"She came from Planet Claire, I knew she came from there," goes the B52's hit that gave the award-winning card and gift shop in Honiton's Black Lion Court its name.

Planet Sal is a world of quirky, fascinating, humorous products – things that have a practical use, but make you smile when you look at them. It's the kind of place you go to buy someone a present, and end up treating yourself to something you just can't resist buying.

And its owner Sally Wilde has just been presented with her trophy as winner of the Prestige Awards Card and Gift Shop of 2020/21 for the south-west – an award she heard she'd won back in December last year, but kept quiet about at the time.

So, where did Planet Sal come from?

Sally explains that it actually came out of her redundancy, three and a bit years ago, from her job as a sales rep for a company supplying cards and gifts to shops around the south west. She'd gained good knowledge of the market, but had already been wishing she was on the other side of the counter.

She said: "I was walking around Honiton, enjoying a bit of window-shopping in the snow, when I ventured up Black Lion Court for the first time and saw a 'To Let' sign in a bay window, with a lovely little shop peeking through it at me. It seemed like this was meant to be.

"I spoke to the other shopkeepers in the Court and they were all very positive about their experience there, so I decided to go for it!

"I knew the card and gift trade well, but planning the shop out was quite a tricky affair! I had lots of help from friends and local tradesmen and got there in the end."

She named the shop after her favourite song by her favourite group, and Planet Sal opened on June 1 2018.

What makes Planet Sal so original?

Sally said: "Although the shop has evolved a lot since then, I insist on only buying my cards from small companies, often designer-owned, which are UK based. There is so much creativity and excitement in the trade. I love it!

"Funny and cheeky humour sell best for me and I love to hear my customers having a good giggle in the 'naughty' corner!

"With the gifts, I buy more broadly, but I do try to find something a bit different, but ultimately of use - even if it is Boris Loo Roll, it has a use!"

When the pandemic hit last year, Sally set up her 'sparkly online shop', offering mail order or click and collect on a selected range of goods. But it was a hard year with all the lockdowns, so Sally was delighted to hear, in December, that she'd been anonymously nominated for the Prestige award. In the past she had been nominated for a Retas (greeting card industry) award, but had never won anything before.

What's the award Planet Sal has won?

The Corporate Livewire Prestige Awards recognise small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their market over the past 12 months.

All those that are shortlisted are asked to support their nomination with evidence of their work, positive feedback from their clients, information on previous accreditation and recognition, as well as highlighting the most outstanding parts of their businesses.

Sally said: "I had to give them a lot of detail about the shop, my ethos, my website, how I had come back from lockdowns etc. so the judges could make their decision. I really thought, with so many shops in our region, that would be the last I heard…

"Then, just after Christmas, they called to say I had won! It was very exciting, but the timing was difficult. So many people were poorly and another lockdown seemed definite. I didn't think it was the right time to advertise the win."

She kept quiet until April, when she announced the win on her website and commissioned Devon signwriter The Blackboard Guy to hand-draw a replica of her award certificate to display on the outside wall of the shop.

She said: "So many supportive comments to this and it was very moving!"

A small, Covid-secure awards ceremony took place at Escot House in June, and Sally attended with her friend Jen from the HemPorium, another of the 'fab' all owner-run businesses in Black Lion Court. The trophy is now on display in the Planet Sal window.

Whimple, wine, pantomimes – and the joy of trading in Honiton

Away from Planet Sal, Sally lives in Whimple, loves the coast and often takes part in beach cleans. She also looks after the scenery and stage management for the village pantomime, helps with the village magazine, and enjoys any activity involving the drinking of wine.

Sally said she loves trading in Honiton: "East Devon is so beautiful and green, with Honiton itself being a really friendly and busy market town.

"There are so many great independent shops and eateries here, who should all be so proud.

"Visitors to the area always mention this and how this sets us apart from other, larger towns.

"We also have the great Town events, mostly coming up any time now, which are so well-supported. I always go to Beautiful Days Festival at Escot, too, which is just brilliant.

"On that note, I need to get on with my prep for my Charter Day window!

"I so love having the shop - Black Lion Court is great and my customers just lovely."

For more information on Planet Sal, visit Sally's website.