The winners of The Gift Awards 2023 – uniting The Gift of the Year Awards and The Greats Awards – were announced this evening (Thursday 11 May) at a glittering event, held at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel.
Hosted by comedian Sara Barron, the Awards were attended by some 400 guests, spanning gift retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, reps and agents, who shared in the joy as the delighted winners made their way to the stage to collect their trophies.
In her welcome speech, Sarah Ward, ceo of The Giftware Association, told guests: “The 2023 Gift of the Year Awards were our largest to date with almost 1000 entries, and over 90 industry judges lending their expertise to bring you all here this evening as worthy finalists. The result was our most diverse competition ever, reflecting emerging trends, industry movements, and changing customer behaviour. Never has the competition been so unpredictable, which makes this evening’s awards ceremony so exciting.”
Added Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net: “The 2023 Awards saw an unprecedented level of engagement from retailers and suppliers alike, evidenced by the wealth of nominations from the gift industry at large, as well as from the huge number of gift retailers self-nominating and putting themselves forward.”
The final award of the evening was The Greats Outstanding Achievement Award, (sponsored by the British Allied Trades Federation), which was presented to Clare Harris, founder and managing director of Talking Tables.
The winners of The Gift Awards 2023 are:
THE GREATS AWARDS 2023 – RETAIL AWARDS CATEGORIES
London, South, South East & East Anglia (sponsored by Gift Republic)
Lovely Libby’s, Rayleigh
Midlands & Wales (sponsored by Widdop & Co)
Joco, Nuneaton
North, N. Ireland & Scotland (sponsored by Joe Davies)
Serendipity House, Kirkham
West & South West (sponsored by Sourcing Support Asia)
The Rowan Tree, Budleigh Salterton
Best Newcomer Gift Retailer (sponsored by Life Charms)
House Interiors, Thirsk
Best Specialist Multiple Retailer Of Gifts (sponsored by Lesser & Pavey)
Oliver Bonas
Best Department Store Retailer of Gifts (sponsored by Carte Blanche Greetings)
Morleys Stores
Best Non-Specialist Retailer Of Gifts (sponsored by Talking Tables)
Bringing The Outside In
Best Garden Centre Retailer Of Gifts (sponsored by Crafter’s Companion)
Blue Diamond Group
Best In-Store/Window Display (sponsored by Gisela Graham)
Brocante, Cornwall and Devon
Best Retailer Initiative (sponsored by Ashleigh & Burwood)
Maybugs for its Supporting Independents This Christmas campaign
Outstanding Achievement Award (sponsored by BATF)
Clare Harris, founder and managing director of Talking Tables
THE GIFT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023 – PRODUCT AWARD CATEGORIES
Best Beauty, Bath & Spa Product or Range (sponsored by Top Drawer)
Handmade Soaps Collection from BrambleWood Soap Company
Best Branded Gift Product or Range (sponsored by Brand Licensing Europe)
Build Your Own Wallace & Gromit Rocket from Build Your Own Kits
Best Card & Wrap Product or Range (sponsored by Progressive Greetings Live)
Fabulously Flat Paper Pens from If
Best Children’s, Educational and Pre-School Product or Range (sponsored by Method UK)
Make Your Own Dinosaur Timeline & World Map from Clockwork Soldier
Best Commemorative, Collectable and Charitable Product or Range (sponsored by Trade Counter Distribution)
Corgi Toys James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 from Blue14 D2C
Best Contemporary Gift Product or Range (sponsored by Spring Fair)
Brick Compatible Letters from Made Happy Gifts
Best Design & Craft Product or Range (sponsored by N. Smith)
County Map Art Prints from AVMS Art
Best Ethical and Sustainable Gift Product or Range (sponsored by Products of Change)
Coconut Bowls Collection from Love Coco
Best Fashion Accessories Product or Range (sponsored by Autumn Fair)
Recycled Polycarbonate Sunglasses from POM
Best Festive & Occasions Product or Range (sponsored by Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair)
Festive Gingerbread Cat Playhouse from Puckator
Best Food & Drink Product or Range (sponsored by HousewaresNews.net)
Steak & Chips Gift Sets from Ross & Ross Gifts
Best Games Product or Range (sponsored by Splatter)
Sounds Fishy From Big Potato Games
Best Home and Garden Product or Range (sponsored by Qalara)
Solar-Powered Light-Up Terrarium from Gift Republic
Best Home Fragrance Product or Range (sponsored by Progressive Gifts & Home)
Pick + Mix Soya Wax Melts from Freckleface
Best International Product or Range (sponsored by The Giftware Association)
BosilunLife Nordic Moments Breakfast Mugs Gift St from AllGoodThings
Best Kitchen & Dining Product or Range (sponsored by Bira)
Personalised Glass Chopping Boards from Dinky Artist
My Gift Of All Time (sponsored by Wallace & Gromit)
Bottled Baking Mixes from The Bottled Baking Co
Best Novelty Tech &/or Gadgets Product or Range (sponsored by Aspin)
Leaf Cleaning Tongs from Kikkerland designed by WITH Creative
Best Gift Under £15 (sponsored by Source Home & Gift Show)
The ‘How To Become’ Series from Recent Toys UK
The Judges’ Choice Award (sponsored by Home & Gift)
Fabulously Flat Paper Pens from If
All photos from The Gift Awards 2023 event will be available to view, download and share over the next few days.
www.thegiftawards.com; www.giftoftheyear.co.uk; www.thegreatsawards.co.uk
#Greats23
