Retailer celebrates reaching the finals in The Greats and The Smalls awards
We might have to wait for a couple of weeks for the annual emergence of adult maybugs (aka cockchafers) taking to the skies in their breeding mission, but Sussex-based gift and card retailer Maybugs is already flying high, having reached the finals of two leading awards programmes.
Hot on the heels of the confirmation that Maybugs is in the finals of The Greats gift retailer awards, in the Best Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – London, South, South East & East Anglia category, comes more good news, that the retailer is also up for a High Street Hero award in The Smalls, a UK-wide small business awards programme.
Owned by couple Greg Rose and John Dale, they opened their first Maybugs branch in Hailsham’s Vicarage Field in 2018, then in 2020 came Flowers By Maybugs, a contemporary florist and floral design studio next door.
Maybugs Eastbourne store was opened in July 2021, bringing life back to a former Laura Ashley store in the centre of the town.
“We are just stunned!” exclaimed Greg. “Firstly, to be finalists again in The Greats – being recognised by industry experts and your peers is such a great compliment – now to find out we’re finalists in the UK0wide Small Awards, in the High Street Hero category, is just amazing! We’re over the moon, it’s made our year!”
The news of the Small Awards accolade came exactly a year to the day after non-essential retail was allowed to reopen following the first major lockdown, which makes it all the more poignant.
Greg added: “As all owners of small retail businesses will know, the last 365 days have been so challenging, so to find out this news has made it all worthwhile. Win or lose it doesn’t matter, just to be finalists is good enough for us!”
Here, Greg shares just some of the current top selling ranges in Maybugs’ two shops…
Everyday: Just Saying from Lola Design
“The bright funky designs with die-cut edges really stand out.”
Relations & Occasions: Hammond Gower
“An easy buy.”
Humour: All from Poet And Painter
“Cleverly humorous with a great variety of fresh artwork styles.”
Zepplinmoon from Redback Cards
“Fabulously hilarious.”
Art: The Country Set from Wrendale Designs
“Too cute for words – perfectly captures the creatures’ personalities.”
Children’s: Kooks from Bug Art
“Bright and fun, but not too young.”
Adult ages: Apollo Milestones from Lola Design
“Nothing else like it on the market for male ages – zesty, cheerful and not overly sentimental.”
Giftwrap: Bee rollwrap and bags from The Art File
“Everyone loves a bee.”
Gifts: Chinoiserie from Candlelight Products
“Great price and a huge variety of scents.”
Sharing his joyful anticipation: Greg teased: “All of Team Bug are so excited, and we can’t wait for the glittering ceremonies in May – which also just happens to be when we have a big Maybugs announcement to make too!”
The Greats 2022 winners will be announced at a lavish awards evening event on Thursday, 12 May, which will also see the winners of the Gift Of The Year product awards being revealed. Tickets are still available for this unified gift industry event, find out more by clicking here.
Maybugs’ fellow finalists in The Greats’ Independent Gift Retailer Of The Year – London, South, South East & East Anglia are Bill & Bert’s, Colchester; Etcetera, Hitchin; Gifts With Love…, Middleton-on-Sea; Jumping Bean, Beckenham, East Dulwich and Honor Oak; and Little Boat Gifts, Brightlingsea.
The Small Awards is run by Small Business Britain, which organises a number of national campaigns for small businesses, including Small Business Saturday. Maybugs’ fellow finalists are Prior Shop, Outdoors & Active, Richardson & Richardson, Ebb & Flo, The Straight And Narrow, Chorlton Cheesemongers, and Small Stuff UK.
Top: Maybugs’ Eastbourne store
