Dec 27, 2012

GCA’s 25th Anniversary LOUIE Awards Judges Announced

The 25th Anniversary LOUIE Awards Committee is pleased to announce the judges for this year’s competition. The panel of judges includes 20 well-respected industry retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives, educators, and designers who will evaluate the entries to determine the finalists and winners in more than 50 categories. An impressive 997 submissions have been entered this year, from a record-breaking 212 companies, reflecting the increasing interest of the high-profile competition.

“I am thrilled with the judges for the 25th Anniversary LOUIE Awards. The panel represents the diversity associated with the industry,” says LOUIE Awards Committee Chairman Monika Brandrup, vice president and creative director of Up With Paper. “Given that this year’s theme is The Artist and the Card, we’re especially pleased to have key representatives from the creative side, such as renowned pop-up book and greeting card artist Robert Sabuda; award-winning illustrator and professor of Visual Communications at Pratt, Scott Menchin; and Hallmark Senior Art Director Roberta Abramson.”

Each year the LOUIEs welcome a talented mix of new and returning judges. Among the Silver Anniversary panel are successful retailers such as Paper Presentation in New York and Indigo from Canada; editors from popular blogs such as Oh So Beautiful Paper and Felt & Wire; and top reps from agencies such as Lynn Mitchell Group and Daniel*Richards.

The judges for the 25th Anniversary LOUIE Awards include:

Roberta Abramson, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Elaine Barker, Paper Potpourri
Stacey Burnett, Indigo
Dan Collier, Daniel*Richards
Laura Courtney, Papyrus/Schurman Retail Group
Rob Fortier, Center Aisle Group
Nole Garey, Oh So Beautiful Paper
Katy Greenspan, Minted
Chandra Greer, GREERChicago
Kim Kemelhar, American Greetings Corporation
Scott Menchin, Pratt
Lynn Mitchell, Lynn Mitchell Group
Melinda Morris, Lion in the Sun
Gentry O’Neill, Paper on the Avenue
Tanya Pazmino, Paper Presentation
Julie Pike, Haute Papier
Robert Sabuda, Designer
Greg Urra, Kate’s Paperie
Allyson Van Houten, Felt & Wire
Dan Weston, KNOCK

By bringing together the best designers, copywriters, publishers, and manufacturers in the greeting card and social stationery industry, the LOUIE Awards serve to both highlight and elevate the caliber of cards and invitations sold around the world. According to Brandrup, “this Silver Anniversary event will spotlight not only the artists behind the cards, but the tradition of sending greetings and invitations, and the simple yet broad medium of paper. With close to 1,000 entries and so many new companies participating this year, our dynamic panel of judges certainly has a tough job in store. But their incredible knowledge, experience and creativity make them eminently qualified to handle it.”

Judging will take place January 29 and 30, 2013, in Manhattan, during the New York International Gift Fair®. Judges will score each entry based on five criteria: originality, impact, design excellence, sendability and value. Based on the numerical scores, three finalists will emerge in each category, and one will receive a LOUIE Award at the 25th Anniversary LOUIE Awards gala on Sunday, May 19, during the National Stationery Show® in New York City.

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 general judging process. The Blue Ribbon panel is a subgroup of the larger panel.

For more information on the LOUIEs, visit www.greetingcard.org and click on the LOUIE logo. Questions? E-mail mgray@glmshows.com.