Ronnie Barnard, a specialist in men’s gifts, will join the 2013 Gift of the Year judging panel and bring his expertise to the new Gifts for Men category.
Independent retailer Ronnie, who set up his ‘Gifts for Gentlemen’ outlet in Dartmouth 24 years ago, has his own “quirky taste” in gifts for men. He says: “My criteria have always been that whatever it is I am stocking it must be useful and it also needs a strong element of design. If it looks good aesthetically and has a use, then for me you are already half way there.”
That doesn’t mean that the gift has to be a gadget – and Ronnie insists it’s “definitely not socks or a belt”.
His shop is a destination for both tourists and locals. “I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and I try to bring my customers things they won’t have seen elsewhere,” he says.
At Top Drawer he saw some “fabulous things from young designers” and is looking forward to seeing “plenty more exciting products entered for Gift of the Year.”
