2026 Winners - Thinking Gifts
From solving an everyday problem as a student to creating award-winning products stocked by major retailers, Thinking Gifts has built a reputation for combining practical innovation with thoughtful design.
Their latest success came at Gift of the Year, where ZipChargers was recognised for bringing together functionality, style and genuine gifting appeal in a fast-growing category. We caught up with the team to discuss what winning means for the business, the story behind ZipChargers, and what's next for the brand as they continue to grow.
About the win
How does it feel to be a Gift of the Year winner?
Honestly, it feels brilliant, and I know the sales team were over the moon on the night. Gift of the Year is such a well-respected benchmark in the industry, so to win is a real moment for us. It never gets old when something you've worked so hard on gets recognised like this.
What does this recognition mean for your business?
It's a real confidence boost that we are moving in the right direction with development, and it makes for a fantastic conversation opener with new stockists. When you're reaching out to buyers, being able to say you're a Gift of the Year winner carries genuine weight. It tells them someone credible has looked at your product and said "yes, this is worth stocking."
Your product
Tell us the story behind your winning product.
We’d been looking more at the world of Tech gifts, and ZipChargers felt like a perfect fit. We wanted to create something that solved an everyday problem in a way that looked good and worked beautifully. Wireless charging has been around for a while, but we felt there was still a gap for something that felt considered and giftable rather than just functional.
What makes it stand out in the market?
That's really where our whole brand philosophy comes in. Our tagline is "where fun meets functionality", and ZipChargers sit right in that sweet spot. It's a product people actually need, but it's also something you'd be happy to give as a gift. That combination is harder to get right than it sounds, but after the win, I think we can safely say we’ve cracked it!
Your journey
How did your business begin?
It started back in 1998 when I was a student with a pain in the neck, literally. My physiotherapist told me to use a book holder; I went to buy one, hated the design, and thought I could do better. So I created our first BookChair - people loved it - and the rest is history. We've grown from that single product into a full range of reading and tech accessories, picking up awards along the way and landing in household-name retailers across multiple countries.
What has been your biggest milestone so far?
I think establishing a great team, which is no mean feat. It’s always the case that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and we are very optimistic about the future!
Looking ahead
What’s next for your brand?
We're really excited about what's coming. We have some great new products in development that we can't wait to share. We're putting a big focus on growing our brand awareness and expanding in the UK market, which has a huge amount of potential for us. Watch this space!
You can find out more about Thinking Gifts here - https://www.thinkinggifts.com/
