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Gift shop owner heading to finals night

The owner of an award-winning gift shop is getting ready for another big night out after being shortlisted for two prestigious titles.

Nora’s Interiors and Gifts, in South Hawksworth Street, Ilkley, has been nominated for the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year (North and Northern Ireland) and Best Retailer Initiative categories in ‘The Greats’ gift retailer of the year awards 2013, organised by Progressive Homes and Gifts.

Nora’s owner Victoria Newhouse is heading to The Savoy in London next month, along with her mum, Fiona, who works with Victoria and helped her launch the shop, and family, for the finals evening.

Miss Newhouse, who opened Nora’s in May 2010, said she is thrilled to be shortlisted for the awards.

“We knew it was the largest national awards to recognise retailers in the gift sector and when we read the criteria they were looking for we felt we ticked the boxes,” Miss Newhouse, who describes Nora’s as a “unique independent lifestyle” shop, said.

“We’re thrilled to have reached the finals and it’s going to be a wonderful experience getting our glad rags on and going to an awards ceremony at The Savoy,” added Miss Newhouse, who saw Nora’s scoop the New Business of the Year prize at the Bradford Means Business awards in 2011.

At least 90 per cent of products sold at Nora’s come from the United Kingdom and with more than 40 suppliers the shop sells everything from recycled wool blankets to hand-stamped keepsake spoons and scented candles to typographic screen prints.

Recently, Nora’s has started hosting craft workshops including floristry and jewellery making.

For more information about Nora’s go to www.noras-shop.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonathan Redhead .