With just over three weeks to go to The Gift Awards on Thursday 15 May, Candlelight’s head of sales, Kate Winch, tells GiftsandHome.net why the company is, once again, sponsoring The Greats Best Retailer Initiative category.
“We sponsor The Greats each year because we truly value the independent retailers who are the backbone of our industry,” says Kate. “It’s important to us to support them by providing unique products at great prices. The gifting sector isn’t just a part of our business, it’s at the heart of everything we do.”
She continues: It’s been another brilliant year for Candlelight, and I couldn’t be prouder, both as head of sales, and as founder Mike Winch’s daughter. Watching my dad perform with his band at The Greats is always a highlight, and he’s back on stage once again this year. It’s become a special tradition that means a lot to all of us, especially as we celebrate a year of incredible growth at Candlelight.
“We’ve seen a 36% increase in overall business compared to last year, and our candle sales have skyrocketed — up by 50%. It’s a huge achievement for our team and a clear sign that Candlelight is making a strong mark on the UK candle market. There’s something pretty special about being part of a family business that’s built on passion, creativity, and the occasional guitar solo too. Here’s to continued success in the year ahead.”
All Gift of the Year and Greats winners, including the recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Achievement award, will be revealed at The Gift Awards (www.thegiftawards.com) on Thursday 15 May at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The event will, once again, bring together The Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year Awards and The Greats gift retailer awards, organised and owned by Max Publishing, publishers of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net.
At the glittering event, both gift product excellence and retail prowess will be recognised and rewarded in a true celebration of both sides of the UK gift industry.
The Greats 2025 finalists can be viewed HERE.
The Gift of the Year 2025 finalists can be viewed HERE.
Hyve Group, organisers of Spring Fair, Autumn Fair, GLEE and Source Home & Gift (among others), is the headline sponsor of The Gift Awards. Other leading names in the impressive line-up of sponsors include: Allsorted, Ambiente, Autumn Fair, BATF, Candlelight, Cardgains, Carte Blanche Greetings, Cereria Molla, Dizzy Heights Agencies, FYG, Gift Republic, Gisela Graham, Go La La, Good Results, Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair, Letterbox Love, LicensingSource.net, London Stationery Show, Method UK, N Smith and Co, Products of Change, Progressive Gifts & Home, Progressive Greetings Live, Progressive Housewares, PreschoolNews.net, Qalara, Scotland’s Trade Fair/Springboard Events, Source Home & Gift, Spring Fair, Talking Tables, Top Drawer, Toy Fair and Trade Counter Distribution.
Tickets and tables for the awards can be booked via the Max Publishing digital box office event at Max-Tickets.net, or by contacting event organiser Createvents: clare@createvents.co.uk or 0118 334 0085.
To find out more about The Gift Awards and book tickets, visit www.thegiftawards.com; www.thegreatsawards.co.uk
Top: Kate Winch is head of sales at Candlelight.
