The Giftware Association is thrilled to unveil the finalists for the Gift of the Year 2026 awards! After months of anticipation, hundreds of exceptional entries, and two rigorous rounds of judging by an esteemed panel of more than 120 industry experts, the very best products from across the home and gift world have been selected to move forward in the competition.
The Gift of the Year awards celebrate the most exciting a innovative successful products across 20 diverse categories, spanning Home Fragrance, Home & Kitchen, Games & Puzzles and many more. The 2026 competition has continued to evolve attracting brand new brands and exciting products and ranges cementing its reputation as one of the most influential awards programmes in the industry.
Posted: 16 March 2026
Crayola, a leader in colourful creative expression, has announced that it is increasing its commitment in the UK and Irish markets with the goal of doubling its business over the next three years and acting as a key growth engine for the European region.
The more than 120-year-old brand seeks to re-connect with British and Irish consumers and retailers through a direct distribution strategy, alongside investment in infrastructure, product innovation, and creative content.
Crayola's plan will empower parents and educators in the UK and Ireland to nurture creativity in children, ensuring they get the benefit of developing essential life skills that will help them reach their full potential.
Posted: 3 March 2026
Transaction Network Services (TNS), a global leader in providing full-stack, modern and secure payment and network solutions, has announced new research from its Keeping Payments Simple: Exploring Consumer Demand for Seamless Payment Methods white paper, highlighting how consumers in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States view payment technologies across key sectors.
While habits vary by country and demographic, the findings are clear: whether paying for parking, fuel, retail or other services, consumers want one thing above all else: simplicity.
"Consumers worldwide are telling us the same story: make payments simple," said John Tait, TNS' Global Managing Director for its Payments Market business.
Posted: 2 March 2026
At Christmas, we are invited to look beyond ourselves—to reconnect with family, friends, colleagues, and communities, and to remember that generosity and compassion matter more than ever. This season, the Young V&A curatorial team, together with Collective Paper Aesthetics, has envisioned and created a winter installation shaped by its young audience. From vibrant printed designs to immersive 3D structures, the installation celebrates creativity, participation, and togetherness, and is free to visit at the Young V&A until early 2026.
Posted: 24 December 2025
Full-service packaging supplier Hunter Luxury has reinforced its reputation as a luxury packaging specialist after it took home one award and two Highly Commended titles from the UK Packaging Awards.
Hunter Luxury's work on the Hendrick's gin Whimsical Watering Can – in collaboration with brand owner William Grant & Sons and Boundless Brand Design – won the coveted Limited Edition Pack of the Year prize and was Highly Commended in the Best International Pack category. Meanwhile, Hunter Luxury's collaboration with whisky specialist Chivas Brothers and design agency JDO Global for The Glenlivet brand on a stunning anodised aluminium display case finished with brushed copper for its 40-year-old expression was also Highly Commended in the Luxury Pack of the Year category.
Posted: 3 November 2025
Fintech Miconex has launched its 2025 national festive campaign, The BIG Christmas Giveback, as part of its ongoing commitment to powering local communities.
Running across its network of over 100 Town & City Gift Card programmes, the BIG Christmas Giveback asks for nominations for people or organisations who have a positive impact on their community.
The person or organisation with the most nominations will win a £1000 Town & City Gift Card of their choice, with one person who nominated them winning a £500 Town & City Gift Card. Miconex is running similar competitions in Ireland, the USA and Canada.
Over £45 million has been spent through Miconex's local gift cards to date, with over 20,000 businesses participating, and 2025 sales up 115% year on year.
Posted: 20 October 2025
Independent stationery brand Under the Rowan Trees is proud to announce its win at the 2025 Stationery Awards, taking home the Best Online Retailer award.
The results were revealed at the awards ceremony following the first day of the London Stationery Show. Recognising innovation, excellence and impact across the stationery industry, the Stationery Awards are judged by an independent panel of experts and receive entries from leading retailers and manufacturers across the UK and beyond.
Founded by Danielle Stanley, Under the Rowan Trees began as a hobby in 2015 and has since blossomed into a thriving online shop and community for stationery lovers, known for its curated selection of journaling supplies, creative subscription boxes and its signature personal touch.
Posted: 3 September 2025
The Giftware Association is delighted to announce that Gemma Sault will be joining as managing director at the beginning of September. With a strong background in the giftware and retail sectors, Gemma brings a wealth of experience and fresh energy to the Giftware Association as it continues to support and champion the UK's vibrant home, stationery, craft, jewellery and gift industry.
Posted: 5 August 2025
Gift of the Year, organised by The Giftware Association, is thrilled to announce that Chi Cups by Chi Cups has been officially crowned the sixth People's Choice Champion.
The brand earned an overwhelming number of votes - nearly 20 percent of the total - and captured the hearts of fans and supporters within their network. The award was announced at the Harrogate Home and Gifts Sundowners drink, held after the first day of trading.
From the very beginning, Chi Cups brought energy, creativity, and an undeniable spark to the competition, making its way through to the shortlist stage of the awards and proudly exhibiting at Spring Fair. The company's ability to rally support and inspire its community was nothing short of phenomenal in the most voted awards to date.
Posted: 23 July 2025
New research from Ventrica has revealed the revenue benefits for brands that invest in providing emotive customer experiences (CX) that consumers want.
The company surveyed over 2,000 UK consumers and found that over the last 12 months, only 4 per cent of positive experiences were delivered by AI and only 18 per cent were a combination of AI and human interaction. Furthermore, only just over half (53 percent) found chatbots to be a successful means of resolving enquiries, significantly lower than calls (87 percent).
This is leaving UK brands at risk of losing out on potential revenue opportunities, with the survey finding consumers would be willing to spend up to £100 more on a brand in the future, following a positive experience.
Posted: 8 July 2025