Gifts & Greetings Review publisher, Charlotte Cowell, was delighted to attend the Gift of the Year Awards on Sunday February 4, following the opening day of Spring Fair. The awards ceremony at The Vox resort at The NEC, where host Rory Bremner kept the audience in stitches.
Premier Decorations owner John Athwal was recognised for his OBE during the ceremony with a commemorative crystal bowl.
Charlotte presented the prize for Hot Novelty product, which was won by Talking Tables’ Prosecco Pong, and the coveted Judges Choice award was won by Contemporary Gift category winner Gingko Electronics, for the Octagon Desk Light.
The rest of the winners are as follows:
| Category | Product name | Company |
| Home Product | Limited Edition Brighton Pavilion Print | I Drew This |
| Kitchen & Dining Product | Recycled Denim Apron | Ian Snow |
| Festive & Occasional Product: | Christmas Roast Dinner Box | Ross & Ross Food |
| General Gift | Hand Painted Gin Glass | Sunny by Sue |
| Gift Food | Indian Spice Tin and Handmade, Silk Sari Wrap | Spice Kitchen UK |
| Greetings & Stationery Collection | Mono and Pastel Greetings Cards | Peace & Blessing |
| Children’s Gift | Fantastic Dragon 3D Colourable | Ooly |
| Fashion Accessory | Sara Miller Silk Accessories | My Gifts Trade |
| Body, Bath & Home Fragrance Product | Great British Bee Co Handcare Range | Great British Bee Co |
| Under £10 Product | Gin & Tonic Handbag | Bath House |
| Garden & Outdoor | Green Picnic collection | Fallen Fruits |
| Licensed Product | Natural History Museum Gift in a Tin | Apples to Pears |
| Shirley Frost Award (for designer-makers) | Handmade Artisan Gift Wrap | Paper Mirchi |
All the winners received a range of sales-boosting benefits – from the exclusive display of their winning products in Spring Fair’s Gift of the Year showcase, to promotion in a full-colour catalogue distributed across the UK and overseas, along with profile-raising media coverage.
Louise Young, Managing Director of Spring Fair speaking after the event said: “This year’s Gift of the Year Awards was the best one yet and really highlighted the sheer breadth and depth of fantastic quality and innovation in the gift and homewares industries – the judges were certainly taken to task in having to choose category winners from so many incredible entries. This was the ultimate celebration of our forward-thinking and creative industry and of course offered everyone attending an excellent opportunity to network and entertain customers. The atmosphere in the room was electric as the winners were revealed and I know it was a night everyone will remember for some time to come.”
