2026 Finalists - Pikkii
Pikkii is known for creating gifts and games that bring people together — sparking laughter, connection and unforgettable moments. This year, the brand has been recognised as a Gift of the Year finalist, with judges celebrating its thoughtful, design-led approach to fun.
We caught up with Rachael Carpenter from Pikkii to talk about what the finalist recognition means to the team, the inspiration behind their playful product ranges — from Make Your Own kits to games that turn everyday moments into joyful experiences — and why experience-led gifting is more relevant than ever.
Company Name Pikkii
Product(s) in the Finalist Make Your Own (Flying Fairies, Rockets, Furry Friends, Theatre), Fold Your Own Christmas Tree, Fun Things To Do...while travelling, with a stick, with a cardboard box, Become An Expert, The Banana Game
Congratulations on being a finalist! How does it feel to be recognised in this year’s Gift of the Year awards? We’re absolutely thrilled to be recognised as a finalist in this year’s Gift of the Year awards. We’re always really grateful to have been selected by the judges, many of whom are buyers themselves, so it feels extra special to know our products have caught the eye of people with such wonderful taste!
Can you tell us a little about your brand and the inspiration behind your successful product? Since 2016, we've been working our socks off designing and making things that bring people closer together - meaningful gifts and fun games that bring joy and laughter, make emotional connections and create special memories.
What makes your product special, and why do you think it stood out to the judges? We put a huge amount of thought and care into every product we send out into the world, and we hope that really shows. We don’t focus on quick, throwaway novelties or short-lived trends; our gifts and games are beautifully designed by our talented team to feel special now and to be best-sellers for years to come.
Who is your product designed for, and what kind of reaction have you had from customers so far? Our products are designed for people who love giving gifts that feel a bit different, playful, thoughtful and memorable. They’re perfect for anyone who enjoys fun party games, clever design-led gifts and little things that make everyday life more joyful, whether that’s families, couples, friends or colleagues.
So far the reaction has been really positive, customers tell us our games have ‘made their Christmas’, that our gifts are ‘such great ideas and excellent value’, and that they love how fun, charming and high-quality everything feels. We also get a lot of repeat orders and comments about our friendly, responsive customer service, which tells us we’re getting the balance of fun and care about right.
What trends or themes do you think are shaping the gifting industry right now? Personal, experience-led gifting is huge right now, people want gifts that feel tailored, interactive and memorable rather than just nice objects. Sustainability and buying better, not more, are also shaping choices, with shoppers looking for thoughtful, design-led pieces that feel special but still affordable.
How has being shortlisted, and now being a finalist impacted your brand so far, and what do you hope to achieve from the awards? Being shortlisted and becoming a finalist has already given our brand a real boost in visibility and credibility, and it’s been incredibly motivating for our small team. It’s opened doors to new retail partners who have discovered us at tradeshows through the Gift of The Year display and started some exciting conversations. We hope the awards will help us reach more retailers, build long-term relationships in the industry, and show there’s strong demand for fun, design-led gifts like ours.
What exciting plans do you have for the future? We have lots of fantastic products in development for 2027, including extensions to our most popular ranges and some completely new product categories, so there’s a lot to be excited about. Our team is also growing, which means we’ll be able to bring even more products to life, so watch this space!
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (or given), and why? I brought home a copy of our Sprout game last Christmas, and it ended up being everyone’s favourite gift, because it got the whole family playing together within minutes (even the dog joined in!). It broke the ice between all ages, sparked loads of laughter and ‘just one more round’ moments, which is exactly what we hope our games will do.
You can find out more about Pikkii here - https://pikkii.com/
