With hundreds of retailers and gift suppliers packing into the Grosvenor House Ballroom last Wednesday (May 15), The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2019 were another glitzy, glittering occasion, taking as its theme A Walk On The Wild side.
“Our theme is based not only on the current animal print trend, but also the fact that retail is something of a jungle too, no matter if you are the biggest multiple on the high street or the smallest shop tucked away in a tiny village,” Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net’s editor Sue Marks told guests.
“Like any jungle, there are many predators out there, so it really is down to the survival of the fittest, with retailers not only having to stay ahead of the trends, but also to be streetwise and savvy too – in essence, being a shop that’s ahead of the curve.”
She continued: “It’s this determination to beat the oddsthat has long made retailers more than simply shopkeepers. They have had to become innovators, marketeers, local media stars and groundbreakers. They are community spirited and with an ethical, eco-friendly conscience. All of this enforces the fact that retailers remain a very special breed. For those gift retailers who have managed to survive the cull of the last few years, especially those who are still enthusiastically opening news shops, then it’s clear that they are bucking the retail trend and doing something very right.”
GiftsandHome.net shares a taster of a memorable afternoon.
Above: The doorman outside London’s Grosvenor House with a prestigious Greats trophy.
Above: Guests were quick to embrace the Awards’ A Walk On The Wild Side theme.
Above: Part of the afternoon’s fun included taking part in a ‘higher or lower’ competition which involved animal masks as ‘props’!
Above: Priya Auroura-Crowe, from multiple gift shop Lark London in South West London, was the ‘higher or lower’ competition’s winner. She received her prize of a magnum of champagne from Max Publishing’s joint managing director Warren Lomax.
Above: Birthday girl Mathilde Le Borgne, marketing manager of Brand Licensing Europe (BLE), drew the raffle, assisted by Ian Hyder, joint managing director of Max Publishing, owners of The Greats awards.
Above: Sam Loveday, editor of Licensing Source Book (LSB), presented a lucky guest with his prize of theatre tickets to a top West End show, donated by Gift Republic.
Above: A delicious Greats Awards lunch was specially prepared by the chefs at the Grosvenor House.
Above: Making everyone laugh before the Awards took place was comedian and Greats compere Henry Paker.
Above: We won! Big smiles from Lizzy Hall and Frances Maulkerson, shop managers at Loft & Spires in Bury St Edmunds, winner of the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year East Anglia category, sponsored by Xpressions.
Above: Absolutely thrilled! A delighted smile from Jo Webber, owner of Jo Amor in Tiverton, winner of the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – South West category, sponsored by Carte Blanche/All Creatures.
To check out all the photos from on the day by click onto https://maxpublishing.shootproof.com/gallery/TheGreats19/
To see the full list of winners click HERE.
