Greeting card publishers have three weeks in which to enter The Henries 2020, the ultimate accolades in greeting card publishing – with the deadline for entering being Tuesday 28 July.
As announced at the start of last month, with the ongoing Covid-19 situation, in order to safeguard The Henries awards, both the entry and judging processes for the awards have moved entirely to online for this year.
A brand new website, which is now the portal for all Henries 2020 entries and judging, went live a few weeks ago (www.thehenriesawards.co.uk) and entries are stacking up in the system as publishers of all shapes and sizes submit their ranges.
UK publishers (or distributors) are invited to enter their new card and wrap ranges (or extensions to existing ranges) that have launched between 10 July 2019 and 9 July 2020.
“While this pandemic has been hugely disruptive to all of our lives, it has not stopped the creativity in our industry flowing. Extending the deadline has meant that new ranges being launched right now can also be entered,” said Warren Lomax, joint managing director of Max Publishing which owns and organises The Henries.
In recognition of current times, The Henries 2020 programme welcomes the introduction of a new award categories – Best Lockdown Range.
As ever, entry to The Henries is free and the online entry process is quick and easy. Entrants are required to register and in doing so will be given a password. This will enable them to update and add to their entries right up until the closing date.
While publishers are invited to submit their product ranges, independent retailers are being urged to nominate their top three card or wrap suppliers for the Best Service to the Independent Retailer award. The deadline for this category is August 5. (https://www.thehenriesawards.co.uk/licensed-product-select-entry/?parent=2)
The judging of The Henries product categories will also be undertaken online. An extensive judging panel made up entirely of retailers from right across the spectrum will share this collective from the comfort of their homes or offices, and will have several days to complete the task.
Any card retailers or buyers who would like to join the panel (and see the UK’s best greeting card ranges in the one ‘virtual’ place) should email jakkib@max-publishing.co.uk
The Henries Awards 2020 have the strong backing of major names in the industry as official sponsors. These include Alpha Colour, EBB Elliott Baxter, Fedrigoni, Foilco, GF Smith, Gould, Herbert Walker, The Imaging Centre, LB Warehousing, Loxleys, Paperchase, PG Live, Sherwood Group, Skeet, UK Envelopes, and Windles.
The Henries, which were started in 1996, are named after Sir Henry Cole who introduced the first ever commercial Christmas card over 160 years ago.
