Having been announced last month as a finalist in The Greats Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – London, South, South East + East Anglia category,the owners of gift shop Maybugs, which has stores in Hailsham and Eastbourne, are excited to have also been shortlisted as one of eight finalists in the High Street Hero awards at The Smalls UK small business awards.
“We’re stunned!” exclaimed Maybugs co-owner Greg Rose. “Firstly, to be finalists again in The Greats, where being recognised by industry experts and your peers is such a great complement. And then to find out that we are finalists in the High Street Hero category at The Smalls awards. It’s amazing! We are over the moon! It’s made our year!”
Continued Greg: “Finding this out exactly a year to the day after retail was allowed to reopen last year, following lockdown, is such a nice thing. As all owners of small retail businesses know, the last 365 days have been so challenging, so this news has made it all worthwhile. Win or lose it doesn’t matter, just to be finalists is good enough for us! Team Bug are so excited, and we can’t wait for the glittering ceremonies in May, which also happens to be when we have a big Maybugs announcement to make too!”
The Smalls High Street Hero award will be recognising a strong high street business that has a proven record of contributing towards the success of their street.
Maybugs is owned by couple Greg Rose and John Dale, who opened their first branch in Hailsham in 2018. In 2020 they opened Flowers by Maybugs, a contemporary florist and floral design studio nextdoor, which was followed by a second gift shop, Maybugs Eastbourne, which opened in July 2021, bringing life to an old Laura Ashley store in the centre of the town.
The Small Awards is organised by Small Business Britain which runs a number of national campaigns for small businesses, including Small Business Saturday.
Top: Gift shop Maybugs in Eastbourne.
