Entries are flooding in for Gift of the Year Awards 2025 and, with six weeks to go to the closing date of 30 November, there’s still time to be a part of this year’s competition, the largest recognised product awards in the gift industry.
GiftsandHome.net asked The Giftware Association’s PR and marketing manager, Chris Workman, what makes a Gift of The Year winner?
“Entrants should take time when submitting their entry or entries,”emphasises Chris. “We want to know about a product’s design innovation and originality, the quality of manufacture, its sales potential and commercial viability, its presentation and packaging, its customer appeal and value, its retail profit and potential, and why it’s got the ‘wow’ factor. These are the things that the judges will want to read up on when they peruse the entries online in December, which is when the first round of judging takes place.”
Adds Chris: “Photographs are incredibly important too, with lifestyle imagery coming on in leaps and bounds. We are also offering an opportunity for entrants to submit videos again this year.”
On the category front, Chris confirms that there are some changes this year. “As organisers of the competition, we get fantastic insight into the types of products that get entered each year, as well as the trends across the competition,” he explains. “This allows us to amend categories each year so that they are suitable for judging – and, ultimately, a buying audience. This year we have added two categories – Affordable and Made In Britain – as well as combining some of our previous category titles that cover the current movements in our industry. We have also separated out Home and Garden into their own respective categories, as well and expanding our Fashion Accessories category to include textiles and clothes.”
He emphasises that the Awards are a fantastic way for a company to raise its brand profile in the gift and home space, having helped to take numerous brands to the next level. “Each year the awards go from strength to strength, reaching new audiences, and making Gift of the Year one of the most prestigious awards to be a part of,” states Chris. “Importantly, for companies thinking about entering, we know for a fact that many buyers and retailers – judges and non-judges – reference the Gift of The Year winners and finalists throughout the year when doing their buying.”
He highlights that whether a company is new to the industry and just starting out, or well-established with many years trading under its belt, the awards are a great opportunity to raise exposure through putting products in front of a huge audience. As Chris points out: “Simply by entering, products are seen by buyers, retailers and key industry professionals, so it really is a win win.”
Another plus for entrants is that, through each stage of the competition, The Giftware Association creates showcases, events and displays at the key UK trade shows, as well as helping to get Gift of the Year winners onto some of the biggest online marketplaces such as Faire. “It’s this activity that is so important to us – giving a company, and its products, the exposure and celebration they deserve,” says Chris. “A case in point was our hugely popular Gift of the Year judging display at Spring Fair in February. It drove traffic – and orders – to the shortlisted companies who were exhibiting. Meanwhile, those companies who weren’t exhibiting reported that they received enquiries and orders online.”
At every stage of the competition, entrants will receive promotional marketing material to boost their brand, as well as ways for companies to fanfare their achievements. All entrants will also be able to feature a Gift of the Year ‘Nominated’ logo on printed material and digitally.
As with previous years, the 2025 Gift of the Year winners will be announced at The Gift Awards 2025, which take place at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday 15 May 2025, alongside the winners of The Greats Awards 2025.
Visit www.giftoftheyear.co.uk
To discuss entering this year’s Gift of the Year competition with a member of the GA team, email: chris.workman@ga-uk.org. To enter products and ranges visit awards@ga-uk.org
