The UK’s best greeting card retailers were officially recognised at The Retas greeting card retail awards ceremony, which took place on July 12 at The Dorchester Hotel, London.
The sell out event, which this year took on an ‘Enchanted Tails’ forest and animal theme, was attended by 400 greeting card retailers, publishers and suppliers. Hosted by comedian Charlie Baker, The Retas 2017 saw greeting card retail stockists from right across the retail spectrum recognised, rewarded and celebrated (group photo of the winners shown above).
Now in its 13th year, The Retas are organised by Max Publishing, owner of Progressive Greetings. Welcoming guests, PG’s editor and co-owner Jakki Brown said: “Making your way through the deep retailing forest is not easy, and it takes a special breed of retailing animal that have used their talents and instincts to emerge from the undergrowth and climb to the highest of the tree tops.”
Kicking off the awards ceremony a huge cheer went out when Medici Gallery’s Tim Reynolds was pronounced Retail Employee of the Year. And the applause continued right through the ceremony that built to a crescendo when Postmark, the progressive London-based retail group won Greeting Card Retailer of the Year award.
The Retas Winners 2017
Greeting Card Retail Employee of the Year
Tim Reynolds, manager of Medici Gallery, Kensington
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – London
Nor– West Norwood
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Counties
Threads – Harpenden
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – East Anglia
Spots – Southwold
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West
Paper Gangsta – Bristol
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales and the Midlands
The Tutbury Present Company – Tutbury
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland
Wishes – Cockermouth
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Scotland
JP Pozzi and Bijou – Buckie and Elgin
Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer or New Branch – South
Peppertrees – Northampton
Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer or New Branch – North
Zo and Co – Knutsford
Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards
The Guisborough Bookshop – Guisborough
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – North
Proutfoot – Scarborough
Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards – South
Farrants – Cobham
Best Greeting Card Small Multiple (4-20 Stores)
Bentleys – four shops in the Midlands
Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards
Fenwicks of Colchester – Colchester
Best Supermarket Retailer of Greeting Cards
Tesco
Best Non-Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (4+ Stores)
WHSmith
Best Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (20+ Stores)
Card Factory
Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards
Frosts Garden Centre Group – Brampton, Millets Farm, Willington and Woburn Sands
Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative
Postmark, London – for its Feel Good Friday initiative
Best Greeting Card Wholesaler
Archway Cards – Norwich
Greeting Card Retailer of the Year
Postmark – four shops in London
To view The Retas 2017 picture gallery, click here.
