Over 400 people headed to annual greeting card awards event The Retas last Thursday (4 July) which took place at Mayfair’s glittering Grosvenor House Hotel. Among those who took home trophies were Andrea Pinder, owner of Presentation Cards & Gifts in Barrowford; Aga Marsden, owner of Highworth Emporium in Highworth, and Stuart Delahoy, owner of Set in Leicester who are not only great gift indies, but outstanding greeting card retailers too.
The full list of Retas Awards 2024 Winners are…
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – London
Nor, Beckenham Place Park and West Norwood
Award sponsored by Ohh Deer
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Counties and South East
Objectables, Folkestone
Award sponsored by Hallmark Cards
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – East Anglia
Dzo Dzo, Woodbridge
Award sponsored by Abacus Cards
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West
Highworth Emporium, Highworth
Award sponsored by Rosie Made A Thing
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales
Paperweight, Cardiff
Award sponsored by Progressive Greetings Live
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Midlands
Set, Leicester
Award sponsored by International Cards and Gifts
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North West
Wishes Cockermouth, Cockermouth
Award sponsored by UK Greetings
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North East
Strickland and Holt, Yarm
Award sponsored by Wendy Jones-Blackett
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Scotland
The Bay Tree Company, Edinburgh
Award sponsored by London Stationery Show
Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer
Cards & Moor, Yelverton
Award sponsored by Carte Blanche Greetings
Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards
Kemps General Store & Bookshop, Malton
Award sponsored by Woodmansterne Publications
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – North
Proudfoot Group
Award sponsored by Lucilla Lavender
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – South
Stationery House, Somerton, Clevedon and Wrington
Award sponsored by Pigment
Best Greeting Card Small Multiple
Postmark
Award sponsored by Ling Design
Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards
Morley Stores
Award sponsored by Spring & Autumn Fair
Best Supermarket Retailer of Greeting Cards
Sainsbury’s
Award sponsored by Danilo
Best Non-Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards
Waterstones
Award sponsored by Cath Tate Cards
Best Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (20+ branches)
Cardfactory
Award sponsored by Paperlink
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
Notcutts
Award sponsored by Woodmansterne Publications
Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative
Presentation Cards & Gifts, Barrowford for its Mother’s Day and Easter charity initiative with Open Door
Award sponsored by N Smith Packaging & Display
Best Greeting Card Wholesaler
BGC Wholesale
Award sponsored by Xpress Yourself
Greeting Card Retailer of the Year
Postmark
Award sponsored by The Art File
This year The Retas took on a Beatrix Potter theme.
Photos from The Retas will be available to view and download from the awards’ website (www.theretasawards.co.uk) over the next few days and the event will be covered in full in the next edition of Progressive Greetings magazine, the sister publication to Progressive Gifts & Home.
The Retas, organised by Max Publishing, owners of Progressive Greetings magazine, are the only dedicated awards for greeting card retailers.
Top: Andrea Pinder, owner of Presentation Cards & Gifts in Barrowford, was the winner of The Retas’ Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative category.
