News

January 5, 2012
Judges Announced for 24th Annual LOUIE Awards

The 24th Annual LOUIE Awards committee has announced the judges for this year’s LOUIE Awards. The panel of judges consists of 16 well-respected retailers, sales representatives, editors and members of the industry who will evaluate this year’s LOUIE entries to determine the finalists and winners in each category.

The LOUIEs welcome a high caliber of new and returning judges to this year’s Awards, including retailers such as Paper Source, Kate’s Paperie and Barnes & Noble; industry professionals from Hallmark, American Greetings and Mohawk Paper; and editors from Oh So Beautiful Paper, HOW Magazine and Stationery Trends.

By continuing in the vein of last year’s move to include more retailer judges, and with the addition of members of the editorial staff from influential paper and stationery publications and blogs, this group of judges will bring their greeting card product expertise to the process.

The judges are as follows:

• Elaine Barker Owner, Paper Potpourri
• Monika Brandrup VP and Creative Director, Up With Paper
• Violet Brandwein Buyer, Kate’s Paperie
• Rob Fortier Principal, Center Aisle Group
• Nole Garey Founder and Editor, Oh So Beautiful Paper
• Carol Hayden PaperSource
• Meryl Hooker Manufacturer’s Representative and Principal, Center Aisle Group
• Ginger McCleskey Manufacturer’s Representative, Queen of Hearts Cards
• Karen McGhee Card Buyer, Barnes & Noble
• Ann McGillicuddy Art Director, Hallmark
• Erin Miller Co-Owner, Haute Papier
• Joanna Mohr Art Director, American Greetings
• Gentry O’Neill Owner, Paper on the Avenue
• Megan Patrick Content Director, HOW Magazine
• Sarah Schwartz Editor, Stationery Trends
• Stacey Smith Buyer, Binders Art
• Allyson Van Houten Marketing Specialist, Mohawk Paper and Curator, Felt and Wire Shop

“In choosing this year’s group of LOUIE judges, we wanted to be sure that there was a good mix of retailers, editors, reps and industry members from known and respected companies and publications in order to encourage future entries and to continue to raise the caliber of the LOUIEs,” said Katy Greenspan, this year’s LOUIE chair. “We are confident that this year’s judges will bring their knowledge, passion and commitment to the Awards.”

Judging is scheduled to occur Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in New York City, during the New York International Gift Fair. Judges will score each entry based on five categories: Originality, Impact, Design Excellence, Sendability and Value; and will choose three entrants in each category as a finalists to receive a LOUIE Award at the LOUIE Awards gala taking place on Sunday, May 20, at Espace in New York City, during the National Stationery Show.

The most coveted award, “Card of the Year” (there are two winners, one from each price break), is determined by a Blue Ribbon panel of judges following the two-day judging process. The Blue Ribbon panel is subgroup of the larger panel.

For more information on the LOUIEs, visit www.greetingcard.org.

 

 




Stationery Trends Winter 2024
Get one year of Stationery Trends in both print and digital editions for only $15.

Interested in reading the print issue of Stationery Trends?

Subscribe Today »