There’s nothing like some good news to lift the spirits, especially after what has been the most topsy-turvy period in living memory. The announcement of The Retas 2021 finalists set off (https://www.pgbuzz.net/the-retas-2021-finalists-have-been-announced/) a feelgood ‘Mexican wave’ that is continuing to percolate throughout the whole industry as these outstanding greeting card retailers quite rightly celebrated their nominations, with the outright winners now to be announced on November 16 at a Finery of Greenery-themed event at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Having shared three helpings of this positivity on PG Buzz (https://www.pgbuzz.net/wows-and-woops-galore-from-retas-2021-finalists/), (https://www.pgbuzz.net/the-waves-of-wows-keep-lapping-from-retas-2021-finalists/) and (https://www.pgbuzz.net/retailers-rejoice-making-it-into-the-retas-2021-finals/) there are still more treats in the pot, so feast your eyes…
PG shares some more happiness…
Jane Rawson, owner of Love & Best Wishes, Sheffield
Finalist: Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland
“What lovely news! I am feeling honoured and overjoyed after such a challenging and uncertain year to be recognised in the industry.”
Natalie and Angie Imms, co-owners of Beau Regards in Wombourne and Willowsbrook in Stone
Finalist: Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales and the Midlands
“We can’t tell you how happy we are to be included in the finalists of these prestigious awards this year. Over the past year we have worked hard to keep providing our communities with cards, gifts, and balloons in a safe and enjoyable way, via Click & Collect, free local delivery, and via our newly-built ecommerce websites. We would like to thank all our clients, customers, and peers that have supported us to get us here!’
Davina Parkhouse, co-owner of The Bean Hive, Falmouth and Kettering
Finalist: Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer or New Branch – South
“Thank you so much, we are so surprised and delighted to be finalists in such a prestigious awards competition.To be fair every shop that is still in business after the worst year in retail history needs applauding. Despite the setbacks of the lockdowns and constant supply issues we have thrived as a business – opening our website and a second branch, 312 miles from the first branch. To be finalists in The Retas is a real honour in this year more than any other.”
Jennifer Davidson, co-owner of My Beautiful Caravan, Stonehaven
Finalist: Best Retailer Initiative for its Pay-it-Forward campaign
“Absolutely delighted to hear that we’ve reached the finals of The Retas 2021! We began our Pay-It-Forward initiative in 2019, inspired by another amazing indie retailer, Lift Stores of Southwold, Suffolk. When we heard of their fantastic ‘Lift It Forward’ scheme, we wanted to share the love and give back to our own customers and community. With Lift’s permission – and in line with the pay-it-forward ethos! – we started awarding every 200th customer with a fiver to do something lovely for someone else, and a postcard for them to tell us what they did. We’ve had some lovely spends – donations to great charities, gifts to cheer up friends in need – and some brilliantly creative ones, such as the customer who bought cake ingredients, baked for a Macmillan Coffee Morning and turned £5 into £260. One regular even drew a beautiful picture of the My Beautiful Caravan shopfront and had it made into a card for us! We’re honoured to be part of such a caring community and over the moon to be a Retas’ finalist. Fingers crossed!”
Rachel Bates, The Celtic Company, Welshpool
Finalist: Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales and the Midlands
“We were thrilled and honoured to be nominated. After the last 12 months which has been really tough on all independent shops it was a real boost for both me personally and my fantastic team.
We are really looking forward to getting dressed up and being a part of the award ceremony – it really does mean the world!”
Maggie Wynn, owner of Just Cards in Honiton
Finalist: Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West
“I felt so excited to be nominated as one of the finalists of The Retas 2021! This is such positive news after such an unprecedented year.”
The winners of The Retas will be announced at a wonderful afternoon event, now scheduled to take place on November 16 at the Grosvenor House Hotel. (The event was initially slated for July 14, but when the lockdown easing was delayed, a ‘plan b’ was called for).
Tickets and tables to The Retas 2021 can be bought online via www.max-subscriptions.net or by contacting The Retas’ awards organiser, Clare Hollick of Createvents on 01183 340085 or by emailing her on clare@createvents.co.uk.
The Retas 2021 already has a strong roster of sponsors, leading companies, who are all committed to rewarding retailing expertise, with more to follow. These currently include The Art File, Belly Button Designs, Carte Blanche Greetings, Cath Tate Cards, Danilo, Hallmark, Ohh Deer, Ling Design, Paper Salad, Paperlink, Pigment Productions, Progressive Greetings Live, Second Nature, Sensations, UK Greetings, Wendy Jones-Blackett and Woodmansterne Publications.
