Sex toys from Lovehoney will bear the Queen’s Award for Enterprise logo after the retailer was recognised for its contribution to international trade.
£60m-turnover Lovehoney ‘s international sales growth over the last three years helped to win the award for the company, which came 14 years to the day from when co-founders Neal Slateford and Richard Longhurst started selling sex toys online from a bedroom.
“It’s a huge privilege for Lovehoney to be honoured by the Queen,” said Slateford. “Official recognition from the Queen as she celebrates her 90th birthday shows just how far we have come as a company and how far sex toys have been embraced by mainstream shoppers.”
The retailer is one of a number of ecommerce sector companies to have been recognised in the awards, published today.
James and James Fulfilment, wins an Innovation Award for its ecommerce order fulfilment system and London-based GeoLytix wins the same award for its modelling of retail consumer behaviour, assessing the cost benefits of online versus physical stores. Retailers including Northamptonshire shoe manufacturer Cheaney Shoes and British Corner Shop, which delivers British food worldwide, both won the International Trade award for fast-growing international online sales.
Peter Howarth, technical director of British Corner Shop, which delivers to 138 countries worldwide, said the company was delighted with the news.
“To receive such a prestigious award is a real testament to the hard work that the whole team have put in over the last decade, delivering a fantastic and unique service that British expats around the world have come to rely on,” he said.
In all, more than 240 companies were recognised in the awards.
Business secretary Sajid Javid said: “The Queen’s Awards are a great way of celebrating the best of British business. Whether you’re a disruptive start-up making life easier for your customers or a large company with a blockbuster product, these awards recognise your contribution to enterprise.
“We are a country full of exciting and innovative businesses that deserve to be celebrated. I’d like to commend all the winners for their hard work in creating jobs for people and driving our growing economy.”
