The creation of an Aladdin’s cave for sticker and trading card collectors has seen a delighted store owner from Balloch win a national award from one of Europe’s biggest employers’ associations.

Andrew Howell, of Loch Lomond News, collected the gong for Collectables Retailer of the Year at the exclusive 2023 Fed Awards.

The glittering ceremony was hosted by BBC presenter Naga Munchetty at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on January 24.

Loch Lomond News is home to a wide range of collectibles, including Pokémon and football stickers.

Mr Howell said: “I believe our sales are higher than that of most newsagents and convenience stores due to the wide range of collectables we sell, our standards of display and our determination not to be out of stock on any lines if we can help it.

“To ensure we carry the complete range of each collectable series and to help avoid out of stocks, we do not rely solely on our news wholesaler. We use companies such as Click and Asmodee to ensure 100 per cent availability for the full sales period of each collection.”

The Fed (Federation of Independent Retailers) is a not-for-profit organisation with more than 10,000 members throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The Fed’s national president, Jason Birks, congratulated Mr Howell on his win, saying: “Andrew truly deserves the collectables crown, as his shop is the place to go for trading cards, stickers and more.

“All current collections are always in stock. These are displayed to their full advantage in the shop window, in glass counter displays and on shelves and are heavily promoted over all social media channels.”