After an inspiring live judging event on Tuesday, 30 July, all the votes from the retail judging panel have been counted – and the finalists of The Henries 2024 can now be unveiled.
Some 75 different publishers, from tiny newbies up to major brands, have ranges feted in these Olympics of the greeting card industry. Each and every one has made it through a two-stage judging process to make it into the finals, having been scrutinised by almost 100 retail buyers, first online and then at this week’s in-person judging.
Buyers from Tesco, Cardfactory, Waterstones, Cardzone, Scribbler, WHSmith, Lark, Moonpig and Postmark were joined by leading small chains and indies, such as House of Cards, Red Card, Cardies, Highworth Emporium, Medici Gallery, Jo Amor, Hugs & Kisses, The Card Centre, First Class Greetings, In Heaven At Home, Nor and Paperweight and many more to form the 40-plus judging panel at the live judging event which them scrutinise all the shortlisted ranges (arrived at from the first round of online voting) with their collective votes deciding the strong finalists line-up.
In addition to the product categories, the judging panel also had the treat of considering all the entries in The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist award.
“As world leading athletes go for gold in the Olympics, greeting card publishers’ creative prowess came to the fore as the stunning line-up of finalists testify. It proved no mean feat for The Judging Panel to decide how to place their votes, but their collective strength and experience ensured that the integrity of these important accolades are upheld,” commented Jakki Brown, joint owner of Progressive Greetings, which owns and organises The Henries.
Without further ado, here are the finalists…
The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist
Rachel Burt, greeting card designer at Hotchpotch
Emily Byrd, founder of Bird & Co Studio
Georgi Doig, director of happiness for Lil Wabbit
Beth Lewton, senior creative at Woodmansterne Publications
Esme Linton, senior designer at Woodmansterne Publications
Emily Nash, founder of Emily Nash Illustration
Lex Rogy, founder of Little Roglets
Best Diversity & Inclusion Range
Nobody’s Perfect from Fluffmallow
Out! from Emotional Rescue
Peace and Blessings from The Art File
Queer Cards from Pickled Prints
Seasons from AfroTouch Design
You Go Girl! from Paper Rose
Best Humorous Range
Gin & Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing
Holy Flaps from Redback Cards
Just Saying from Ohh Deer
Monkeyshines from Pigment
Motley from Poet And Painter
Natural Yoghurt from Woodmansterne Publications
Best Licensed Entertainment or Character Card Range
Elmer from Tache
Harry Potter Vintage Railway Poster Collection from Cardology
Marvel Die Cuts from UK Greetings
Peter Rabbit from Hallmark Cards
Snoopy from Hype Associates
Squishmallows from Danilo Promotions
Best Licensed Heritage, Lifestyle, Art Or Design Card Range
Cath Kidston from Ohh Deer
Emma Bridgewater from Woodmansterne Publications
Frida Kahlo from Origamo
National Trust Harmony from Woodmansterne Publications
RHS Classic from UK Greetings
Sara Miller London from The Art File
Best Christmas Counter Range
Bijou Christmas from Louise Mulgrew
Cosy Christmas from Ricicle Cards
Merry + Bright from Stormy Knight
Merry Little Christmas from Megan Claire
Stephanie Dyment from Woodmansterne Publications
Storybook Christmas from The Art File
Best Christmas Box Or Pack
Christmas Tri-Fold Card Boxes from Roger La Borde
Fa La La Packs from Stop The Clock Design
Luxury Christmas Boxes from The Art File
Minnows from James Ellis
Superior Boxes from Ling Design
Woodland Christmas Boxes from Nigel Quiney Publications
Best Cute Range
Absolutely Barking from Paper Shed
Animalia from Great British Card Company (GBCC)
Hello Mellow from Ginger Betty
Primrose Hill from Cinnamon Aitch
Rouge from Little Roglets
Woodland from Ohh Deer
Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range
Fun Thoughts from Ohh Deer
Just Because from Eleanor Bowmer
Lucy Loves Literature from Cath Tate Cards
Nikki Miles from Jolly Awesome
One Step At A Time from Fox Under The Moon
Words Of Wisdom from Dandelion Stationery
Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range
Hello Mellow from Ginger Betty
Most Especially For You from International Cards & Gifts (IC&G)
Scene It from Emotional Rescue
Traditional Words & Sentiments from Ling Design
Wishing Well Female Collection from Carte Blanche Greetings
Word Portraits from UK Greetings
Best Art Range
All Dogs, Great & Small from Lil Wabbit
Birth Flora from Bird & Co Studio
Frame It from Ohh Deer
Nature Trail by Kate Heiss from The Art File
Offshore from James Ellis
Toast Art from Objectables
Best Photographic Range
A Daily Cloud from Brainbox Candy
BBC Wild Isles from Abacus Cards
Coola Coola from Icon
Jesuso Ortiz from Woodmansterne Publications
London Cards from Eliot Siegel Photography
The Photographic Collection from Tracks Publishing
Best Children’s Range
Birthday Blocks from Cath Tate Cards
Multi Sticker & Colouring Collection from Little Green Vibes
Shine from Redback Cards
Split Pin Puppets from Emily Nash Illustration
Sunshine from Paper Salad
Wobbly Head Pop-ups from Alljoy Design
Best Contemporary Trend Range
Gratitude Galore from Brilliantly Brave
Little Joys from Raspberry Blossom
Lost Plots from Cath Tate Cards
Lucky Dip from Hotchpotch
Min-Neons from Earlybird Designs
Shiny Things from Stormy Knight
Wonder World from Lola Design
Best 3D, Handmade Or Hand-finished Range
Cranberry Squares from Cinnamon Aitch
Cut Out Heart Reusable Greeting Cards from Oh Squirrel
Keepsake Collection from Paper Mirchi
Lily Loves from Bexy Boo
Message In A Bottle from Alljoy Design
Up With Paper Luxe from Ohh Deer
Best Male Range (non-humour)
Colour Hub from Paper Salad
Great Outdoors from Stormy Knight
Happy Days from Stop The Clock Design
Honcho from Laura Darrington Design
Retro Rad from Sharon King-Chai
Taking Shape from Heyyy Cards
Best Relations &/Or Occasions Range
Fleurescent from Paper Salad
Gin & Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing
Hartland Brooklyn from Ohh Deer
Holly Maguire from Stormy Knight
Primrose Hill from Cinnamon Aitch
Quicksilver from Wendy Jones-Blackett
Studio Blom from Pigment
Best Spring Seasons Range
Father’s Day from Zoe Spry
Flora Mother’s Day from Louise Mulgrew
Primrose Hill Easter from Cinnamon Aitch
Mine’s A Pint from Emotional Rescue (in collaboration with Paper Salad)
Shiny Valentine from Stormy Knight
Tokens Of Appreciation Mother’s Day from Two For Joy Illustration
Valentine’s Collection from The Art File
Best Wholesale Range
Everyday In-Stock Range from Out Of The Blue Studios
Funkytown from Kingfisher Cards
Isabel’s Garden from Simon Elvin
Jolly Pops from Simon Elvin
Pixels from Kingfisher Cards
Trendy Pops from Xpress Yourself
Best Giftwrappings Range
Emma Bridgewater Collection from Woodmansterne Publications
Everyday Wrap from Kali Stileman Publishing
Handcrafted Artisan Collection from Paper Mirchi
Paper Salad Collection from Glick
Raspberry Blossom Happiness Collection from Penny Kennedy
Stephanie Dyment Collection from Glick
The Henry Cole Classic Award
This award is for ranges that have stood the test of time having been published continuously for at least eight years. All winners of this award enter The Henry Cole Hall of Fame. The 2024 winner will join previous winners, which are Bestie from Paperlink, The Bright Side from Really Good, Camilla & Rose from Peartree Heybridge, The Country Set from Wrendale Design, Eric the Penguin from GBCC, Forever Friends from Hallmark, Giggles from UKG, Ink Press from The Art File, Me to You from CBG, Medici Cards Blue Label from GBCC, On the Ceiling from Emotional Rescue, Photo Captions from Cath Tate Cards, Pizazz from Nigel Quiney, Pop-Ups from Second Nature, Quentin Blake from Woodmansterne, Rainbow from Ling Design and Virtual Safari from Emotional Rescue.
Boofle from UK Greetings (est 2008)
Happy Jackson from Pigment (est 2013)
Ladies Who Love Life from Berni Parker Designs (est 2009)
Paper Shakies from James Ellis (est 2005)
Quicksilver from Wendy Jones-Blackett (est. 2006)
V&A from Museums & Galleries (est 2009)
Best Service To The Independent Retailer
The finalists for this award will be announced tomorrow
Honorary Achievement Award
No shortlist or finalists are announced for this award, but nominations are being sought. The recipient will be revealed at The Henries awards event.
For more details head to the website www.thehenriesawards.co.uk
All winners of The Henries 2024 will be announced at a lavish awards event, the industry’s big night at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday, 3 October, 2024, where The Henries award event will be a memorable affair as it will take 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.
