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1133 Westchester Avenue, Suite N136

White Plains, NY 10604

Tel. 914/421-3331www.greetingcard.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

24th

Annual LOUIE Awards Finalists Announced

New York, NY The Greeting Card Association (GCA) has announced the finalists of the 24th

Annual LOUIE

Awards. Among the thousands of cards and invitations published each year, 3 cards from each of the 54

categories reached the final round of the 2011 Awards. The competition drew approximately 900 entries from 180

companies worldwide, and all entries were marketed and sold in the United States during the 2011 calendar year.

Many of the companies were first-time LOUIE entrants as well as smaller companies and manufacturers, with

almost 30% becoming finalists. Responding to a Call for Entries sent out in late November, competitors entered

their most dazzling creative work in a total of 54 categories. Superbly Stated and Humor Most Humorous were

the only categories without the requisite price break, and this years Awards marked the addition of the new

Humor category as well as a large number of invitation-specific entries which garnered a number of honorable

mentions.

The number of first time entrants and small companies who have been nominated for a LOUIE shows that the

industry is moving in an exciting direction and that greeting cards are relevant and important in todays

increasingly digital world, said Katy Greenspan of American Greetings/Cardstore.com and the 24th

Annual

LOUIE Awards Chair.

LOUIE judging took place January 31 February 2, 2012 in New York City, in conjunction with the New York

International Gift Fair. The judges included prominent retailer buyers such as Paper Source and Barnes and Noble,

industry suppliers, independent sales representatives and members of the social stationery blogger and press

community. Each entry was reviewed based on criteria which included Originality, Impact, Design Excellence,

Sendability and Value.

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1133 Westchester Avenue, Suite N136

White Plains, NY 10604

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Winners in every category, as well as the Cards of the Year will be announced during this years LOUIE

celebration on a new night, Sunday, May 20 at ESpace in New York City. The event will take place from 6:30 to

10:30 pm. To purchase tickets, please visit www.greetingcard.org. In addition, the nominees will be showcased in

a special LOUIE Awards display designed by Universal Presentation Concepts, Inc. (UPC) at the Jacob K. Javits

Center during the National Stationery Show, May 20 23 in New York City. The winner of last years LOUIE

Awards display competition, UPC created a one-of-a-kind card store for the nominees; the display will be

housed in the upper level of the Javits Center in the upper reception area off of 11th Avenue.

The LOUIE display is a must-see at the NSS. Located in the Crystal Palace and designed and manufactured by

Universal Presentation Concepts, it will both highlight the talent and creativity expressed in each finalists card,

and provide an excellent vehicle for exhibiting finalists to enjoy exposure outside their booth. The lobby location

makes it convenient for buyers to stroll through it early in the day, so theyll have plenty of time to see the

product in the exhibitors booth during the Show, said Patti Stracher, General Manager of the National

Stationery Show. She added that this year the display will also provide seating and refreshments a

hospitality lounge of sorts for GCA members and prospects to have a comfortable place to network.

In addition to a variety of industry suppliers who aid in the production of the LOUIE printed materials and the

program book, sponsors of this years LOUIEs include The United States Postal Service, JAST Company Limited,

Bobst Group North America, FREEMAN, GLM and the National Stationery Show, Glory Moon, Hallmark

Cards, Inc., and Infinity Foils, Inc. Through their financial support, these companies, along with many others,

ensure the success of the LOUIEs.

To learn more about the LOUIE Awards, to see a full list of nominees, and to purchase tickets to the event, please

visit www.greetingcard.org.

Media Contact:

Rachel Lexier, BDE

212/353-1383

rachel@bdeonline.biz