24 Retail Standouts Named Finalists for 2026 Retailer Excellence Awards

Gifts & Decorative Accessories (GDA) has been searching for the top independent retailers of 2026 for the 75th Retailer Excellence Awards (REA) since January. Now, the nominations and submissions have been sorted and judged by an internal panel of editors to produce a list of the 21 most amazing shops from across the country, from a fun stationery shop in Florida to a rustic fashion boutique in Oregon. In addition, the REAs will also honor three home décor stores, nominated by sister publication Home Accents Today (HAT), from its class of 2026 Retail Stars.

“Independent retailers work so hard to keep their store running, their staff happy and their customers satisfied, which is why the Retailer Excellence Awards is such an important event,” said Lenise Willis, editor-in-chief of GDA. “It is a great pleasure that our team gets to give them the credit they deserve and celebrate their achievements with the entire industry. This year, we had so many great nominations and submissions, and I especially loved reading so many stories with such rich history. I think we had some of the longest-standing nominees yet this year!”

See the list of REA retail finalists below and then plan to celebrate with the honorees on Wed., June 24, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, which runs in conjunction with Dallas Market Center’s Total Home & Gift Market. The event includes a cocktail networking hour, dinner and awards presentation. For tickets and more information on REA, click here.

Multiple Locations Finalists

• Patina with eight store locations across Minnesota.
• The Sample House with five store locations across Texas.
• Simply Chic Boutique with three store locations and two franchise locations across Louisiana.

Social Media and Online Initiatives Finalists

• Fleurty Girl in New Orleans, La.
• Mellow Monkey Gifts and Décor in Stratford, Conn.
• The Go Girl Shoppe in Mebane, N.C.

Socially Responsible Finalists

• Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts in Petoskey, Mich.
• The Kitchen Store & More in Conway, Ark.
• Webster’s Pharmacy in Altadena, Calif.

Specialty Store Finalists

• Cami Monet in Winter Park, Fla.
• Messner Bee Farm in Raytown, Mo.
• Old Vine Kitchen Emporium in Hermann, Mo.

Store Design/Redesign Finalists

• Apple Butter and Shugie’s in Morris, Ill.
• Gage Lake Life Store in Lake Geneva, Wis.
• Paper Trail in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Store Events Finalists

• Embers Candle Bar in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
• The Grove in Lake Oswego, Ore.
• Tiger Lily Flowers & Gifts in Fort Payne, Ala.

Visual Merchandising Finalists

• Mangiacotti (The Barn) in Attleboro, Mass.
• Rachelle M. Rustic House of Fashion in Cannon Beach, Ore.
• Stanford Medicine Gift Shop in Stanford, Calif.

Home Décor Store Finalists, by Home Accents Today

Sister publication Home Accents Today has nominated three finalists for best home décor store.

• Caitlin Wilson in Dallas, Texas
• Patina Vie in Ripon, Wis.
• Tidewater Lighting in Saybrook, Conn.

“This year is the diamond anniversary for the REA and it’s sure to be one of our biggest celebrations yet,” Willis said. “I can’t wait to see everyone in Dallas; it’s going to be a fun night of catching up, meeting new people and celebrating some of the biggest achievements in our industry. You don’t want to miss it!”

Keep an eye out for more detailed profiles on all of the REA finalists in the coming weeks, as well as in the June print issue of GDA. Retailers are also encouraged to vote for their favorite vendor for Manufacturer of the Year now through May 29.

In honor of its diamond anniversary, GDA will also hand out Diamond Awards at the gala, recognizing three key manufacturers, retailers, sales rep agencies and influencers who have helped carry the industry through the years.