Honeymoons and holidays interrupted to celebrate top greetings awards nominations
Interrupting your honeymoon isn’t normally the done thing – but to celebrate your first Henries Awards finalist nomination sounds like a pretty good reason!
And that’s just what Oh Squirrel owner and creative Katie Wagstaff did to let PG Buzz know how thrilled she is that her Biodegradable Glitter range has made it through in the Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range.
“Thank you so much for this!” Katie said. “I’m currently on my honeymoon, but very glad I made a short studio stop between the wedding and our holiday then to send the samples in!
“I’m thrilled to bits. What an amazing bit of news to hear while in the sunshine on my honeymoon – 2023 is shaping up to be bloody brilliant!”
Wendy Jones-Blackett was also on her hols when she and husband Steve found out they’d been nominated in three categories, Best Photographic, Best Spring Seasons, and Henry Cole Classic for Quicksilver, as can be seen in the video below.
James Stevens was a bit busy up a French mountain pass when he picked up the email about the James Ellis’ triple nomination, for Paper Shakies in the Henry Cole Classic Award, with its Paintworks and Paper Shakies Christmas ranges both through in the Best Christmas Counter category. But he stopped for long enough to make the video below.
Meanwhile, Origamo’s Furio Ceciliato came through from his Italian base with the video below and also added: “Wow! a big grazie to all the judges – Origamo is a finalist in two different categories and the only non-UK brand to be in the finals! Such a big emotion! See you in London in October –grazieeeeee!”
Dandelion Stationery’s Jo Wilson was particularly chuffed after experiencing a difficult few days, saying: “OMG bloody fabulous – you have just made a really tough week end on a high! Thank you for making my day.
“We’re over the bloody moon. Thank you so much to the people who voted for us – we made it through to the finals in two categories. It’s hard to put into words how much it means to us to get nominated for these awards as they are so blooming special. Absolutely chuffed to bits. Time to dust off the posh frock.
And Lil Wabbit’s Georgi Doig was on a ferry when she found out about her nomination in The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist category, as her video below shows.
Great British Card Company’s head of creative Lucy Ledger told PG Buzz: “It’s such an honour to make it into the finals of the Henries alongside so many great publishers. I’m proud of how hard everyone has worked at GBCC over the last few years and it looks like the hard work is paying off –2023 has been a brilliant year so far for us and it just keeps getting better!
“Alongside our nomination in the Photographic category, we’re so pleased GBCC artist Sophie Thorne made it to the finals of Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist, it’s a great example of the incredible talent we currently have within our in-house team.
“We have our fingers crossed for Sophie and we very much look forward to celebrating with everyone in October!”
Bewilderbeest’s chief nitwit Iain Hamilton sent the video below and added: “We’re pleased as punch to have made it to the finals of the Humour category. As a recent dad I feel immense pressure to live and breathe the dad joke, and it’s great that’s been recognised!”
Team Roger La Borde said: “The Henries Awards are the Oscars of the greeting card industry, and we are delighted to have made it this far. We would like to extend a big thank you to the judges, and a hearty congratulations to the other finalists! We have our fingers crossed and can’t wait to attend the awards ceremony in October.”
Meanwhile, Lucilla Lavender shared the love for reaching the finals in the Best Spring Seasons category with the video below.
At Glick, md Becky Dobson said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have two collections through to the finals of The Henries Award for Best Gift Wrapping with our Paper Salad and Louise Mulgrew amazing ranges! Good luck to all the other finalists – see you all on 5 October!”
And a very happy Tracey Colliston confessed “we’re so happy to be finalists” as Ginger Betty got through in the Best Cute and Best Traditional Words & Sentiments ranges.
At Heyyy Cards, owners Yvette and Dan Clarkson are delighted – as the video below shows – with no less than four nominations in Best Contemporary Trend, two in Best Male (non-humour), and Best Diversity & Inclusion.
The full list of finalists for The Henries Awards 2023 can be found here – they were picked following a two-stage judging process, with the second in-person event taking place last week where 35 buyers from Tesco, Card Factory, John Lewis & Partners, Waterstones, Scribbler, Fortnum & Mason and WHSmith were joined by leading small chains and indies, such as House of Cards, Postmark, Bailey’s, Red Card, Cardies, Card Collection, In Heaven At Home, No.14 Ampthill, Highworth Emporium, Medici Gallery, First Class Greetings, LoveOne, MiMi, Jane Armour Trading, and Milford Cards & Gifts, to scrutinise all the shortlisted ranges arrived at from the first round of online voting, and their collective votes from the day decided the finalists.
All winners will be announced at a lavish awards event at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday, 5 October, 2023, where The Henries 2023 awards event will be a vibrant affair with its colourful Mardi Gras theme.
To book tickets click here. It will be a fabulous opportunity for the greeting card community to get together and celebrate its creative excellence as well as its strong sense of camaraderie.
