Closing date for Gift Of The Year comp now 15 December – with live judging at Spring Fair
Giving everyone the chance to enter is the rationale behind the just-announced extension to the Gift Of The Year 2023 deadline to 15 December.
And the move comes hot on the heels of the exciting news that the live judging round will take place throughout the duration of Spring Fair – a massive four days where judges can see the shortlisted products at the UK’s largest home and gift show.
Run by The Giftware Association, entries for GOTY were due to close on Wednesday, 30 November, but the 15 days’ grace has been allowed to cover companies struggling with entries and actual products entering the UK.
“We have listened to a lot of companies who have been affected by supply chain issues over the year,” the GA’s pr and marketing manager Chris Workman explained, “and it makes sense to extend the competition by a bit longer as we want to give everyone a chance to enter, whether you are waiting on your actual products, samples, or photography to enter. This is your chance to get involved.”
With 19 categories, plus the overall Judges’ Choice, there are at least 10 suitable for greeting card publishers – Cards, Wraps & Stationery; Branded Gift; Commemorative, Collectable & Charitable; Design & Craft; Ethical & Sustainable; Festive & Occasions; International; Novelty, Tech & Gadget; Under £15; and My Gift Of All Time. There is a fee for entering, and entries can be made here.
The new timelines mean online judging commences on 16 December, the day after the competition closes, then the shortlist for each category will be announced on 3 January, with the live judging taking place during Spring Fair, at Birmingham’s NEC, over Sunday-Wednesday, 5-8 February.
Chris added: “You can take advantage of some of entrants’ marketing which you can see on the GOTY blog. Being crowned a winner gives your business industry wide recognition and previous entrants have seen a huge boost to their sales and revenue. The competition has helped elevate businesses through exposure at trade shows, our winners’ area, the winners’ brochure and a whole lot of social media exposure.”
All GOTY winners will be announced at the Gift Awards event on Thursday, 11 May, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, which is being organised by Max Publishing in conjunction with the GA. The lavish evening event will also see the crowning of The Greats gift retailer awards, which are owned and organised by Max Publishing.
