Whoops of joy, both audible and legible, percolated throughout the greeting card industry on Friday when PG Buzz.net released the news of which ranges have made it into the finals on The Henries 2017 greeting card industry awards.
Making the most of the immediacy of social media channels, many of the 80 different publishers who are feted in these top industry accolades across the 20 product and service award categories took to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to spread the good news.
“As entering was free of charge and all the entries were judged without the 50 buyers who made up the Judging Panel being told of the identity of the respective publisher, it meant that the votes were cast without any preconceived ideas of that brand, providing a level playing field for all,” explains PG’s deputy editor Gale Astley.
Reflecting the diverse make-up of the publishing sector, the finalists range from the major players to newbie start-ups.
In addition to the likes of UKG (who received five finalist places), Woodmansterne (who received six), Abacus (who received four), several respected specialist brands have also fared especially well. Belly Button Designs has reached the finals in three categories as has Janie Wilson, Lagom, Pigment and Stop the Clock.
The Simon Elvin group (which includes Simon Elvin, Paper Rose, Nigel Quiney and Glick) has had a good year too, having clinched seven of the coveted slots.
It is also a great year for the smaller publishers to receive recognition.
“Woohoo! This has made my week/year!” responded Jenny Morrison, founder of new company Paper Sole as soon as she learned that her Little Monsters range had made it into the finals of the Best Cute Range category.
Meanwhile, Jo Wilson, founder of Dandelion Stationery (whose Words of Wisdom range reached the finals in the Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range category) proclaimed: “I am sat here with a humongous smile on my face, chuffed to bits to have made it to The Henries finals!”
Brilliant! We’re over the moon!!” enthused Jo Clarke, founder of Toasted Crumpet, while someone who would also have been ‘over the moon’ to see so many small publisher in The Henries finalists was Lynn Tait (owner of The Lynn Tait Gallery and co-founder of The Ladder Club, who passed away recently). In honour of Lynn and with total endorsement from category sponsor Paperchase, the award category that celebrates the young creative talent in the industry is now called The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist Award.
The winners will be announced at an Ooh La La Henries Ball on Thursday 5 October, which this year will take on a Parisian theme. For tickets contact Clare Davies on clare@createvents.co.uk or 01183 340085.
For those who missed the announcement of The Henries 2017 finalists, here they are again… (Some of the range names may have changed very slightly since the initial announcement as a result of clarification from the publishers involved).
The Henries 2017 Awards Finalists
The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist Award
Elliott Bennett, designer and owner of Heart’s Designs
Catherine Faulkner, founder and designer of Jelly Armchair
Louise Mulgrew, founder and designer of Louise Mulgrew Designs
Emma Pearce, senior designer for Hotchpotch Publishing
Louise Tiler, founder and designer of Louise Tiler Designs
Sarah Knight, founder and designer of Stormy Knight
Laura Clamp, founder and designer of Flying Teaspoons
Best Children’s Range
Animal Magic from Janie Wilson
Ingela Mini Cards from Lagom
Just A Number from Just a Little Note
Lollipop from Second Nature
Quicksilver from Wendy Jones-Blackett
Stormy Kids from Stormy Knight
Best Christmas Counter Range
Christmas Edged In Gold from Five Dollar Shake
Christmas Gin & Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing
Flair from Hotchpotch
Forget Me Not from Janie Wilson
Velvet Wishes from Jonny Javelin
Winter Park Life from Rocket68
Best Christmas Box or Pack
Cats In Christmas Hats from Jo Clark Design
Christmas Box For Oxfam from Special Editions (UKG)
Paloma Christmas Box from Belly Button Designs
Poppy Reay Christmas Box from U Studio
Premium Box Christmas from Noel Tatt
Sara Miller London Christmas from The Art File
Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range
Everlasting from The Handcrafted Card Company
Heart Story from Hallmark
Keepsakes from Grassroots International
Letterpress from Words ‘n’ Wishes
Made With Love for Tesco from Hallmark
Perfectly Said from UK Greetings
Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range
Botanical from Stop the Clock Design
Cloud Nine from Redback Cards
Every Picture from Icon
The Happy News from Pigment
Mimosa from Paperlink
Words of Wisdom from Dandelion Stationery
Best Contemporary Trend Range
Alice Scott from Pigment
Charmed from YTR Design
Cherished Mini Cards from Lagom
Fancy Pants from Hammond Gower
Flair from Hotchpotch
Gold Dust from Paper Salad
Best Handmade or Hand-Finished Range
Embroider Doodles from Stop The Clock Design
Fabric Envelopes from Pearl & Black
Gold Leaf from Janie Wilson
Magic Box from Forever Cards
Scrabbley Neons from Bexy Boo Designs
Woodland Farm from English Graphics
Best Photographic Range
1,000 Words from U Studio
B&W Photo from The Proper Mail Company
Exposure Colour from Icon
Javier Pérez from ArtPress
Loose Leashes from Woodmansterne
Water’s Edge from Wildcards
Best Humorous Range
Blunt As A Spoon from Pack A Punch Designs
Cloud Nine from Redback Cards
Favourites from Objectables
Gin & Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing
Hysterical Heritage from Woodmansterne
Launch Range from Bettie Confetti
Best Art Range
Inspired By CR Mackintosh from Forever Cards
Jungle Tumble from Louise Mulgrew Design
Landmarks from I Drew This
Lino Print from UK Greetings
Toby Sketchbook by Stephen Hanson from GBCC
Stick And Stitch from Catherine Kleeli Cards
Best Licensed Range
Beatrix Potter from Hype Associates
Disney from The Hallmark Studios
Happy Jackson from Pigment
Ladybird Books for Grown-ups from Danilo
Quentin Blake from Woodmansterne
Royal Horticultural Society Collection from UK Greetings
Best Gift Wrappings Range
Deco Range from Unique Paper Company
Designers Guild Chinoiserie Flowers And Plum Blossom from Deva Designs
Jaz&Baz from Portfolio
Pink Champagne Dots from Belly Button Bubble
Sara Miller London from Penny Kennedy
Stephanie Dyment from Glick
Best Male Range
Bold As Brass from Abacus Cards
Country Gent from Toasted Crumpet Design
Geronimo from The Art File
Just Josh from CardMix
Mad Dots – Black Tie from Hearts Designs
Mr Sunshine from Ivory Mint
Best Wholesale Range
Everyday Male from Simon Elvin
Keepsake Treasures Sympathy from Xpress Yourself
Opacity from Xpress Yourself
Ritzy from Simon Elvin
Special Thoughts from Regal Publishing
Stitched With Love from Simon Elvin
Best Relations & Occasions Range
Boulevard from Think Of Me
Favourites from Objectables
Indigo Blue from Stephanie Dyment
Life and Soul Occasions from Abacus Cards
Postco from Lagom
Vintage Love from Tracey Russell
Best Spring Seasons Range
All My Love Valentine’s from Stop The Clock Designs
Breton Collection Easter from Laura Darrington Designs
Father’s Day from Bettie Confetti
Grin & Tonic Father’s Day from Brainbox Candy
Mother’s Day from Roger la Borde
Paloma Mother’s Day from Belly Button Designs
Best Cute Range
Crumb from PaperBird Publishing
Jungle Tumble from Louise Mulgrew Designs
Little Creatures from Pippi & Me
Little Monsters from Paper Sole
Lottie And The Bear from Grumble & Co
Stripey Dogs from Stripey Cats
The Henry Cole Classic Award
Découpage from Noel Tatt
Eric The Penguin from Paper House
Harold’s Planet from Clare Maddicott Publications
Marzipan from Paper Rose
Pizazz from Nigel Quiney Publications
Wrinklies from Paperlink
Best Service to the Independent Retailer
Abacus Cards
Cherry Orchard Publishing
IC&G
Jonny Javelin
Ling Design
Nigel Quiney Publications
Noel Tatt
Paperlink
Pigment
UK Greetings
Woodmansterne
Words ‘n’ Wishes
