'It makes all the hard work worthwhile' - Multi-title winning Tettenhall gift shop back on top at prestigious retail awards

Hugs & Kisses has been named as the best independent greeting card retailer in the Midlands at the 2025 Retas, an awards evening celebrating 'the tremendous contribution that retailers both large and small, make to the success of the greeting card industry.'

Owner Caroline Boydell has run the family-owned shop at it's current site for 21 years, having originally started in Merry Hill in 2000, and shared her delight at winning the award for the second time, having previously held the title in 2022.

"We've been a finalist in our category every year for the last five years now," Caroline explained. "The first year we were nominated was 2021, and we went to a great, big awards dinner in London at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.

"It's always a prestigious event and it's been amazing to have been a finalist ever since, and to win it again this year.

Hugs and Kisses are no strangers to awards, having also won big at The Greats Gift Retail Awards last year, a competition 'set out to recognise and reward the UK’s outstanding gift shops and gift departments.'

"It's incredibly difficult to run a small business these days," Caroline said. "It's really tough, but you've got to put yourself out there and be seen to be active on social media.

"We go to all the trade shows, and the secret to running a shop in a village like this is you've got to keep the stock changing otherwise the customers get bored.

"We see a lot of the same customers and you get to know them and what they want.

"We deal with a lot of suppliers as all good shops do in this industry, and a lot of them will nominate you if you treat them properly and are good buyers from them.

"You can put yourselves forward and send in a bit of background about your shop.

"We've had people sent out to us to look around the shop, and the award we've won this year is like the Oscars of the greeting card industry, it's a big, big deal.

"I went to the awards this year as a finalist, and just being a finalist is massive.

"When they read my name out I was so shocked, I couldn't believe that we'd got it again. It was amazing, and it makes all the hard work worthwhile really."