30-31_Revised.qxp_Grid 16/09/2021 16:38 Page 2
The Henries Judging Process
T
he Judging Panel for The Henries 2021 reads like a ‘who’s who’ of greeting card buyers, from top multiple names to leading indies as well as a few select overseas distributors and greeting card wholesalers. Buyers from Card Factory, Cardzone, Fortnum & Mason, Garsons, Klondyke/Strikes, John Lewis & Partners, Longacres, Oliver Bonas, Morleys, Morrisons, Moonpig, National Trust, Paperchase, Waterstones, WHSmith and Yarnton Home & Gift joined a host of leading small groups (including Baileys, House of Cards, Lark, Postmark, Temptation Gifts and Utility) an incredible array of independents (see separate box), some notable overseas distributors (Hendersons/Waterlyn, Image Gallery, McMillan Cards, Notes & Queries, Shapiros and Simson Cards) and select wholesale distributors (Archway Cards, Cards & Party, Crosswear Trading and Greetings Wholesale) in scrutinising the 9,000+ greeting card and giftwrappings which were submitted into The Henries 2021 to arrive at the worthy finalists which are featured in all their glory in the following pages. Due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic when The Henries were being planned, the entering and judging process this year took
In keeping with the Boogie Wonderland theme for this year’s Henries awards, the whole greeting card community got fully into the groove, with this year’s 1,827 entries coming from more card publishers than ever before, with the judging embraced by the largest ever judging panel. Not allowing any uncertainty over Covid restrictions to get in the way of recognising and rewarding the best in UK greeting card design, the entering and judging process was taken online, with the winners being announced on October 7 at what promises to be the biggest comeback party ever! PG explains The Henries process which will result in the wonderland of winners. place entirely online, but this did not detract in any way from the quality and quantity of the entries, the thoroughness of the judges and the integrity of the judging process. The entire responsibility of judging the product entries and the Most Promising Young Designer or Artist award lay in the collective hands of the judging panel. Over the course of several weeks, they individually scrutinised the thousands of entries. The criteria for judging were: l Quality of design l Quality of print, production and manufacture l Appropriateness for the market sector at which it is aimed l Value for money Each judge voted for what they considered were the top six entries in each category. Six points were then assigned to all the top choices down to one point for the sixth choice. The points from all the judges were correlated to arrive at the winner and the other finalists in each category. Above: This year’s Henries is on a Boogie Wonderland theme. Left: All entering and judging for The Henries 2021 took place online this year via a portal on the website.
30
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE