Henries finalists continue the celebrations for 2024 awards
Great customer service is always worth a mention and the dozen finalists in the Henries Awards for the Best Service To The Independent are over the moon that their hard work has been recognised.
With celebrations still happening for the Henries Awards product finalists, revealed on Thursday, 1 August, the Best Service shortlist unveiled the next day gave double delight to many.
There was a big thank you from Abacus Cards’ md Nick Carey as the Best Service nomination was added to the Best Photographic Range nod, while Dandelion Stationery founder Jo Wilson said: “This has absolutely made our day!”
Having made it through in the Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments category too, Jo commented: “Me and the team are absolutely over the moon to have reached the finals of the wonderful Henries. It’s hard to put into comments what this means to a small company like us, we are beyond thrilled.
“Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to vote for us, we are so grateful. We love what we do and to get to the finals for Best Service really does mean the world.”
At IC&G, the joy over being a Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range finalist – which can be seen in the video below – was compounded by the Best Service nomination, with studio artworker Kathryn Coyle commenting: “We’re absolutely buzzing!”
Jolly Awesome founder Matt Nguyen said he and wife Katie were already chuffed to be picked for the Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range and added: “Best Service nomination means a lot to us – we’re a small husband and wife business and this recognition of outstanding customer service goes solely to Katie, our sales and operations director.
“We don’t have a team of customer service or account managers, nor a single sales agent, so every order, query or issue is handled personally by this awesome woman.
“What makes this extra special is that we’ve been nominated by the very stockists we work with so just to be in the finals is already a win for us and anything else will be a bonus. Thanks to our amazing retailers who continue to support us and for the acknowledgment of the work we put in.”
And Alison Butterworth, co-owner of Nigel Quiney, said: “Service to the independent is at the heart of our business, it’s what we’re all here to provide for our customers and it’s important we do it well. We are thrilled to hear we’re finalists!”
NQP’s head of product Carl Pledger added that the team are “pleased and excited” to be in with a chance in the Best Christmas Box Or Pack category too.
The Art File has crowned a brilliant six-category product haul with a Best Service nomination, and sales and marketing manager James Mace said: “We are absolutely delighted to be announced as finalists in six categories for the upcoming Henries Awards, thank you so much to our customers who voted for us, it means the absolute world to us!”
With superheroes in their corner, UK Greetings has an extra boost as the publisher snaffled two product finalists’ places, Boofle is nominated in the Henry Cole Classic award, and there’s also a Best Service spot.
Licensing executive Adam Bentley said: “We’re delighted to have been named as finalists in four categories, and it’s amazing to hear our Marvel Die-Cuts range has reached the finals.
“We were super excited to bring this range to market. As well as other favourite heroes it also features Deadpool and Wolverine together in one range just in time for the incredible new movie. Here’s hoping they can win us a greetings card Oscar on the night!”
As in previous years there will be three trophies in the Best Service to the Independent Retailer – Bronze, Silver and Gold – which is sponsored by Cardgains, and nominations were sought from 1,750 independent card retailers, both members of the buying group as well as other stores, over the last month.
All winners of The Henries 2024 will be announced at a lavish awards event, the industry’s big night at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday, 3 October, 2024, which takes on an Ancient Rome theme this year.
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.
Continuing the finalists’ celebrations, there was fun from Pickled Prints’ James Andrews, through in the Best Diversity & Inclusion Range category, who laughed: “Well slap me on the bum and call me Meryl! I made it to the finals of The Henries. Good luck to my other card pals! Rootin’ tootin’ for you all!
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed and chuffed to bits to be a first-time finalist. It’s been a fab journey so far and to be in a list with so many epic card publishers, it’s very exciting! Thanks to the judges, see ya at the party! Now where’s the fizz…”
At Bird & Co Studio, founder Emily Byrd, who can be seen in the video below, has made it through in both Best Art Range and the Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist and said: “Hmmm, how to describe how I felt getting into the Henries finals – overwhelmed, over the moon and over excited! I danced around my studio, had to re-read the email to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating in the August heat then hugged my dog while I cried happy tears!
“I’m honestly still in shock, everyone in this industry is so talented so what an honour it is to be selected for the finals for not one, but two categories! Huge thanks to all the retailers who took the time to vote. This means the world to me after all the hours of hard work and late-night drawing.”
Woodmansterne has an incredible six product nominations, plus two team mates up for the Lynn Tait award, and head of marketing Kate Leach said: “Of course, we’re delighted – after all these years in the industry the announcement still brings a palpable excitement to the Woody offices!
“To be recognised in six product categories is lovely, but even more gratifying is that two of our senior designers are in the running for the Young Designer award. We’ve always been dedicated to nurturing talent at Woodmansterne, so seeing these two stars reach the finals brought an extra cheer through the business!”
Also through in the Young Designer, and the Best Children’s Range, is Emily Nash, who commented: “I’m overwhelmed and so proud to be in the finals! Not only that, but to be shortlisted for The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer category is amazing. This is my first year entering so I couldn’t be more chuffed. Thank you so much to all the judges. I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at the extravaganza in October!”
Another Young Designer finalist is Lexy Rogy, from Little Roglets, who said: “I’d just woken up bleary eyed, slightly jet lagged, 7,000km across the globe to the news I was in the finals – the best news ever to kick start my holiday!
“As my first year to enter The Henries, it feels like such an honour to have made it to the Best Cute Range finals, I know there were so many great entries from so many great publishers, small and big. And then being up for the Most Promising Young Designer award as well – which I so nearly didn’t enter because it terrified me – was just the icing on the cake!
“I’d also seen a few of the boards that retailers were sharing bits from the judging day on social media, and I didn’t think I had a chance! Just goes to show a bit of discomfort is good for us all!”
Ginger Betty’s Tracey Colliston was also “over the moon” with her two category nominations, for Best Cute Range and Best Traditional Words & Sentiments, while Paper Salad’s owner and co-founder Karen Wilson was “so happy” with an amazing five nominations, two in collaboration with Emotional Rescue and Glick.
Meanwhile, Eleanor Bowmer’s production manager Lauren Kelly was very happy with the Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments nomination: “This is so exciting, we can’t wait for the 3 October party – need to get dress shopping!”, and the lady behind Berni Parker Designs added: “I’m over the moon to have been voted as a finalist in the Henry Cole Classic award. Thank you to all the people who voted for me, it really is an honour to have been recognised in this category.”
Tim Gould, co-owner of Objectables, can be seen in the video below and joked: “We’re super chuffed to have our shit Toast Art nominated for the Henries Awards. Thank you to all the lovely judges, well done team, whoop, whoop. Gotta keep working though, this magic doesn’t just make itself!”
At Hotchpotch, the year spent developing the keepsake bracelet and working out how to attach it to the card has paid off as Lucky Dip is on the Best Contemporary Trend shortlist, with head of design Anna Price commenting: “We’re so happy! We wanted to be able to convey a positive message in a meaningful and long-lasting way, long after the card had been taken off the mantlepiece and put in a drawer) and thought there must be a way we could do it with on-trend alphabet beads.”
Jemima Stileman, of Kali Stileman Publishing, said: “We’re beyond thrilled to have made it to the finals for our wrapping paper! With over 100 designs, gift wrap makes up such a huge part of our collection – and we’re delighted to have this wonderful recognition for it.”
With finalists’ places in Best Humorous Range and Best Children’s Range, Redback’s senior designer Luka Thorp said: “We’re incredibly excited. This recognition means so much to us and celebrates our team’s creativity, dedication, and passion for making exceptional products.”
Cinnamon Aitch is in with four chances of winning, and co-founders Sara Burford and Sarah Fitzpatrick laughed: “Whoop whoop! Chuffed to have made it to the finals in four categories. Many thanks to all the lovely retailers who voted for us and good luck to all our fellow nominees! We’re up against some strong competition but great to have made it this far. How exciting!”
Having made it through in the Best Spring Seasons Range, Two For Joy Illustration’s Louise Richardson has turned to her social media fans for help: “Some crazy news – I’m now in the finals for the Henries awards! This is huge! Thousands of designs submitted and my Token Of Appreciation Mother’s Day cards got into the final six.
“Now I have the tough decision of deciding which one I should send off for the final awards. Only one can go, which do you think is the best? Which would you love to receive?”
And there were kind thoughts from Cath Tate Cards where director Rosie Tate was also over the moon with a trio of finalists’ places, adding: “Thank you so much to all the lovely retailers who made up the judging panel – thank you for voting for our designs, it means so much to be recognised by so many of you in the industry.
“Huge congrats to our fellow finalists, we’re in good company, and of course big love to all the shortlisted publishers who didn’t quite make it to the finals this year.”
Above: AfroTouch Design’s Georgina Fihosy celebrates her Best Diversity & Inclusion Range nomination
Above: Eliot Siegel is chuffed at being picked for the Best Photographic Range
Above: A splashing good time celebrating Lil Wabbit’s Best Art Range and Most Promising Young Designer nominations
Above: With a trio of nominations, Emotional Rescue is celebrating with collaborators Paper Salad
