Judges
The Gift of the Year Judging panel is selected to ensure that a broad cross section of the industry is covered, from the quirky one-off local gift shop through elegant independent galleries to the UK's most respected department stores and more.
A prime objective of Gift of the Year is to bring great gift and home product into the media spotlight and so we are delighted to be welcoming many star buyers and editiors to the judging panel.
Judges work hard to select the winners and also thoroughly enjoy the experience and we know that entrants benefit from submitting their products to the competition even if they are not finalists.
Judges confirmed for 2008
Cathie Broster – The Chestnut Pavillion, Cheshire
Cathie has owned and run 4 shops over the past 16 years and her current venture is a design-led gift shop with card gallery on the first floor, in a south Cheshire town. Cathie has been twice nominated for the Greats Gift Retailer awards.
Katie Cambell – Frankie Doodle, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Stratford upon Avon
Yvonne Carr – Retail Director, Ortak
Janet Fitch – Jewellery Expert
Julie Goucher – Buying Manager - Home, Rosebys Operations Ltd
Julie has over 25 years buying experience and previously worked in the department store environment. She is now responsible for Living, Dining, Kitchen, Giving and Bathroom at Rosebys, the home furnishing and home accessories specialist with 300 stores country wide. Julie has been involved with the Gift of the Year awards for over 5 years.
Laura Hall – Senior Buyer - Gifts, Debenhams
Judith Harris – Head of Buying and Merchandising, NWF
Nicky King – Range Manager - Kids, Habitat
Nicky has been working at Habitat for 4 years. She first joined as purchaser, managing the buying of products being sourced in Europe. Nicky then joined the Habitat Kids team shortly after it was established 3 years ago and as Range Manager is responsible for planning and selecting 2 new Kids ranges for Habitat each year. She works with a variety of product areas, buying and developing textiles, toys, lighting, and decorative accessories.
Victoria Laws – Scotts of Stow
Kirsten Linton – Cornucopia, Worcester
Jenny Lockton – Bliss, Bohemia, Edinburgh
Jenny has been building thriving gift businesses for over 20 years and was recently shortlisted in the Greats and Highly Commended in the Drapers Retail Awards. Starting with a picture framing, artwork and jewellery business, Jenny now has 3 shops in Edinburgh; two branches of Bliss - selling a fabulous range of gifts, toys, cards, beauty products and accessories, and Bohemia - a destination store stocking Jenny's own babywear range as well as handpicked Moroccan leathergoods.
Angel Monzon – Art Director, Vessel, London
Angel is founder and art director of Vessel, a store-cum-gallery that opened its doors in 1999 and is now established as a leading authority in contemporary design, glass & ceramics and tableware selling both production and collectors pieces. In 2007 Vessel was awarded 2 Greats Gift Retailer awards. Prior to running Vessel Angel has a background in furniture and product design and is now also involved in branding and teaching.
Jo Percy – Buyer, Stationery, John Lewis
Jo has been with the John Lewis Partnership for 12 years working on both the retail and buying environments. She recently moved to the stationery buying office having previously bought garden furniture and outdoor living. Jo says ‘There is a real balance to consider between how commercial a product is and how innovative. The success of a product is getting this balance right!’
Marie Shingfield – Licensing Manager, The National Trust
Marie has been with the National Trust for two years, as Licensing Manager she is responsible for managing a successful licensing programme which includes gifts, stationery and music. She is also responsible for the charities mail order gift catalogue, which has a spring and Christmas edition.
Claire Summers – Lakeland
Penny Tomlinson – The Dulwich Trader
Oliver Tress – Oliver Bonas
Brian Wiseman – Present Company
Brian is a veteran of the trade, first entering in 1979. He opened Present Company 20 years ago, retailing a vast selection of home and gift goods from 2,000 square feet of sales area in a high street location in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. Writes for Gifts Today.
The 2007 Judging Panel - click here to view
