I've won a new award!

Woohoo!! I'm so excited to announce that I've been awarded Best Handmade Wedding Keepsakes Retailer 2025 – East of England, in the Home & Garden Awards by LUXlife magazine!

I'm feeling a bit proud of myself!

The magazine launched the Awards to recognise and celebrate those who go above and beyond to please their clients and customers. 

LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication which was founded in 2015, and awards coordinator Melissa Bramall said in her press announcement, "This programme continues to search for, and recognise, excellence in this landscape, and we’re happy to crown our winners in our 2025 edition. Congratulations again, you deserve it!". So I'm incredibly chuffed to be recognised by the organisers!

Click here to see my listing in the Home & Garden Awards on the LUXLife site

This has completely made my day/week/month - I'm over the moon to receive another award for PhotoFairytales.

My head is a little bigger today!!
Sarah :)

Another Award (for me this time)!

 I'm absolutely delighted to share the news with you that I've been awarded 'Best Online Gift Retail Owner - East of England' in the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2022!

The awards are run by trade publication, Acquisition International Magazine, who run the 'Influential Businesswoman Awards' programme. I'm absolutely delighted: the awards are given solely on merit to commend participants ingenuity and hard work.

The AI Magazine Awards Coordinator said,  “It has been a pleasure to host this programme and recognise those influential businesswomen who are shaping their industries and helping to reshape the business landscape.”

I'm so excited to be the recipient of this amazing award!

Sarah x

Award Winning PhotoFairytales!

Well, I have some rather exciting news to show off about share with you today..!

I've been awarded 'Best Handmade Wedding Keepsakes Retailer - East Anglia' in the 2022 Global Wedding Awards run by Luxlife Magazine - I mean, that's pretty outrageously stupendous, right?!!!

The awards celebrate the finest businesses across the wedding industry, from wedding planners and venues, to caterers and stationers. Everything that makes your wedding day totally perfect and memorable. 2022 is seeing the biggest surge in weddings for years following covid restrictions, so it's a truly wonderful time to be recognised in these global awards!

I'm feeling more than a little chuffed!

Sarah x

Erm, I've won an award (again, again)!

Anyone who knows me even slightly will know that I feel all a bit embarrassed when it comes to blowing my own trumpet. It's just not me: I'm far more likely to actively run myself down than beef myself up!

So this is all a bit unsettling for me to write - but I've, well, you know, won another award (or, if I was saying this in person to you it would come out as "yeahIwonnotherawardanywaycupoftea?")

So, this latest one (flicks hair in arrogant fashion), is all about me this time (actually if I'm honest, pulls hair down over face): I've been named as the 'Best Online Handmade Gift Shop Owner (UK)' in the 2021 Influential Businesswoman Awards. 

The awards are organised by Acquisition International Magazine, a trade magazine with global coverage. They say, "Acquisition International prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition."

The organisers went on to say, "The Influential Businesswoman Awards sole objective is to encourage and support women as they further participate in entrepreneurial endeavours as it is our belief that their participation is vital in ensuring a balanced and forward-thinking economy."

I mean, I've had worse Tuesdays! (No seriously, I know I'm playing this down, but I am SERIOUSLY so happy about this - and I've been receiving some absolutely lovely messages and DM's via social media this morning too). A glass of bubbly over dinner tonight it is then: whoop whoop!!

Sarah x

PhotoFairytales has won an award (again)!

 I mean, I think this image says it all really:

Yep, I've only gone and won 'Best International Bespoke Handmade Gifts Retailer 2021' - a bit of a mouthful, but absolutely brilliant none the less!

SME News are a UK trade magazine supporting small and medium sized enterprises. They run various annual awards every year, including their flagship programme UK Enterprise Awards. The Enterprise Awards programme is there to recognise the work done by small and medium businesses, particularly during the difficulties COVID-19 presented over the past year. This year’s winners include UK businesses that range from micro companies with a focus on creating wonderful products, to medium sized businesses with an aim to provide a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Discussing the success of these deserving winners, Awards Coordinator Emma Pridmore praised the programme’s winners: “Congratulations to all the businesses recognised in this year’s awards. It’s always exciting to reach out to people with the good news, and I wish you all the best for the future.”

To say I'm over the moon with this fantastic news is putting it mildly - but I just wanted to say that I honestly wouldn't be here doing this thing that I love, if it weren't for you. I sent a very quick message to all the members of my VIP club about the news yesterday, and it was just so lovely to get loads of emails back congratulating me - I mean, truly lovely - I've not stopped smiling!

So thank you, dear reader - you're what it's all about!

Sarah x

PhotoFairytales has won another award!

I have an exciting announcement! I'm absolutely delighted to let you know that PhotoFairytales has won yet another award: 'Best Online Personalised Gifts & Nursery Decor Boutique', in their Parent & Baby Awards for 2020.

The award is from Lux Life Magazine, which is a quarterly publication focussed on the world and lifestyle of the glamourous, showcasing the best of the best and the latest luxury trends. It's wonderful to be recognised by such a prestigious publication - they said: “All of the winners are entirely focused on a single goal – to provide excellence in their sphere. Congratulations to everyone recognised here and I hope you all have a fantastic 2021 ahead of you.”

So I am, as you can imagine, more than a little bit chuffed with the news - and I want to thank you too, because without your support there wouldn't even be a PhotoFairytales, let alone an award winning one!

Sarah x

Award Winning PhotoFairytales!

Eek, it's been an embarrassingly long time between posts! I do have an excuse though: behind the scenes I'm working on a major relaunch of the website. An exciting new look, exciting new products, and an easier way to browse and view. It's turned into a gargantuan project that I'm working on every spare minute, but I'm hoping to have a launch date (and lots of great offers and giveaways) for you soon!

In the meantime, I have fabulous news to share with you...

Last year I was overjoyed to be awarded the winner of 'Best for Personalised Handmade Gifts 2018' by SME News.

Well, this year I'm the winner of not one, but two amazing awards!

I've known about this for a little while now, but because the news was embargoed to the press I wasn't allowed to tell anyone and have had to sit on my hands: but now I'm allowed to yell it from the rooftops - and wave my hands excitedly too!!

PhotoFairytales has been awarded: 

'Best Personalised Gifts Company 2019 - East Anglia' 

...and... 

'Sustained Excellence for Personalised Handmade Gifts 2019'. 

How about that - pretty darn amazing, eh?!

The annual UK Enterprise Awards celebrate various business industries from all across the United Kingdom. With the Brexit deadline looming, and with it all the uncertainty that the business world is feeling, the awards are an opportunity to celebrate strong, vibrant and diverse businesses that year upon year develop and grow their products and services to befit its new audience and situation. This is something that I constantly strive to do with PhotoFairytales: bringing fresh new products and designs, and continuously developing and working on making the business the best it can possibly be. That's also why I'm working so hard to revamp the website - it's so vital to refresh and stay current, especially during these increasingly hard trading times for retail.

There have been tough times on the high street over the past year, with many household names sinking and either closing branches or shutting for good. It's a worrying time, but also a time for thinking of a new way to approach things. Every problem is just an opportunity, right?!

Jessie Wilson, Award Coordinator for SME News discusses the success of this year’s programme: “The United Kingdom, as a business community, is renowned for its ability to thrive in diverse conditions and time of economic uncertainly. It is for this reason that we celebrate and showcase some of the UK’s strongest, most innovative businesses and business owners! Well done to all my deserving winners, it has been a true honour to showcase the dedication you show to your clients and your business. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.”

Of course, none of this would be possible without the continued support from my lovely customers. Your loyalty over the last 10 years (10 years, how about that?!!) is phenomenal. So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you: whether you're a new customer, an old customer, a regular/occasional/one off customer - a big, heartfelt thank you to you. And yes, I really do a happy dance whenever an order comes in - it might sound daft, but every single order makes a difference to me and my little family. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Sniff... feeling a bit emotional now!
Sarah x

PhotoFairytales: Winner of Best Personalised Handmade Gifts 2018!

I have exciting news! I'm so pleased to announce that I'm the Winner in the SME News 2018 Enterprise Awards in the Best Personalised Handmade Gifts category - how fabulous is that?!

SME News is a UK publication for British-based SME's (small and medium-sized enterprises), publishing the latest news and events in the business world as well as running annual Enterprise Awards aimed at recognising the UK enterprises.

SME News says: "The UK Enterprise scene is one to be admired, with new and exciting market sectors emerging daily. It takes courage, drive and dedication to thrive to succeed in this thriving space. As such, our 2018 UK Enterprise Awards showcase the very best businesses from across the UK’s corporate landscape."

Jessie Wilson, Awards Coordinator, discusses the success of this year’s programme: “UK based enterprises are renowned for their diversity and ability to progress through tough times. As we turn our backs on the recession it is now more important than ever to seek out hard working, innovative and diverse business owners and offer them a platform to further succeed, and as such it is my pleasure to announce the publication of this year’s awards. Congratulations to all of my winners; you have each exhibited determination, passion and a will to succeed which I hope continues into the future.”

SME News prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.

So, I can safely say I'm rather chuffed to have PhotoFairytales recognised in this way - it means a lot, but of course, it goes without saying that my amazing customers play a huge part in the success of PhotoFairytales: without you lovely people, supporting me as a small British business, it simply wouldn't exist. So thank you to all customers: past, present and future - I share this award with you!

Sarah x

PhotoFairytales is an Award Winning Site!

And now for a bit of blatant showing off (sorry!).... This is a snippet of an email that has just arrived in my inbox:

"I am happy to inform you that your website was scored by three professionals within the online industry, and based on the criteria provided to them by Mumpreneur UK your website was scored as a Gold Award Winning Website!"

Mumpreneur UK is a support network for mums in business, offering advice, support, conferences and resources to parents in business. They say:

"Having worked our way through hundreds of websites during The Mumpreneur Award judging, it became very clear that there are so many mumpreneurs out there with fabulous websites! We want to ensure that these sites are rewarded, and that their customers can see that their high standard is being recognised. We're looking to acknowledge mumpreneurs who have realised the importance of getting your business online, and doing it well!"

The criteria used to judge a website are:

• The website should be visually pleasing
• The website should be easy to navigate
• Ecommerce sites should include a simple payment process
• The website should be clear and easy to understand
• The website should include ample information about the products/services provided

How chuffed am I?!! So now, when you meet me you'll understand why I'm going around humming a certain Spandau Ballet song...

Gold! Always believe in your soul, you've got the power to know you're indestructible, always believe in.... Because you are GOLD! Dum de dee dum de doo....

Sarah x

I really need your help!

With the new website now finished, I feel as if PhotoFairytales has been given a new lease of life - a bit like coming out of the changing room realising you're a size smaller than you thought!

As all my regular customers know, feedback is a wonderful thing. With every single order I receive, I always strive to offer not only a great product but also great service. I know that shopping online can be a daunting prospect: you can't pick up and touch the product, you have natural concerns about the company you're buying from, etc. That's why I think it's so important to look after my customers and make them feel happy about shopping with me. And that's why I wanted to relaunch the website to give you all a much nicer environment in which to shop too! I might not be able to offer you a glass of wine or a cup of coffee while you're "walking" around my shop, but I can make sure it looks clean, attractive, presentable and is easy to walk around. If you see what I mean!

And this is where I need you're help..! I'm really excited to let you know that PhotoFairytales is part of the Website of the Year Award 2011. But I really need your support, because I'm up against the big guys! If you can spare a moment to help me it would be fantastic if you can just click here and just leave a sentence about why you think the PhotoFairytales site should win. It will take you just one minute, and will mean the world to me.

Thank you for your continued support... (and I do mean that, whether you vote or note!)

Sarah x

Is PhotoFairytales "Website of the Year"..?

What do you think of the PhotoFairytales website? If you think it's good enough to win the "Website of the Year" award, I'd love it if you could please spare just one or two minutes (honestly, no more!) to tell the judges why you like it...

The Good Web Guide started the award last year, aiming it specifically at small businesses. It provides businesses like PhotoFairytales an excellent way to gain recognition (and there are some great prizes on offer too!). My site has been entered into the competition, and if you can take a moment of your day to enter your support to my website I would be so grateful. Simply follow this link for details.

Sites are judged and assessed in areas such as design, originality, content, and ease of use. I'm keeping my fingers crossed (and my legs, eyes and toes for good measure!).

Thanks for your support, Sarah x