6 minute read
The UK Gift Awards
Uniting The
Gift Industry
Marking a significant, unified step forward for the UK gift industry, the GA’s Gift of the Year (GOTY) awards and The Greats gift retailer awards will be joining forces in 2022, with the winners of both awards programmes announced at a shared lavish black tie evening event on Thursday 12 May 2022, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
A key event on the gift industry’s calendar for 2022 will be The Gift Awards in May, which will unite the Gift of the Year Awards with The Greats gift retailer awards.
The two award programmes will see both gift product excellence and retail prowess recognised and rewarded at an awards event to make the whole industry proud, attended by hundreds of gift suppliers and retailers.
Reinforcing its commitment to the gift sector, Hyve Group (which owns and organises Spring Fair and Autumn Fair), is the headline supporter for the UK Gift Awards event, and will remain integral to the Gift of the Year Awards, with the live judging of the 2022 GOTYs taking place during Spring Fair 2022.
The ownership and running of the Gift of the Year product awards, now in their 45th year, will remain under the stewardship of the Giftware Association while The Greats gift retailer awards, now in their 20th year, will continue to be wholly owned and run by Max Publishing (publishers of Progressive Gifts & Home magazine and GiftsandHome.net).
Both parties will work closely together to create an exciting and ‘not to be missed’ evening event that will truly celebrate the industry’s achievements, both on the product and retailing fronts.
“After everything we have all been through over the last 22 months, an event which brings the whole industry together in celebration and camaraderie is much needed and will be warmly embraced,” commented Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association. “Having received the unanimous support from the GA national committee, we are delighted to be working with the Max
Above: Banner image showing part of the front of the Royal Lancaster and a composite of the various logos. Left: Progressive Gifts & Home’s editor Sue Marks welcomed guests to The Greats Awards 2021 in September. Below left: The glittering Royal Lancaster Hotel in London will be hosting The Gift Awards on May 12. Below right: The Gift Awards over arching logo featuring the GOTY and Greats logos etc.
How To Buy Tickets
Tickets for the UK Gift Awards event on 12 May 2022 can be booked quickly and securely by visiting Max-Tickets.net 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
Publishing team, respected for their commitment to the gift industry and awards expertise, to take the Gift of the Year awards onto another level.”
The GA will continue to organise the entry and judging process for the Gift of the Year awards. Some 70 judges have signed up for the judging panel, including Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftandHome.net’s editor Sue Marks).
Meanwhile, Max Publishing will continue to manage The Greats gift retailer awards. In addition, Max Publishing will undertake the sponsorship of both awards programmes, as well as the organisation of the awards event itself, (including the ticket booking), drawing on the expertise of its affiliated Max Live Events team.
Commenting on the significant collaboration, Sue Marks said: “This is a dream come true. I have worked closely with the GA for over 20 years - to include being an enthusiastic judge of the GOTYs for some 23 years. In addition, I have been at the forefront of The Greats since their inception in 2003, so creating an event which will unify our industry’s incredible suppliers with their fabulous retail customers makes perfect sense. One side does not work without the other, and I’m looking forward to, and excited to be part of the inaugural Gift of the Year and Greats Awards event on May 12!”
Adding her endorsement, Julie Driscoll, divisional managing director of Hyve Group plc said: “This is a wonderful moment in the history of Gift of the Year. Spring Fair has, for many, many years, supported the GOTY awards and we are very excited to be hosting the judging, welcoming the best of the best in the gift industry to the show in February. The unification of Gift of the Year and The Greats into the UK Gift Awards is an obvious step for the industry and our headline sponsorship demonstrates our continued commitment and love for the gift industry.”
A new, centralised website has been created for The Gift Awards 2022 (www.thegiftawards.com), containing full information about the various categories, attendance, sponsors and more. Meanwhile, more information on the Gift of the Year awards can be found by visiting www.giftoftheyear.co.uk, while more information on The Greats gift retailer awards can be found by visiting www.thegreatsawards.co.uk.
How To Become A Sponsor
Category sponsorship is currently still available for both The Gift Of The Year and The Greats.
With lots more in the pipeline, the line-up of Greats/Gift of the Year confirmed sponsors include (in alphabetical order): Brand Licensing Europe (BLE); Cardzone; Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live.
To find out more about sponsorship opportunities for The Greats and The Gift Awards event, 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
Right: Julie Driscoll, divisional managing director of Hyve Group plc. Below left: Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association, category sponsor of The Greats’ Outstanding Achievement Award, is shown announcing the winner at the 2021 awards.
The Greats Awards 2022
Open For Entries!
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.
With the competition now in its 20th milestone year, and with an exciting new London venue for 2022 - the glamorous Royal Lancaster Hotel in Bayswater, overlooking London’s Hyde Park - we want retailers to tell us why their shop could be a winner!
Once again, Progressive Gifts & Home is on the lookout for those extra special gift retailers, gift departments, lifestyle stores, garden centres and visitor attractions that, despite a tougher than ever retail climate, are nevertheless managing to stay at the top of their game. Therefore, with the competition well underway, it's all systems go to discover the special gift retailers that stand out from the crowd.
“The Greats Awards set out to recognise and celebrate gift retailers who have shown entrepreneurial flair in responding to the changing retail landscape,” comments PG&H’s editor Sue Marks. “Once again, gift retailers of all shapes and sizes are being invited to tell us about their marketing initiatives, their community involvement, how good they are at display, whether they’ve expanded or opened a new outlet, what they do online, as well as how they use social media to promote sales.”
Adds Sue: “The Greats are a fantastic opportunity for gift retailers 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!”
Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk or www.thegiftawards.com which feature details on how to enter The Greats Awards 2022, together with downloadable entry forms. Entries can also be emailed to suem@max-publishing.co.uk.
The closing date for entries is January 31, 2022, and an entry form is enclosed with this issue of Progressive Gifts & Home.
First launched in 2003, The Greats gift retailer awards are owned and organised by Max Publishing and Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide.
