Exhibitor News

Local family business taking the lead for Derby at national gift awards

A Derbyshire family-run company is celebrating after reaching the finals of the prestigious Gift of the Year Awards for the fourth time, a significant achievement for a small independent business with deep local roots.

Derby-based card and gift company The Little Dog Laughed are finalists in the ‘Pet Gift’ category at the 2026 Gift of the Year Awards for its innovative folding travel dog bowls. Judged by over 80 of our UK retail industries finest and with thousands of products entered, it is a great achievement to have been shortlisted and then go on to reach the finals.

Designed with dog lovers in mind, the portable bowls cleverly fold down into a pocket-sized shape, making them ideal for countryside walks, coastal adventures and everyday outings. Featuring a water-holding lining and washable water-resistant outer fabric, they combine practicality with thoughtful design,  and are perfect for owners who wouldn’t dream of exploring without their four-legged companion.

Organised by The Giftware Association, the Gift of the Year Awards are among the most respected accolades in the industry, celebrating excellence in product design and innovation across the UK gift sector.

Proudly designed and developed from their Derby base, The Little Dog Laughed continues to prove that independent regional businesses can compete, and indeed thrive, on a national stage, while staying rooted in the community that has supported them for almost three decades.

Founder and Creative Director Anna Danielle said:

“To reach the Gift of the Year finals for the fourth time is such a boost for us as a small, sibling-run Derby business. We’ve always stayed true to designing products that dog lovers genuinely use and treasure. Our designs are loved because they capture our pets thoughts and characters”.

The Little Dog Laughed marked its 25th anniversary in 2023, a proud milestone for the Derbyshire-based family business. To celebrate the occasion, the company partnered with Dogs Trust to create a special fundraising book, A Dog’s Life.

Now in its second reprint, the charmingly written and beautifully illustrated book features fifty heart-warming accounts of rescue dogs who have found their forever sofas and happy ever afters. Their stories, often humorous, sometimes moving, always uplifting, resonate deeply with anyone who knows life is better with a dog by their side.

Through their partnership with Dogs Trust, The Little Dog Laughed has so far raised over £25,000, with every penny going directly to support the charity’s vital work caring for and rehoming dogs across the UK. Their aims for 2026 is to double that total with new dog-themed card and gift collections.

Little Dog Director, Gavin Smith adds

“Reaching 25 years in business gave us the opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, and working with Dogs Trust on A Dog’s Life was a  meaningful celebration of that journey. A chance to give something back. We were blown away by the dedication, expertise and care we saw at Dogs Trust and readily renewed our partnership with the charity to continue supporting the incredible work they do ”

A Dog’s Life is available via The Little Dog Laughed website, the Dogs Trust website (www.dogstrustgifts.com), and in Blue Diamond garden centres and independent gift shops nationwide.