Wrendale Designs’ premises in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, set the scene for the presentation of the company’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade, which was presented to Wrendale’s founder and creative director Hannah Dale and her husband Jack, co-owner of the business.
Staff, agents, family, suppliers and customers gathered to hear the Queen’s representative, Toby Dennis, Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, read the official grant of appointment, before presenting Hannah and Jack with a certificate, as well as a glass bowl, to commemorate the prestigious award.
“The Lord-Lieutenant congratulated us on the business and wished us the best for the future,” Hannah told GiftsandHome.net.
Commenting on such a special day, Hannah said: “It was a lovely opportunity to thanks some of the people who have always supported us over the past eight years. Despite the rain, it was a wonderful occasion, and I think that everyone loved the opportunity to let their hair down and celebrate. We had a casino, and gave away an original to the person with the most chips at the end of the day. It was won by Shane, one of our warehouse staff.”
Added Hannah: “a few of our guests travelled a very long way to be at the presentation, and we were very honoured that they made the journey.”
The original Queen’s Award announcement was made earlier this year by the Queen on her 93rd birthday. It was followed by a royal reception for Queen’s Award winners held at Buckingham Palace in the summer, attended by Hannah and Jack. The couple joined Queen’s Award recipients at a special event, hosted by Prince Charles, and attended by other members of the Royal family including Princess Beatrice and the Dukes of Kent and Gloucester.
“It felt such a privilege to go through the gates of Buckingham Palace and be shown into the impressive state reception room that has housed so many important events and meetings,” said Hannah.
The company has the right to use the accreditation for the next five years,
Wrendale Designs, which made its debut as a greeting card publisher at PG Live in 2012 with quirky animal designs, has seen its portfolio expand to include a wide range of gift and homewares, including tableware, stationery, fashion accessories, tinware and textiles, produced under the company’s own brand as well as through licensing agreements with other brands.
Among the licensing expansions has been a continuation of the successful collaboration with Portmeirion Group, with Wrendale’s designs featuring on mugs, tableware and kitchen items as well as a recently launched dinner service.
“We’re so thrilled to receive this award,” enthused Hannah Dale, a former stockbroker. “Launching our brand and seeing it so well received across the world has been incredibly exciting for us.”
On a global stage, Wrendale’s export sales have grown more than 400% over the last three years following the brand’s successful launch in the US, Europe and Japan, as well as growing relationships with distributors elsewhere in the world.
Top: Wrendale Designs’ Hannah and Jack Dale were presented with a certificate, as well as a glass bowl, by the Queen’s representativeToby Dennis, Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire.
