Jul 4, 2008

Norfolk card shops go head to headBy Rebecca GoughEveningNews24.co.uk

Two Norfolk shop owners will be heading to London next week where they will battle it out for the title of the region’s best card retailer after being nominated for the prestigious award.

Cards ‘n’ Things in Hellesdon and Brambles on Exchange Street in Norwich have both been shortlisted for Best Independent Card Retailer in East Anglia in the Reta awards, after they were nominated by their suppliers.

Both will now go head to head at the awards being held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Tuesday .

Paul Southgate, 33, who took over the shop in Hellesdon from his mother Ruth almost 13 years ago, said the unique layout of the shop which uses bookcases instead of card stands and the wide range of stationery on offer, might have been factors in their nomination.

He said: “I think we’re quite unique because we have people come from quite a way because they know they get what they want here.

“The thing is our main aim is to be different from what you can get in the city. It was a complete surprise to us to be in the shortlist.

“It’s amazing for us. In the greeting card world it’s quite exclusive.”

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