The Gift Awards ticket sponsor hits national press as bespoke invite is unveiled
Letterbox Love founder Kerry Bilson had her day in The Sun at the weekend – the national newspaper that is, telling the story of her card and gift business that’s gone from a £250 investment to £1million turnover in five years.
And the publicity is sure to boost the sponsor of this year’s The Gift Awards tickets even further as her design for the event celebrating the best gift retailers with The Greats and the Giftware Association’s Gift Of The Year awards has just been unveiled.
Incorporating her signature greeting of a poem on a card with a bracelet, the bespoke Bridgerton-inspired ticket is adorned with a pretty ribbon and sets out details of the big bash at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday, 15 May, as well as marking five years of Letterbox Love this month.
Kerry said: “We wanted every guest to receive something that would feel more like a keepsake than a card, with all the fabulousness and theatre of a Bridgerton, fairytale-style Royal invitation but with a Letterbox Love twist.
“So, having recently finished watching Bridgerton, we can thank the show for the inspiration which has been given a Letterbox Love edge!
“Our marketing manager Emily designed the beautiful box the tickets arrive in. We both instantly loved the idea of something that felt elegant and special, but still full of heart and personality. It was really important to us that the design reflected both the prestige of the awards and the emotion behind what we do.”
With wee poems being an integral part of Letterbox Love story, and harking back to the sentiment of greeting cards, Kerry was determined the one on the official invite would feel “uplifting, proud and a little bit magical, because that’s what this industry is all about”, and it reads:
‘The Gift Awards is finally here!
And you’re invited to the event of the year.
To celebrate our industry and all we do.
Not just the creations but our people too.
So, dress to impress and sparkle bright,
Come and join us for an unforgettable night!’
The company’s mission is to spread kindness, positivity, and meaningful connection through affordable, heartfelt gifts that fit through the letterbox, having begun on the lounge floor at her Derbyshire home in lockdown.
Now Kerry is working full-time alongside husband Liam and a team of four staff on more than 300 products including bracelets, earrings, and greeting card and gift sets using plantable seeded board, being stocked in gift and greeting card shops across the world and with sales of almost half a million bracelets.
Hoping to make £30,000 in her first year, Kerry surpassed that to hit £50,000, followed by a £250,000 second-year turnover and, by 2023, had hit £1m. She gave up her recruitment job to run the business full-time within a year, followed by Liam leaving his construction role to run the accounts and operations.
“So far, 2025 has been a whirlwind!” Kerry commented. “We’ve tripled our product range in the last 12 months and reached a huge milestone with our nationwide rollout into Clintons stores. We are optimistic for the year ahead, with some exciting new ranges to come and our biggest-yet Christmas range which we’ve just signed off on.”
Everyone attending the prestigious lunchtime presentation on 15 May will receive one of the special tickets so they can find out the winners at the event which brings together GOTY and The Greats, organised and owned by Max Publishing, publishers of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net as well as Progressive Greetings and PG Buzz.
Celebrating product excellence and retail prowess, all the winners will be revealed at the event, including the recipient of The Greats Outstanding Achievement award, and the Gift Awards 2025 have been supported by sponsors including Allsorted, Ambiente, BATF, Candlelight, Cardgains, Carte Blanche Greetings, Cereria Mollá, DKB Toys & Distribution, FYG, Gift Republic, Gisela Graham, Go La La, Good Results, Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair, Letterbox Love, Life Charms, London Stationery Show, N Smith and Co, Progressive Greetings Live, Qalara, Scotland’s Trade Fair/Springboard Events, Skylight Media, Source Home & Gift, Talking Tables, 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 through clare@createvents.co.uk or 0118 334 0085.
