A supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Mary Poppins themed Retas Awards, which took place yesterday, (7 July), saw the crème de la crème of greeting card retail stockists, from across the retail spectrum, crowned at a glittering event held at London’s Grosvenor House hotel on Park Lane.
Scooping two awards was Home Counties-based greeting card and gift retailer House of Cards, which won the Best Greeting Card Small Multiple award, and also the final award of the ceremony, the prestigious Greeting Card Retailer of the Year award.
Other delighted greeting card and gift shop winners included Hugs & Kisses in Tettenhall, winner of the Best Independent Greeting Cards Retailer – North & Northern category; Mooch London, winner of the Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – South; and Lark London, winner of the Best Non-Specialist Multiple of Greeting Cards category.
Welcoming guests, Progressive Greetings’ co-owner Jakki Brown paid tribute to The Retas finalists and winners, saying: “Echoing today’s theme, we all know the song lyrics “A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down” which is a very apt metaphor for us here today. With all the doom and gloom around, the cost-of-living crisis, ongoing war in Ukraine, political turmoil and supply chain disruption, we all need something sweet to take the edge of these modern day challenges.
“Greeting card retailers provide a welcome antidote to all this bad stuff with their bursting racks of colour and sentiment to lift the spirits of the nation’s greeting card shoppers.”
The full list of Retas Awards 2022 Winners are…
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – London
The Card Collection – East Molesey
Award sponsored by Ohh Deer
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Counties and South East
Dee’s Cards – Leighton Buzzard
Award sponsored by Hallmark Cards
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – East Anglia
The Card Centre – Felixstowe
Award sponsored by Abacus Cards
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West
Kingfisher Cards and Gifts – Sidmouth
Award sponsored by Nigel Quiney Publications/Glick
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales and the Midlands
Hugs & Kisses – Tettenhall
Award sponsored by Second Nature
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland
Bailey’s – Ainsdale, Crosby and Maghull
Award sponsored by UK Greetings
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Scotland
Penny Black – two shops in Glasgow
Award sponsored by Belly Button Designs
Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer
HBB Cards – Newport Pagnell
Award sponsored by Carte Blanche Greetings
Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards
Blandfords – Broadway
Award sponsored by Woodmansterne
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – North
Utility – Liverpool and Manchester
Award sponsored by Meraki
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – South
Mooch London – four shops in West London
Award sponsored by Pigment
Best Greeting Card Small Multiple
House of Cards – seven shops in the Home Counties
Award sponsored by Ling Design
Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards
John Lewis & Partners
Award sponsored by Spring Fair and Autumn Fair
Best Supermarket Retailer of Greeting Cards
Tesco
Award sponsored by PG Live
Best Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards
Card Factory
Award sponsored by Paperlink
Best Non-Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards
Lark London – 10 shops in London
Award sponsored by Cath Tate
Best Greeting Card Wholesaler
BGC Wholesale
Award sponsored by Sensations/Express Yourself
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards – Independent
Yarnton Home & Garden – Yarnton
Award sponsored by Museums & Galleries
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards – Multiple or Group
Dobbies Garden Centres
Award sponsored by W Select
Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative
Stationery Supplies, Wilmslow and Marple – for its Giving Back Charity Programme,
Award sponsored by Danilo Promotions
Greeting Card Retailer of the Year
House of Cards – seven shops in the Home Counties
Award sponsored by The Art File
Some 300 retailers, publishers and suppliers attended the event, which was hosted by comedian Sara Barron.
Now in their 17th year, The Retas, organised by Max Publishing, owners of Progressive Greetings magazine, are the only dedicated awards for greeting card retailers.
Visit www.theretasawards.co.uk
Top: The Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane was the venue for the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Retas Awards.
