SIMPLY DEVINE SHORTLISTED IN THE SMALL AWARDS

Simply Devine hats and fascinators

This is the third award this year in which Simply Devine has been shortlisted, as the hat shop goes from strength to strength.

The business was also shortlisted in the BizBubble Awards (sadly it lost out to a cafe in Sussex ) and in the English Wedding Awards – the latter of which it went on to win in two categories.  See here.

Now in its sixth year, The Small Awards is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, across all sectors. It is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates the nation’s six million small firms.

Following a record-breaking number of applications, Simply Devine has been chosen as one of only eight finalists for the Bricks and Clicks award for the best multi-channel small business.  The category recognises small businesses that use multiple channels with innovation and skill to develop their business.

The Small Awards celebrate the dynamism and resilience of the UK’s small business sector, across everything from mission-led start-ups, to longstanding family firms, to the nation’s leading sole traders.

“The Small Awards is an opportunity to applaud all the inspiring, positive things that these fabulous, finalist entrepreneurs have achieved over the last year, particularly as we start to move forwards once again,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.

“The phenomenal number of applications, and their incredibly high standard, has been fantastic to see. Simply Devine should be extremely proud of being shortlisted for this award. The Small Awards is all about championing and spotlighting the nation’s small firms, and we’re so excited to finally be able to celebrate with them again in person this year.”

Said Simply Devine owner Liz Devine-Wright: “We are over the moon to be shortlisted in the Small Awards after such a very difficult two years trading.  Unlike many other businesses which prospered with online shopping during the pandemic, our customers – most of whom are mothers of the bride or groom and race-goers – were more cautious.  Traditional large weddings and race meetings were banned so there was nowhere to wear our beautiful hats, hatinators and fascinators.

“Fortunately, 2022 looks like being a fantastic year as we gradually get back to normal.  We also became “of age” this year and celebrated 18 years in business, so hopefully being shortlisted will help us to achieve a bumper year.”

Judged by a panel of enterprise experts, the winners of all categories, along with the overall winner of Small Business of the Year, will be announced on 19 May 2022.

It's been a very very busy hat year, and to celebrate we have once again been shortlisted for The Nation's Wedding Awards (to be held in Birmingham in November). We have been selected as a Finalist too for The English Wedding Awards in 2025!!! How hat exciting is that! We will be celebrating our 21st birthday in 2025, so hopefully we will have lots to celebrate! A great big thank you to all our hat customers all over the world, including all our local customers who obviously know where the Simply Devine Hat Shop is in Tadcaster. We have been very hat blessed for nearly 21 years!!!