The winners of The Henries 2022 greeting card industry awards were announced this evening (Thursday 6 October) at a fabulous awards event, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, hosted by Northern Irish comedian and TV personality Patrick Kielty.
The industry’s big ‘Oscars of the greeting card sector’ event, now in its 25th year, took on a colourful and soulful 1950s theme this year was attended by over 500 members of the greeting card community who shared in the joy as the publishers of the UK’s most innovative greeting card ranges and suppliers who had gone the extra mile on service made their way to the stage to be crowned as winners.
Over a sumptuous dinner, guests were serenaded by the star of the West End’s Rat Pack stage show Gary Williams as he kept the Sinatra flame alive with his cabaret crooning, while the after-party fun was in full flow with live casino tables and airbrush tattoos thanks to the continued, generous support from House of Cards’ Miles Robinson and Nigel Williamson.
Organised by Progressive Greetings, The Henries are accepted as the ultimate accolades in the greeting card industry. Opening the event, director of Max Publishing Warren Lomax said: “In 1958 Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was telling everyone, “We have never had it so good”. Well, certainly when it comes to The Henries, we really never have had it so good. This year saw a record number of entries, submitted by 283 publishers and we had more retailer judges than we have ever had before involved in the judging process. And the sheer quality of entrants was off the scale, a few octaves higher than even Frank Sinatra could’ve reached.”
As a fitting finale to the fiercely contested product and service categories was the highly coveted Honorary Achievement Award, which was presented to Alan Harnik, founder and president of leading US distributor of UK publishers, Notes & Queries, who travelled from Baltimore without a hint of knowledge that his 42 years incredible service would be crowned by the industry he loves so much.
Honouring Alan, Jakki Brown, managing director of Max Publishing told the audience: “Tonight’s winner has not only championed British greeting card design and creativity but has been passionate in their support of young designers and emerging publishers, forever willing to share their wealth of knowledge and experience, while yet never losing their sense of wonderment and enthusiasm for new winning concepts, finishes and design styles.
He is a larger than life character, delighting in his affectionate nickname of ’Big Al’, and with an even larger in heart!”
A full photo gallery will be published in the coming days.
The Henries Awards 2022 winners are:
The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist Award
Iain Hamilton, founder of Bewilderbeest
Award sponsored by Postmark
Best Diversity and Inclusion Range
Feel the Love from Hallmark Cards
Award sponsored by GCA
Best Humorous Range
Zeppelinmoon from Redback Cards
Award sponsored by Spring & Autumn Fair
Best Licensed Card Range
Famous Foods from Tache
Award sponsored by Skeet Print
Best Christmas Counter Cards Range
Bloom from Stormy Knight
Award sponsored by Windles Group
Best Christmas Box or Pack
Luxury Boxed Collection from The Art File
Award sponsored by Gould Paper
Best Cute Range
Pawsome from Raspberry Blossom
Award sponsored by Alpha Colour Printers
Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range
Words of Wisdom from Dandelion Stationery
Award sponsored by Card Factory
Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range
Indigo Blush from Ling Design
Award sponsored by Skylight Media
Best Art Range
Natural Phenomenon from The Art File
Award sponsored by Graphite Creative
Best Photographic Range
Say Cheese from Ohh Deer
Award sponsored by Scribbler and FuliFilm
Best Children’s Range
Are We Nearly There Yet? from Paper Salad
Award sponsored by Loxleys
Best Contemporary Trend Range
Jamboree from Paper Salad
Award sponsored by The Imaging Centre
Best Handmade or Hand-finished Range
Paper Shakies Adult Ages from James Ellis
Award sponsored by EBB Board
Best Male Range
Graphic Form from Rocket68
Award sponsored by Duplo UK
Best Relations and/or Occasions Range
Elle from Belly Button Designs
Award sponsored by Fedrigoni UK
Best Spring Seasons Range
Rainbow Drops Mother’s Day from Wendy Jones-Blackett
Award sponsored by G.F Smith
Best Wholesale Range
Isabel’s Garden from Simon Elvin
Award sponsored by LB Warehousing
Best Giftwrappings Range
Paper Salad Collection from Glick
Award sponsored by PG Live
The Henry Cole Classic Award
Camilla & Rose from Peartree Heybridge
Award sponsored by The Sherwood Group
Best Service to the Independent Retailer
Bronze Winner 2022
The Art File
Award sponsored by Herbert Walkers
Best Service to the Independent Retailer
Silver Winner 2022
IC&G
Award sponsored by Herbert Walkers
Best Service to the Independent Retailer
Gold Winner 2022
UK Greetings
Award sponsored by Herbert Walkers
Honorary Achievement Award
Alan Harnik
Award sponsored by UK Envelope Centre
www.thehenriesawards.co.uk | #Henries2022
