Award Winners! Posted on 18 Nov 15:06

I have had a wonderful week picking up the award for the Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer in Scotland!

We won the award at the 17th annual industry event, having been shortlisted by a jury of card publishers, illustrators wholesalers and distributors. I am very grateful to all of the judges, Jakki and the team at Progressive Greetings who organise the event, and to Wendy Jones Blackett who sponsored our award. It was really great to catch up with fellow retailers, card publishers and suppliers and do something sociable - especially after everything that we have all been through recently

The competition was intense right across the UK - I'll come back to that in a moment - but here in Scotland we were up against the multiple winner Bijou and JP Pozzi in Elgin and Buckie, The Gift Boutique in Fraserburgh, Bearing Gifts in Troon, and two well known independents in Glasgow - Papyrus and Penny Black.

All of the businesses on the regional shortlists have had a tough year or so (haven't we all?), and the recognition is both really important and really emotional. However, nominations, awards and likes on social media posts don't pay the rent, or the wages bill, or the myriad other costs of doing business on the High Street. I have tagged or linked as many of them as I can - if they are local to you please pay them a visit and tell them that Paper Tiger sent you! 🐯

All the independent businesses who were nominated are really good at what they do - running a successful business. The best reward that you can give them - and us at Paper Tiger! - this Christmas is your custom - so here are the regional finalists, linked where possible to Instagram:

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – London
Card Bureau, Holland Park 
The Card Collection, East Molesey 
Earlybird, Stoke Newington
Gift, Crouch End 
The Indigo Tree, Streatham and Crystal Palace 

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Counties and South East
Calladoodles, Carshalton 
Cardies, Stevenage 
Dee's Cards, Leighton Buzzard 
Objectables, Folkestone 
Red Card, Petworth 
Threads of Harpenden 
 
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – East Anglia 
Celebrations Hallmark, Aylsham  
Creativity, Sheringham
Elm, Norwich 
Podarok, Cambridge 
Quest, Bury St Edmunds and Holt
Sincerely Yours, Shenfield and Hornchurch
 
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West
Card Collection, Bath and Salisbury 
Cilla & Camilla, Beaminster and Bridport 
Expressions, Cats Whiskers and Polkadot, Swindon, Bishops Cleeve and Keynsham
Just Cards, Honiton 
Southbourne Cards, Southbourne 
 
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Wales and the Midlands
Austin & Co, Malvern 
Beau Regards and Willowsbrook, Wombourne and Stone 
The Celtic Company, Welshpool 
Hugs and Kisses, Tettenhall 
Mooch Gifts & Home, Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn 
Nest, Stonehaven, Thurlaston and Broughton Astley  
Something Special, Kingswinford
 
Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland
Bailey’s - Ainsdale, Crosby and Maghull 
Best Wishes, Garstang
Cards & Gifts, Sheffield and Dronfield 
Love & Best Wishes, Sheffield
Reflections, Rugeley and Nantwich 
Serendipity, Newcastle   

There are tens of thousands of people across the UK (and beyond) who see our posts in social media, read my blog on our website, and have subscribed to the newsletter. My team and I generate our content to show you what we do, and what we can do for you.

This message - wherever you have read it - is a plea to shop with your favourite independent businesses this Christmas. Oh, and shop with us too!

They need you and your custom this year like they have never needed you before.