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Industry
NEWS
Last Chance To Enter The Greats Awards! Closing Date For Entries Is 31 January
Gift Retailer ‘An Inspiration’
With a closing date of 31January 2022, entries have been arriving thick and fast for The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2022 which set out to recognise and reward the crème de la crème of the UK’s amazing gift shops and gift departments. “With the competition now in its 20th milestone year, we want retailers to tell us why their shop could be a winner!” says Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net which organises the awards.
Jenny Blyth, who founded bespoke gift subscription service Storm in a Teacup Gifts in 2014, has been named as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs by the f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign. “Although we are predominately online we do pop up shops and all the events we can,” confirmed Jenny. “We love to be visible in the community.” Jenny is being profiled alongside 100 female entrepreneurs from across the country as part of the campaign to celebrate the multiachievements of women running businesses in the UK today. Now in its fifth year, the growing campaign attracted a record number of applications for this year’s ‘#ialso100’ line-up. “I’m thrilled and honoured to be included in this list alongside all these phenomenal women,” enthused Jenny. “My hope is to use this campaign to further our work in the community and, in particular, better mental health care.” Jenny was also singled out for her online community group, her commitment to work with other small businesses and her campaign for better mental health care for those both in and out of the small business sector.
A downloadable entry form is available from www.thegreatsawards.co.uk. Alternatively, entries can be emailed direct to suem@maxpublishing.co.uk. Uniting the gift industry, The Greats gift retailer awards have joined forces with The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year (GOTY) awards, with all winners - both The Greats and the GOTY - revealed at a fabulous black tie awards event, to be held at the glamorous Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday May 12. “Winning a Greats Gift Retailer award has become the pinnacle for gift retailers both large
and small - a prestigious, coveted retail trophy that recognises excellence, initiative, innovation and professionalism at the highest level,” continues Sue. “Therefore, once again, we’re on the lookout for those extra special gift retailers, gift departments, lifestyle stores, garden centres and visitor attractions that, despite a challenging, changing retail climate, are nevertheless managing to stay at the top of their game. The Greats are a fantastic opportunity for gift retailers right across the board - from the tiniest village shop to the largest multiple - to bang the drum about their achievements over the past year. We know that there are some incredible retailers out there, and we want to hear from them!” Tickets to the awards can be booked quickly and securely by visiting www.maxsubscriptions.net/tickets/or by contacting awards organiser Clare Hollick at clare@createvents.co.uk (tel: 01183 340085). Tickets cost £208 (+VAT) and tables of 10 and 12 are available. Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or www.thegiftawards.com First launched in 2003, The Greats Gift Retailer Awards are owned and organised by Max Publishing and Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide.
Below: Jenny Blyth, founder of Storm In A Teacup Gifts.
Above left: London’s Royal Lancaster hotel. Below: Last year’s Greats winners are shown with their
Dunelm’s Christmas Cracker
The Greats Awards 2022: Sponsors This year, the impressive line-up of Greats and GOTY sponsors include so far (in alphabetical order): Brand Licensing Europe (BLE); British Allied Trades Federation (BATF); Cardzone; Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; Gisela Graham; Joe Davies; Lesser & Pavey; Life Charms; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live, Spring Fair (headline sponsor), Talking Tables and Widdop & Co., with more sponsors in the pipeline. To find out more about sponsorship opportunities for The Greats and The Gift Of The Year Awards, contact Ali Farrell (e: alisonf@max-publishing.co.uk; mob: 07872 113635); Ian Hyder (e: ianh@max-publishing.co.uk mob: 07525 634 306); Rob Willis (robw@max-publishing.co.uk mob: 07792 016832); Warren Lomax (e: warren@max-publishing.co.uk; mob: 07977 572086). Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or www.thegiftawards.com
The tills were certainly ringing on high at Dunelm in the run up to Christmas, with the retailer enjoying a record festive quarter, with sales of £407m between October and December, and homewares among the winning product sectors. “Our performance demonstrates the growing appeal of our homewares offer and includes some standout contributions from our furniture and seasonal categories,” commented Dunelm’s ceo Nick Wilkinson. He highlighted that integrated physical and digital shopping experience has transformed since the company launched a new digital platform in October 2019, enabling Dunelm to reach more customers with its brand and specialist homewares product range, while also providing a much improved customer experience. “Our digital platform and capabilities also give us more confidence and ambition for the future,” he stated. Right: Dunelm enjoyed a record Christmas.
FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE
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