Nantwich shop owners Philip and Maxine Nield have been nominated as the best independent greeting card retailers in the North West, writes David Harrison.
Their smart Reflections (Thortons/Hallmark) greetings card shop opposite Clewlow Butchers in Pepper Street, Nantwich, has been familiar to local shoppers for almost 20 years.
But now the business has been thrust into the national spotlight after beating off competition from 6,000 retailers in the region following an industry-wide poll of suppliers, reps and agents.
As a result, the Nields are thrilled to be in the final of The Retas 2021 awards and the winners will be revealed during a special lunch at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Tuesday November 16.
This is the second time the couple have made it through to the final.
As independent retailers, their shop stocks more than 2,000 different greeting card designs and a large selection of gifts from many suppliers – and this variety show is proving to be the couple’s trump card in the popular Cheshire market town.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be in the final but we’re there thanks to the support of our loyal customers,” said Maxine.
“We’ve been part of the Nantwich community for many years, trading as Hallmark, but we are about to become Reflections.
“It is a fantastic town which has always supported us.”
Philip, who was the lead singer in popular local band California Blue before they disbanded, points out that their Cheshire shop continues to be a massive hit with customers who have returned in numbers since the end of lockdown
“People have been brilliant and full of praise since we reopened after lockdown,” he said.
“We’ve received many kind messages off shoppers who say they’ve missed us.
“We always try to provide our customers with a great variety. We think there’s something for everyone here.”
The reasoning behind an imminent change of name from Hallmark to Reflections on the shop front is community-driven.
Maxine explained: “It is to further stress that we are independent.
“People these days realise the importance of supporting local businesses rather than big franchises and tell us so.
“We’re part of a fantastic community which has always supported us and we really want give to the community what it wants.
“We aim to provide a personal service and cater especially for those people who don’t like shopping online or being faced with a limited choice in supermarkets.
“The pandemic provided all retailers with a unique set of problems but the people of Nantwich have been so supportive.
“They’ve also been so understanding about the restrictions we had to put in place to make people safe.
“We must also thank all our staff. They have been wonderful and the shop’s success is down to them, too.”
Their success story is not restricted to Nantwich.
The couple have a greeting cards business in Rugeley where they have traded for more than 30 years.
The Reflections/Thornton shop is opposite Morrisons and the Nields took the opportunity of giving it a major facelift during lockdown.
“Like Nantwich, the people of Rugeley have been so loyal and we hope to continue making the community happy,” added Philip.
Jakki Brown, joint managing director of Max Publishing, which owns and organises Retas, said: “In what must rank as the most challenging period for real, reaching the finals is testament to the passions, inventiveness, nous and tenacity of the UK’s leading stockists.”
Perhaps a national award will now be on the cards for this local couple.
