News

Eight signature mix marketplace exhibitors were honored with Best New Product Awards on Opening Day, Sunday, May 18, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. The awards are presented in nine categories and are considered a distinguished honor within the social stationery, lifestyle gift and crafting industries.

Winners of the 18th annual Best New Product Awards are:

Best of Show
Party Partners for Mini Cake Decorating Kits—each kit made of paper, twine and wood picks, contains 5 cake toppers and mini flag bunting.  

All Things Wedding
Galison/Mudpuppy for Wedding Party Photo Props, keeping up with the newest trends in weddings and photo booths.

Celebrations
Party Partners for Mini Cake Decorating Kits—each kit made of paper, twine and wood picks, contains 5 cake toppers and mini flag bunting.  

Eco Chic
Thimblepress for Eco-Friendly Push-Pop Confetti, a festive way to celebrate responsibly.  

Lifestyle
Twigg’s Bindery for the In Rainbows Box Set, a dramatic façade of the box set, which captures the eye and imagination, making them an exceptional addition to any shelf.
 
Luxury
Someday Designs for the Gold Foil Luxury Stationery Set, available in several designs/color choices, as well as special order hand calligraphy for personalization.

Paper Love
Pink Orchid Press for their Connect the Dots Collection—letterpress printed on fluffy cotton paper in scarlet red and midnight black inks.

The Desktop
Emily Ley for The Simplified Planner, designed by Emily Ley to intentionally bring joy and simplicity to the lives of busy women.

Do It Yourself
Little B for its Designer Cutting Dies that allow the user to mix and match shapes and inserts to create endless possibilities, made especially for the DIY audience.

“The companies and products honored with Best New Product awards represent the very best of what the signature mix marketplace has to offer,” said Patti Stracher, vice president and show director. “The judges have selected trend-setting, fresh products that are sure to be best-sellers with retailers across the country.”

Judges for the 18th annual Best New Product Awards were Kimberly Baker, Museums & More/Party & Paper Retailer; Marci Bracken, GIFT SHOP magazine; Megan O’Neill,Giftware News; Nole Garey, Oh So Beautiful Paper; Caroline Kennedy, Gifts & Decorative Accessories; and Sarah Schwartz, Stationery Trends.  

Nearly 500 entries were judged based on innovative product design or concept, how the product answers an industry need, aesthetic appeal, creative use of materials and innovative packaging.

The 68th annual signature mix marketplace, the nation’s leading marketplace for the social stationery industry, runs May 18-21 in New York. The show features nearly 900 exhibitors and attracts some 12,000 attendees.