Trends

Stationery Trends magazine has announced the winners of its Fifth annual Stationery Trends Awards, “The Trendys.” More than 160 entries were submitted in the six categories of Baby, Bridal, Green, Greeting Card, Holiday and Office, to be judged by more than 1,100 registered voters.

The two-tier phase of voting was modified for 2014 in which retailers voted to select the finalists in Round One, while Round Two consisted of a panel of 15 distinguished industry judges to determine the overall winners.

“It was such an honor to judge this year’s Trendys. I loved pouring over the submissions — it was almost like a sneak peek of who and what’s to come in the stationery world,” said Lauren Kay, style editor with XO Group and first-time judge for the Trendy Awards. “The creativity and attention to detail of stationery designers always blows me away.”

The finalists and winners were on display at the Stationery Trends booth at the National Stationery Show. Finalists received a certificate of recognition and winners received a glass award and an elevated presence at the show, among other marketing exposure.

First-year entrant Morgan Calderini, owner of Ladyfingers Letterpress and winner of the greeting card category, loved the combination of crowd-sourced voting and expert industry judges that decide the Trendy Awards.

“It is an honor to be recognized by our peers in the industry,” Calderini said. “As paper lovers, the most you could ask for is for fellow paper lovers to be as psyched about what you make as you are.”

Alison O’Keefe, owner of Allie Munroe and winner of the bridal category, has entered in various categories in the past five years of the awards program and believes the Trendys provide them with a great exposure opportunity they are able to use in their marketing campaigns.

“All of the 2014 Trendy finalists in the bridal category were very well designed, so it was a great honor to be chosen as the winner,” O’Keefe said. “Our team was especially pleased as the winning design was a true collaboration by several Allie Munroe designers.”

Andy Warhol’s “So Many Stars” book by Galison/Mudpuppy was the company’s first children’s board book and the winner of the Baby category.

“We are thrilled our book has been recognized with the Trendy Award voted on by the retail community and the panel of distinguished stationery industry judges,” said Galison/Mudpuppy president, William Miller.

Kathryn Hunter, owner of Blackbird Letterpress, entered the Trendy Award mostly for the exposure opportunity.

“If we have the opportunity to win a Trendy and then have our product displayed in the Stationery Trends booth, it’s a big win and a big honor,” Hunter said. “It gives our products another opportunity to be seen at the show in addition to our booth.”

“This past holiday season was the first time we’ve designed ornament cards,” said Michelle Murray, graphic designer at Birchraft Studios. “So much care and attention to detail was taken in designing the entire collection. From deciding which papers to feature or which tassel colors to use, to writing personalized greetings that would inspire people to share their favorite moments with family and friends.

“We are thrilled that it all paid off in the end,” she continued. “It’s truly an honor to be named this year’s Trendy Award winner in the Holiday Category. Congratulations to the rest of the Trendy Award winners and finalists.”

“The Trendys are something we look forward to every year and Stationery Trends does a wonderful job managing the awards,” said Katy Ritten, creative director at Three Designing Women, winner in the office category. “We have so much respect for the dedication and commitment that goes into creating and constantly improving each contest. From the voting process to the categories featured in the program, the Trendys are sure to bring the best of the best and truly do just get better with time.”

With numerous category wins to their name from previous years, Three Designing Women views the program as an opportunity to compete and show off their hard work, thus allowing them to develop a following and a true fan base of people who are as passionate about their products as they are.

“The Trendys are a distinguished honor that are both industry recognized and customer respected,” Ritten added. “We feel so honored to just be a part of the Trendy Awards experience as a whole.”

Judges included Sarah Schwartz, Stationery Trends editor-in-chief; Audrey Woollen, Urbanic Paper Boutique; Carina Murray, Crow & Canary; Carly Totten, Carly is Inspired; Erin Sage Thomas, Between The Sheets Co.; Lauren Kay, XO Group Inc.; Jessica Southwick, Jesswick Creative Studio LLC; Julie O’Brien, Sweet Paper; Katie Strzok, Broadway Paper; Kristen Magee, Invitation Crush; Kristi Dannelley, Magna IV Communications; Lyndsey Wells, The Stationery Place; Marcie Carson, MIXT Studio; Theresa Anderson, Sweet Paper; and Wendy Brown, Brown Ink Paper Goods.

Many thanks to all for making the Fifth Annual Trendys such a success by submitting entries, casting votes and judging entries.

The sixth annual Stationery Trends Awards will take place in late 2014. Manufacturers and designers should be on the lookout for submission information in future issues of Stationery Trends and TrendE-News, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Printed invitations will be mailed in the fall. To ensure your name is on the list for submission information, email [email protected] or call 616-887-9008, ext. 121.

The Trendys are sponsored and managed by Stationery Trends magazine. For more information, visit www.stationerytrendys.com.

— Sara Middlebrook, events & communications coordinator