February 21, 2023 (Denver, CO) – The Greeting Card Association (GCA) has announced finalists from the industry’s prestigious 34th Annual Louie Awards competition. This year’s contest saw 1,016 greeting cards entered from 163 companies in 51 categories – overall entries were up 62% over 2022. The cards were judged by a panel of 52 card publishers, retailers, sales representatives, and stationery industry leaders at five regional hubs across the country.
“This year’s growth in Louie Awards entries is a testament to the industry’s vibrancy,” says GCA Executive Director, Nora Weiser. “It’s exciting to see the quality of cards, makers’ creativity, and the number of new companies being recognized with Louie honors.”
Launched in 1988, the “Louies” honor Louis Prang, the German-born Boston lithographer and publisher known as the “Father of the American Christmas Card.” Seventy-nine companies had at least one card design selected by the industry judging panel as a finalist. The Louie Awards are open to all publishers in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Three finalists were selected in each category, with the winners to be announced at the Louie Awards Celebration on April 26, 2023, at the General’s Residence in San Francisco, CA. Tickets for the evening event can be purchased through the GCA website. The celebration precedes the two-day *Noted: The Greeting Card Expo co-located with SF Now to be held April 27 & 28 at Fort Mason Center for Art & Culture – the largest showcase of greeting card exhibitors in North America. Registration for the show is free for qualified retail buyers.
All of the greeting cards selected as finalists can be viewed in the online Louie Awards Finalist Gallery. The 79 companies represented among the finalists are:
2021 Co.
417 Press
Add Pink and Stir
Age-Friendly Vibes
Alljoy Design distributed by Notes & Queries, Inc.
American Greetings
Amicreative
Ampersand M Studio
Amy Zhang
Artige distributed by Notes & Queries, Inc.
Artists To Watch
Avanti Press, Inc.
Bella Figura
Calypso Cards
CheerNotes
Ciarra Claire
Color Box Design & Letterpress LLC
Dear Beni
Frances Paper
Elum Designs
Erica Alfaro Designs LLC
Fine Moments
Five Dot Post
GCI, an InComm Company
Ginger P. Designs
Girl w/ Knife
Good Juju Ink
Grey Street Paper
Hallmark Cards
Hello Suds
Inklings Paperie
Ivory Tower Studios
Johnny Cupcakes
Jones Street Press
Just Follow Your Art
Karen Adams Designs
Keller Design Co
Kwohtations
Laura Damiano Designs
Leanin’ Tree
Little Lovelies Studio
Louise Mulgrew
Maginating
Maylay Co.
Mossy Blue Paper Studio
Near Modern Disaster
Next Chapter Studio
NIQUEA.D
Noteworthy Paper & Press
Novel Paper
Oatmeal Studios
Odd Daughter Paper Co
Paper Baristas
Paper D’Art distributed by Notes & Queries
Paper Farm Press
Paper Salad distributed by Notes & Queries, Inc.
Papyrus
Quick Brown Fox Letterpress
Quilling Card
Redback Cards
Rhino Parade
Rust Belt Love
Seedlings
Shannon Cohen Inc.
Shorthand Press
Sixtyeightcolors
Spacepig Press
Tache distributed by Notes & Queries, Inc.
That’s SO Andrew
The Art File distributed by Notes & Queries, Inc.
The Card Bureau
The Noble Paperie
Tiny and Snail
Twentysome Design
Two Pooch Paperie
Unblushing
Up With Paper
UWP Luxe
Wolf & Wren Press
For more information on the Louie Awards, visit https://www.greetingcard.org/louie-awards/
————————————————————————————————————————-
About the Greeting Card Association: Founded in 1941, The Greeting Card Association (GCA) is the non-profit U.S. trade association serving the greeting card and social expressions industry. GCA represents nearly 200 American and international publishers and industry partners by promoting the tradition of sending greeting cards, helping members grow their businesses, recognizing creativity, and serving the industry and citizen mailer as a voice for media, leadership, and advocacy on industry issues. Learn more at: www.greetingcard.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Endsley Eggert, Marketing Manager gca@greetingcard.org 202.216.9627