The Henries Awards reveal comedian Pippa Evans as host for glitzy ceremony
Comedian and entertainer Pippa Evans has been unveiled as the host of the 2023 Henries Awards, with the glitzy ceremony taking place on Thursday, 5 October, at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel.
And there’s still time to get your ticket for the mardi gras-themed party where plenty of music and dancing will be on the cards for the colourful carnival celebration of the greetings industry.
One of the gorgeous gold-foiled invitations for The Henries 2023 Awards, beautifully designed by Beth Kemp at The Art File and printed by Windles Group on board supplied by G.F Smith, can be yours simply by clicking here.
And Pippa will be host for the evening, bringing her talents as an award-winning musical comedian, author and improviser to the Oscars of the greeting card world, where the best card ranges for 2023 – as voted for by a fantastically experienced panel of retail judges – will be announced.
Pippa is a founder member of Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and has performed with the troupe across the UK, in the West End and internationally. She is a regular guest on BBC Radio 4 programmes including The Now Show, Just A Minute, and The Unbelievable Truth and a core member of the official I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue national tour.
With TV credits including Tonight At The Palladium, Pippa has performed multiple critically-acclaimed solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and across the world, including at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and her book Improv Your Life was published by Hodder Studio in 2021.
“It’ll be a fab evening of fun, laughter, and some very glamorous outfits thanks to the mardi gras theme – and that’ll just be the chaps!” said Jakki Brown, editor of Progressive Greetings and co-owner of Max Publishing which owns and organises The Henries.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone from the industry shaking their tail feathers and going for all-out gold and glitter at the party – it’s always great fun and a brilliant atmosphere for schmoozing with greetings peers.”
The Henries excitement owes much to the generosity of the sponsors, including Alpha Colour Printers, Antalis, Card Factory, Cardgains, EBB Paper, Fedrigoni, FujiFilm, G.F Smith, Gould Paper, The Imaging Centre, Graphite Creative, Herbert Walkers, LB Warehousing, Loxleys, Postmark, Progressive Greetings Live, Scribbler, Sherwood Group, Skeet Print, Skylight Media, Spring Fair/Autumn Fair, UK Envelopes, and Windles, with Bright Agency and House of Cards also on board as associate sponsors.
And the ticket artwork has been inspired by the theme, with designer Beth picking up “deep inky purples capturing the mystery of the mardi gras nightlife, combined with classic harlequin patterns, decorative motifs and iconic masks in an array of bright greens, pinks and glimmering golds to give an all-round vibrant and celebratory feel”.
The full list of product finalists for The Henries Awards 2023, and the eight through in the Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist category, can be found here – arrived at following a two-stage judging process, with the second in-person event seeing 35 buyers from grocers, multiples, small groups and independent retailers scrutinise all the shortlisted ranges arrived at from the first round of online voting, and their collective votes from the day decided the finalists.
The Best Service To The Independent Retailer award is sponsored by the Cardgains buying group and nominations were sought over a month from 1,750 independent card retailers, both Cardgains members as well as non-members.
The 2023 best service finalists can be found here and, as in previous years, there will be three trophies – Bronze, Silver and Gold – which will be announced along with all winners the industry’s big night on 5 October. Tickets for the event can be bought here.
