2012 LOUIE Awards – The Greatest Cards on Earth

NEW YORK – The Greeting Card Association (GCA) held its annual Louie Awards presentation, on Sunday night, May 20, in New York City. The Louie Awards circus-themed gala, entitled “The Greatest Cards on Earth!” was the opening night highlight of the National Stationery Show (NSS). After a lively musical overture performed by the evening’s “ring masters” Rob Fortier and Meryl Hooker of the Center Aisle Group, and opening remarks by Patti Stracher, director of the NSS and GCA executive vice president, and Susan January, GCA president and vice president of Leanin’ Tree, the evening’s “acts” honoring the best in 64 categories took center ring, leading up to the grand finale – the naming of the two Cards of the Year.

Taking those top honors for Card of the Year (Above $3.50) was first-time Louie entrant Maginating, which also took top honors in the Romantic Occasions (Above $3.50) category. The Card of the Year ($3.50 and Below) honors went to Ecka & Pecka for a card designed by Amy Smyth, which also took honors in the Congratulations & Special Occasion category.

In addition to Cards of the Year, because there was a significant rise in the entries in the Invitation Suite category, three Honorable Mentions were presented to: Sugar Paper for Design Excellence (Above $15); Printerette Press for Design Excellence (Below $15); and Create Studio’s Bar Mitzvah invitation for Non-Wedding Invitation.

Twelve companies took home multiple honors: Madison Park Group, 5 Louies; Sunrise Greetings, 4 Louies; American Greetings, Rifle Paper and Old Tom Foolery, 3 Louies; and Design Design, Oh My Word, Breathless Paper, Ecka & Pecka, Sugarcube Press, Minted and Anna Griffin, each earned 2 Louies.

More than 950 entries were received and judged by a panel of retailers, industry suppliers, independent sales representatives and press and bloggers, who evaluated each entry based on Originality, Impact, Design Excellence, Sendability and Value.

The list of winners is as follows:
Children’s Card Above $3.50 – American Greetings; Children’s Card $3.50 and below – Madison Park Group
General Birthday Above $3. 50 -Sunrise Greetings; General Birthday $3.50 and below – American Greetings
Humorous Birthday Above $3.50 – Old Tom Foolery; Humorous Birthday $3.50 and below – Amy Smyth Made It
Blank Card Above $3.50 – Design Design Inc.; Blank Card $3.50 and below – O.C.D. for Calypso Cards
Non-religious Celebration Above $3.50 – Love & Luck Greetings; Non-religious Celebration $3.50 and below – Sunrise Greetings
Religious Celebration Above $3.50 – Oh My Word; Religious Celebration $3.50 and below – Madison Park Group
Humorous Christmas/Seasonal Above $3.50 – Sugarcube Press; Humorous Christmas/Seasonal $3.50 and below – Breathless Paper Co.
General Christmas/Seasonal Above $3.50 – Up With Paper LLC; General Christmas/Seasonal $3.50 and below – William Arthur Inc.
Boxed/catalog Christmas/Seasonal Above $2.50 – Checkerboard; Boxed/catalog Christmas/Seasonal $2.50 and below – Masterpiece Studios
Congratulatory/Special Occasion Above $3.50 – Sugarcube Press; Congratulatory/Special Occasion $3.50 and below – Ecka & Pecka
Custom Invitation/Announcement Above $2.50 – Two Paperdolls; Custom Invitation/Announcement $2.50 and below – Minted
Everyday Boxed Note Above $2.50 – Rifle Paper Company; Everyday Boxed Note $2.50 and below – Paula Skene Designs
Family Celebrations Above $3.50 – Oh My Word; Family Celebrations $3.50 and below – Designer Greetings
General Friendship/Encouragement Above $3.50 – Maginating; General Friendship/Encouragement $3.50 and below – Sunrise Greetings
Humorous Friendship/Encouragement Above $3.50 – Old Tom Foolery; Humorous Friendship/Encouragement $3.50 and below – Sunrise Greetings
Get Well/Feel Better Above $3.50 – Bold Face Type; Get Well/Feel Better $3.50 and below – Sellers Publishing Inc.
Invitation Suite Above $7.00 – Mr. Boddington’s Studio; Invitation Suite $7.00 and below – Minted
Mother’s Day Above $3.50 – Wild Ink Press; Mother’s Day $3.50 and below – Madison Park Group
Packaged/Imprintable Invitation/Announcement Above $2.50 – Anna Griffin Inc.; Packaged/Imprintable Invitation/Announcement $2.50 and below – Anna Griffin Inc.
Personalized Photo Card Above $2.50 – Wiley Valentine; Personalized Photo Card $2.50 and below – Minted
Production Innovations Above $5.00 – Twig & Fig; Production Innovations $5.00 and below – Exclusive Bordering Company
Rising Star Above $3.50 – Rifle Paper Company; Rising Star $3.50 and below – Breathless Paper Co.
Romantic Occasions Above $3.50 – Maginating; Romantic Occasions $3.50 and below – Madison Park Group
Sympathy Above $3.50 – Klugworld; Sympathy $3.50 and below – Fresh Frances
Thank You Above $3.50 – Rifle Paper Company; Thank You $3.50 and below – Ecka & Pecka
Valentine’s Day Above $3.50 – Smock; Valentine’s Day $3.50 and below – Madison Park Group
Most Humorous – Old Tom Foolery; Superbly Stated – American Greetings