News

May 21, 2013
GCA Announces LOUIE Award Winners

The Greeting Card Association (GCA) honored the 25th Anniversary LOUIE Award finalists and winners in 52 different categories, as well as the first-ever recipients of a LOUIE Award for Lifetime Achievement, at an elegant gala at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City Sunday, May 19.

The special Silver Anniversary celebration was attended by more than 300 guests, including finalist companies, industry retailers, manufacturers’ representatives and suppliers, as well members of the press. This year’s theme, The Artist & The Card, celebrated the artists behind the cards, and the simple yet broad medium of paper was reflected in numerous ways at the event — from an intricate cutout paper entryway that guests walked through on their way into the venue, to a gallery of hanging frames showcasing all the finalist cards, to exquisite table decor.

A noteworthy reflection of the theme — and a high point of the evening — was the presentation by GCA President Susan January of LOUIE Awards for Lifetime Achievement to two of the industry’s most high-profile and prolific artists: Marjolein Bastin and Mary Englebreit.

“We wanted to recognize these two amazing women and express to them in a significant and special way our gratitude for their creative spirit and talent and the impact they’ve had on our industry,” January said. Both Bastin, who hails from the Netherlands, and Engelbreit, a native of St. Louis, were in attendance, accompanied by family and friends.

Winners of the 52 categories were chosen by a panel of 19 judges comprised of prominent industry retailers, educators, editors and designers during two full days of judging, which took place Jan. 29 and 30 during the New York International Gift Fair, also in New York City. From that pool of winners, a special Blue Ribbon panel of five judges selected the Cards of the Year. All entries were judged on originality, impact, design excellence, sendability and value.

The winner of Card of the Year in the Above $3.50 category was Maginating’s “Good As Gold” card, which also won in the Friendship/Encouragement (General) category, while Oh My Word’s “Holy Sheet” was named Card of the Year $3.50 & Below, after taking home the LOUIE in Non-Religious Celebrations. This is the second consecutive Card of the Year win for Maginating, and the first for Oh My Word.

Monika Brandrup-Thomas, Chair of the 25th Anniversary LOUIE Awards and Vice President & Creative Director of Up With Paper, LLC, said “the judges were impressed, in particular, with the craftsmanship of the letterpress and gold foil on Maginating’s card, in addition to its heartwarming message. And they loved the clever die-cut design and creativity of Oh My Word’s entry. Both cards are fun to look at and make you smile!”

This year a record-breaking 220 companies worldwide submitted a combined total of more than 1,000 entries, all of which were marketed and sold in the United States during the 2012 calendar year.

For a complete list of winners, visit www.nationalstationeryshow.com or www.greetingcard.org.




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