Innovate & celebrate: Gear up for UK’s Gift of the Year Awards 2024
ttention retailers, and connoisseurs of gifting! We are very pleased to make this post this time of the year when the festive cheer in the air is aplenty, and the stage is being set for unlimited revelry. Celebrating innovation and creativity, the Gift of the Year Awards (GOTY) is ready to illuminate the most exquisite designs in the realm of gifting!
Earlier this year, we announced our partnership with the GA and also proudly sponsored Best Home and Garden Product or Range at GOTY 2023. Qalara’s association with the UK-based gifts and home trade group was borne out of mutual interest in innovation, ethical sourcing, and commitment to sustainability in the industry. Today, this liaison has leveled up as Qalara’s Founder and CEO Aditi Pany is on the panel of esteemed judges for the upcoming GOTY awards 2024!
We could not be more excited and honored to be representing Qalara and be among the lineup of fantastic judges who are themselves seasoned retailers, bloggers, influencers, and industry professionals. With over a decade long experience in retail, Aditi Pany will be amongst the 100+ judges on the lookout for the wow factor.
The Giftware Association (GA)
Since its inception in 1947, The Giftware Association has helped foster business connections and provided networking opportunities for retailers, suppliers, high-end brands, and independent craftspeople. It is part of the British Allied Trades Federation and headquartered at Birmingham, UK. The well-connected association prides itself in its ability to ensure business growth and visibility through the myriad events that it arranges which witnesses the best retail and export names and services in attendance. For over 75 years now, the not-for-profit membership-based group has been a vital support for its members who have benefited from massive growth through opportunity, engagement, support, and connectivity.
Sarah Ward, CEO of The Giftware Association says,
Indeed, being able to recognize creative flair and remarkable artistry is a talent best left for those with discernible eyes. The association is the best of its kind to help many businesses optimize their game plans and emerge successful. It is creatively-motivated, protective, well-connected, international, and community-oriented.
Sarah continues,
Having a rich history spanning more than 7 decades and being at the frontline of retail since then, the GA exists first and foremost for its members. Offering vital end-to-end support, the association organizes a plethora of initiatives such as seminars, webinars, workshops, blogs, podcasts, meet-ups, trade shows, fairs, and even award ceremonies. It strives to provide resource advice, connectivity, and collaborative opportunities to its members.
Rewarding excellence: The Gift of the Year (GOTY)
Picture this: Your brand. Your designs. Your products that further your vision, hailed among the pantheon of the best designs in the industry. The Gift Awards recognizes the prowess of those who dare to innovate, inspire, and encapsulate the essence of gifting excellence. These internationally recognized and highly respected accolades have visibly raised the profile of suppliers and retailers and you could be next!
Brought to you by The Giftware Association, the Gift Awards is the annual award and gala night subsuming two programmes, namely Gift of the Year (GOTY; owned by the GA) and The Greats Gift Retailer Awards (run and owned by Max Publishing). These awards represent the pinnacle of recognition in the home and giftware industry, celebrating innovation, talent, and inspiration in every corner of our creative world. The ceremony sees the who’s who of the retail world uniting under one roof.
Qalara made its debut at last year’s Gift Awards with CEO Aditi Pany in presence. The event hosted the crème de la crème of the gifting world and was a grand success – the pictures and wide smiles are proof! Anticipating the same high spirits, the 46th annual Gift Awards is set to return on 16 May 2024, unravelling new winners and their innovative designs!
Who can apply?
As a retailer, business maven, or the curator of an online emporium, this is your chance to elevate your brand to new heights and cause a stir within the home and gift industry. Open to all companies, UK-based and international, start-ups or multinational, here is a gateway to remarkable marketing and PR opportunities! The call for GOTY 2024 applications echoes through the air, inviting visionaries, brand aficionados, and boutique owners to exhibit their pièce de résistance.
Showcase the curation of your best products, and stand a chance to get noticed by buyers, retailers, and consumers. And if you happen to be one of the lucky winners at the Gift Awards, the opportunities awaiting you shall be bountiful, to say the least! Members and non-member can apply by visiting their website. Here are some key dates (subject to change) to remember:
- Deadline to apply for GOTY – 8th December
- Online judging commences – December 2023
- Shortlisted products announced on the GOTY Website – January 2023
- The second round of live judging (shortlisted products need to be sent to us before this date) – February 2024
- Finalist announcement – 14th February 2024
- Awards announcement – 16th May 2024
GOTY invites entrants to apply for any of the categories from its extensive list that features the following and many more:
- Best Heritage Gifts Product or Range
- Best Design & Craft Product or Range
- Best Ethical and Sustainable Product or Range
- Best Fashion Accessories and Jewellery Product or Range
- Best Festive and Occasions Product or Range
- Best Home, Kitchen and Garden Product or Range
- Best International Product or Range
- Best Under £15 Product or Range
Check out the full list of categories you can apply for here.
How will judging take place?
The first step is to register online. This involves setting up your account, company profile and submitting your entries. Next, participants shall undergo two rounds of judging.
Round 1: the judging panel shall view your products online. If you screen in successfully, the GOTY team will notify you
Round 2: the shortlisted candidates from Round 1 will be required to send in their products to the association. The is an in-person judging round where the shortlisted products will be on display for a live judging event. This is when the judges will decide upon the prospective winners
On the lookout for the next best-selling product, the judges heed various attributes when they score the products. From presentation, packaging, and design to customer appeal, value, sales potential and commercial viability, the criteria is broad and comprehensive.
Be a part of a community that aims to weave a grand tapestry of inspiration and elegance, where each design symbolizes craftsmanship, uniqueness, and the spirit of giving. Start your Gift of the Year awards journey now.
~ Written by Gauri S
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