Gifts & Greetings Review was delighted to attend The Henries 2013 awards, which took place last night (Thursday October 10) at a colourful Calypso-themed ball held at the Lancaster London Hotel.
While dozens of the greatest greeting card designs were honoured, there was a surprise on the night for hosts Jakki Brown and Warren Lomax of Max Publishing, who were given a Special Honorary Achievement award by the founder and chairman of Carte Blanche Group, Stephen Haines.
A teary Jakki and Warren looked on as their greatest friends in the industry paid tribute to their long service and dedication to the industry they love and have helped to shape, with everyone there agreeing it was high time they were rewarded for their efforts.
Their award followed on from the official Honorary Achievement award that was given to an equally surprised and delighted Matt and Beth Genower, founders of Five Dollar Shake. UK Greetings was given the Gold Award for Best Service to Independent Retailers after winning a poll of 1,500 greeting card stockists.
The rest of the award winners are as follows:
Most Promising Young Designer or Artist – Helen John of Hotchpotch
Other finalists: Claire Louise Hill of Claire Louise, Jessica Hogarth of Jessica Hogarth Designs, Cameron Pitcairn of Urban Twist, Jo Rose of Deer Little Forest, Anna Wise of Rachel Ellen Designs
Best Children’s Range – Wobbly Eyed from Stripey Cat Cards
Other finalists: Belle & Boo Playtime from Nineteen Seventy Three, Glitter Ball from Five Dollar Shake, Hug Cards from Pango Productions, Jellybomb from Urban Graphic, World of Fairies from GBCC
Best Christmas Counter Range – Starlight and Snowfall from Five Dollar Shake
Other finalists: Christmas from ArtPress, Christmas 2013 from The Art Group, Gorgeous Christmas from Blue Eyed Sun, Marmalade from Belly Button Designs, Sparkle Sheep from Cherry Moon
Best Christmas Box Or Pack – Waitrose Christmas luxury Christmas cards from UK Greetings
Other finalists: Drama Queen from Cardmix, Help Cards Christmas Pack from Noel Tatt, Madeleine Floyd Wallet Cards from GBBC, Quentin Blake from Woodmansterne Publications, Snow Stories from Five Dollar Shake
Best Words & Sentiments Range – Therese Sennerholt from Lagom Design
Other finalists: Field Study Eye Test from Portfolio, Happy Jackson from Pigment, Scrawl from Urban Graphic, Sentiments from Sarah Ray, Tranquility from UK Greetings
Best Contemporary Trend Range – Piano, The Keys of Life from Hammond Gower
Other finalists: Alice Scott from Pigment, Crafty from Bric-a-brac, Debbie Powell from Lagom Design, Portfolio from Bug Art, Sasparilla from Think Of Me Designs
Best Cute Range – Gorgeous from Blue Eyed Sun
Other finalists: Feltipips from The Art Group, Me To You 3D Photo Finish from Carte Blanche Greetings, Moggies & Doggies from Fourth Wall Brands, Valentine’s Or Anytime from Laura Skilbeck, Wobbly Eyed from Stripey Cat Cards
Best Handmade or Hand-Finished Range – Handstamped from Emmeline Webb
Other finalists: Countryside from The Red Corvid, Paloma from Belly Button Designs,, Pretty In Love from Stop The Clock, Say It With Lace from Image Plus, The Fitzgerald Collection from Five Dollar Shake
Best Photographic Range – 1000 Words from Urban Graphic
Other finalists: Aspects from Abacus Cards, Dante from Odey Publications, Loose Leashes from Woodmansterne Publications, Minimiam from Holy Mackerel, Norman Parkinson from ArtPress
Best Humorous Card Range – Genius from Woodmansterne Publications
Other finalists: Drama Queen from Cardmix, Fleet Street from Pigment, Frankie Dog from Frankie Whistle, Good Things from Redback Cards, Reincarnation Is Cool from Splimple
Best Art Range – The Country Set from Wrendale Design
Other finalists: Alice Scott from Pigment, Billy Showell from Glebe Cottage, Letterpress from Archivist, Sonia Marialuce Possentini from Signature Studios, Toasted from Urban Graphic
Best Licensed Range – Laser Cut Cards from Danilo
Other finalists: Janet Hill from Hallmark, Julie Dodsworth from Tracks, Kirstie Allsopp from Cardmix, Moomin from Hype Associates, Mr Men And Little Miss from Gemma
Best Wholesale Range – Special Occasions from Hambledon Studios
Other finalists: Dazzle from Hambledon Studios, Glitz from Simon Elvin, Isabel’s Garden from Simon Elvin, Mixed Favourites from Gemma, Trendy Pops from Xpress Yourself Cards
Best Giftwrappings Collection – Happy Jackson from Penny Kennedy
Other finalists: Dixie from Think Of Me Designs, Kelly Hyatt Collection from Lagom Design, Tea & Roses from Hallmark, Toasted from Urban Graphic, Vintage Romance from Hallmark
Best Male Range – Trinkets & Trumpets from The Art File
Other finalists: Collaboration from UK Greetings, Jubilee from Hotchpotch, Just My Type from The Great British Card Company, Mustard from Cinnamon Aitch, Stamped from Allihopa
Best Relations & Occasions Range – Platinum from Belly Button Designs
Other finalists: Occasions from Roger la Borde, Pizazz Baby Boutique from Nigel Quiney Publications, Sooshi Occasions from Sooshichacha, txt msg from Urban Twist, Uppercase from Hotchpotch Publishing
Best Spring Seasons Range – Stardust Mother’s Day from Janie Wilson
Other finalists: Carlton Contemporary Father’s Day Collection from UK Greetings, Decoupage Collection Easter from Laura Darrington Design, Jardin De Roses Mother’s Day from Five Dollar Shake, Sweet Tooth Valentine’s Day from Fay’s Studio, The Perfect Match Valentine’s Day from Megan Claire
The Henry Cole Classic Award – Second Nature Pop Ups from Second Nature
Other finalists: Quicksilver from Wendy Jones-Blackett, Ribticklers from Pigment, Spring Chicken from Peartree Heybridge, The Funny Side Of Life from Rainbow (Ling Design), Woodmansterne Fine Art from Woodmansterne Publications
Best Service To The Independent Retailer Award: Gold – UK Greetings, Silver – Noel Tatt, Bronze – Nigel Quiney. Other finalists were: Abacus Cards, Carte Blanche, Hallmark, International Cards & Gifts, Jonny Javelin, Paperlink, Second Nature, The Great British Card Company, Woodmansterne Publications
Over 14,000 cards were entered into the awards, which were judged by a panel of 40 leading retailers from around the country.