of quality time with a buyer from John Lewis and will receive feedback on your products and ranges. 

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

Please contact us directly on simone.rose@ga-uk.org  if you would like to talk about a group booking or would like to book onto multiple events and we can discuss a special rate

gaukorg GIFTWARE

THE GREATS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The Greats 2019

After a nail-biting few months, the finalists of the Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2019 have been confirmed!

“The Greats continues to go from strength to strength, with an exceptionally high standard of entry received in every category,” comments Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home, published by Max Publishing, which organises and owns The Greats.

“Once again, the Greats Awards have revealed the passionate gift retailers and gift departments who really get behind their shops, their products, their displays, their websites, their marketing, their social media, their communities and their local charities.”

The Giftware Association is a proud sponsor of The Greats sponsoring The Honorary Achievement award.

The Greats 2019 finalists are:  (in alphabetical order):

Retail Employee Of The Year 2019

-Mark Alexander, retail manager, National Memorial Arboretum, Airewas

-Louise Franco, shop manager, The Present, Barnet

-Marion Johnstone, sales assistant, Spirito, Glasgow

-Linda Tandy, manager, Joco Interiors, Nuneaton

-Marjory Wilson, head of customer services/store manager, Between The Lines, Farnham

-Beverly Yates, shop manager, Maddisons, Harborne

 

Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – London (Inside M25)

-Caxton, Temple Fortune

-Giftbox, Uxbridge

-Lily King, Willesden Green

-MAP Gift Shop, Holloway

-My Favourite Things, Raynes Park

-The Present, Barnet

 

Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – Home Counties, South & South East

-Arrowsmiths, Broadstairs

-Bert’s Homewares, Brighton and Hove

-Etcetera, Hitchin

-No 14, Ampthill

-Papillion Living, Brighton

-Threads Gift Shop, Harpenden

 

Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – East Anglia

-Daisy Lanes, Rayleigh

–Cloud Nine, Market Deeping

-EmZo, Bacton

-Little Boat Gifts, Brightlingsea

-Loft & Spires, Bury St Edmunds

-Myriad & Mundfords, Mundford

 

Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – Midlands & Wales

-Bentleys, Stourport, and Maddisons, Harborne

-The Celtic Company, Welshpool

-Chi Chi Gifts & Interiors, Lickey

-Joco Interiors, Nuneaton

-Mooch Gifts and Home, Bewdley and Stourport

– Nest, Stoneygate

 

Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – North & Northern Ireland

-The Bottom Drawer, Portadown

-Hand Picked by Henrietta, Chapel-En-Le-Frith and Poynton

-The Lion Gallery, Penrith

-Pure Inspiration, Ramsey

-Williams of Audlem, Audlem

-Within Reason, Sheffield

 

Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – South West

-Brocante, Fowey, Mavagissey, St Ives

-Daisy Park, South Molton

-Jo Amor, Tiverton

-Number 36, Penzance

-Paprika, Bath and Chippenham

-Soukous, Bristol

 

Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – Scotland

-Baxter’s of Stranraer and Gallery 34, Stanraer

-The Lion’s Paw, Renfrewshire

-Orsay, Oban

-Papyrus, Glasgow

-Ruby Red, Milngavie

-Spirito, Glasgow

 

Best Newcomer – South & Wales

-Barefoot Living, Norfolk

-Highworth Emporium, Highworth

-Huus, Halesworth

-Josies Interiors, Bideford

-Maybugs Gifts and Home, Hailsham

-Sunshine And Snow, Bideford

 

Best Newcomer – Midlands, North & Scotland

– The Hummingbird at Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury

– Kemps General Store, Malton

– Kimora Fashion & Lifestyle, Barrowford

– Magenta Trends, Annesley Woodhouse

– Mooch on St Giles Street and Mooch, Bell

– Walter and May, York

 

Best Specialist Multiple Gift Retailer (4 Or More Shops)

–Between The Lines

-House of Cards

-The Lemon Tree

-Menkind

-National Trust

-Vinegar Hill

 

Best Department Store Retailer Of Gifts

-Daniels of Windsor

-Fenwick, Newcastle

-John Lewis

-One Forty, Cranleigh

-Selfridges, Oxford Street, Birmingham, Manchester

-Tudor Williams, New Malden

 

Best Non-Specialist Retailer Of Gifts

-The Baobab, Reading

-Gower Gallery, Mumbles

-Hartley Coffee House and Farm Shop, Cranbrook

-House UK

-Oliver Bonas

-Papilio at Heritage, Thornbury

 

Best Lifestyle And Homewares Retailer Of Gifts

-The Emporium Interiors, Clitheroe

-House & Garden at Snape Maltings, Snape

-Love Thy Interiors, Thirsk

-The Java Store, Norwich

-Orange Tree, Topsham

-Treehouse City, Aberdeen

 

Best Gift Retailer Of Jewellery & Fashion Accessories

-Bijouled, Harrogate

-Melbury Gallery, Sherborne and Dorchester

-MiMi (hw), Hartley Wintney

-The Nancy Smillie Shop, Glasgow

-The Silver Shop, Bath

-Uno, Mumbles

 

–Best Garden Centre Retailer Of Gifts

-Bents Garden & Home, Glazebury

-Burford Garden Centre, Burford

-Garsons, Esher and Titchfield

-Longacres, Bagshot

-Otter Nursery, Ottery St Mary

-Woodcote Green, Wallington

 

Best Museum Or Visitor Attraction Gift Shop

-Blenheim Palace, Blenheim

-Imperial War Museum, London

-National Memorial Arboretum, Airewas

-Sledmere House Gift Shop,

-Royal Opera House, London

-V&A, London

 

Best In-Store Or Window Display

-Brit Maison, Cockfosters

-Chi Chi Interiors, Lickey

-Highworth Emporium, Highworth

-Lulu Loves, Stubbington

-Pure Inspiration, Ramsey

-Soukous, Bristol

 

Best Online Or Mail Order Gift Retailer

-Firebox

-JD Williams

-Oliver Bonas

-The Present Finder

-Prezzybox

-ZSL

 

Best Retailer Initiative

– Feathering Your Nest, Rayleigh

for its Angels Wings window/initiative

-Hand Picked By Henrietta, Chapel En Frith and Poynton

for its Henrietta Selfie Saturday promotion

-Josies Interiors, Bideford

for its Happy Home Makers Loyalty Club promotion

-Oliver Bonas for its collaboration with UK Youth

-Mooch Gifts and Home, Bewdley

for spearheading a 2 hour parking initiative campaign and a Festive Trail

-Swagger, Chipping Sodbury

for its Swag Bag initiative

 

Best Service To The Independent Gift Retailer

-Ashleigh & Burwood

-East of India

-Enesco

-Gisela Graham

-History & Heraldry

-Joe Davies

-Lesser & Pavey

-Nemesis Now

-Parlane

-Widdop and Co

 

The winners of the Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2019 will be announced at London’s glittering Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, on Wednesday May 15, with all strands of the gift industry invited to share in this very special day for gift retail.

Tickets to the event are available from event organiser Clare Hollick e: clare@createvents.co.uk; tel: 01183 340085. To read more about being at the hottest ticket in the gift industry’s calendar, visit http://www.thegreatsawards.co.uk/tickets/

The event is currently being highlighted online via twitter.com/prog_gifts, and #Greats19.

Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk