Britain’s most inspiring small retailers have been announced.
The winners of this year’s Small Awards have been announced during an online awards ceremony as 11 small businesses across the UK were presented with their trophies on their doorstep.
The Small Awards celebrate the UK’s smallest and greatest firms, and this year include a range of different businesses from high street heroes bringing joy in lockdown, an online marketplace set up to champion UK black-owned brands, to a disability-conscious fashion retailer.
- Surrey florist Mad Lilies won the High Street Hero award for its contribution to Banstead and support of other local businesses.
- New start-up Simply Noir, which supports UK black-owned independent businesses, won the New Kid on the Block Award after it attracted 60 sellers to its platform in just six months.
- Disability-conscious fashion retailer Kintsugi Clothing won the Digital Star Award,for its successful digital marketing strategy which helped it grow and fill an important gap in the market.
- Local e Sourced – an online marketplace for Herefordshire’s independent businesses – won the inaugural Net Hero Awardfor its commitment to the environment. It is unique in storing stock from local suppliers to reduce packaging and emissions, providing a one-stop independent shop with UK wide delivery.
- Lucy Kemp Jewellery won the Bricks and Clicks Award for its multi-channel approach. Lucy’s unique designs are crafted in Cornwall for retail and wholesale customers.
- Businesswoman Kerry Mackay from North Wales won Small Business of the Year for her inspiring story of starting up eco-friendly cleaning pad business ScrubbiesUK after she was forced to rely on food banks. Kerry went on to turn over £50k in her first year and exports across Europe, without any outside funding.
- London micro bakery Ma Baker won the Heart of Gold Award. During lockdown, owner Liz Wilson, delivered fresh bread to those self-isolating, as well as baking for her local food bank, and provided online classes for budding bakers and mentoring.
- London’s Nemi Teas won the Mission Possible Award for best social enterprise. Founded in 2016, it solely employs refugees, helping them to gain work experience.
- Staffordshire food supplier David A Parker was awarded Supply Chain Champion Award for the collaborative relationships it has developed over many years. During lockdown they ensured local businesses were well stocked to meet customer demand.
In its fifth year, The Small Awards is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK. “The Small Awards is all about celebrating the uniquely special and amazing contribution of small firms, which has never been more apparent than in the last year,â€said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain. “All small businesses should be proud of the way they have coped during this pandemic, but special congratulations must go to our amazing winners who have inspired us all! We are so delighted to have delivered such a fun event, and to have managed to take an online event to the next level with so many door-step surprises!â€
Speaking about her award win, Alison Howe, owner of Mad Lilies, said “We’re so pleased to have won this award, and in such an exciting way! We are extremely passionate about keeping our high street alive through creating a continuing and ever-changing customer experience.†Mad Lilies has grown over 80% since 2013. During lockdown the business diversified and created a flower subscription, as well as hiding jam jars of flowers across Surrey for people to find and take home as random acts of kindness.
