DENVER — The Greeting Card Association is inviting designers, artists, creators, and publishers to submit entries for the 38th Annual Louie Awards, recognizing excellence across the greeting card industry.
The Louies are a showcase for the best in greeting card design, creativity and craftsmanship, the association says. The winning cards are chosen as exemplars of the medium’s enduring power to showcase emotion, inspire, and delight.
“Every year, the Louie Awards remind me that there’s no shortage of fresh ideas in the greeting card industry,” said Michele Byrne, Louie Awards Committee Chair. “Just when you think you’ve seen it all, someone comes along with a new perspective, an unexpected joke, or a design that makes you look twice.”
Nominations are welcome from anyone, GCA members and non-members alike. Entries are accepted through January 14, with physical card samples due at the GCA office by January 19. Early bird pricing is available for entries submitted through November 2.
As part of the GCA’s ongoing dedication to diversifying the industry, the association continues to offer two free entries to makers who self-identify as part of underrepresented communities, including Black, AAPI, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, and Latinx communities.
Last year’s competition featured over 1,000 entries from 185 companies across 56 categories. A panel of 78 industry leaders, including publishers, retailers, and stationery experts, judged submissions at eight hubs across the country, selecting the cards that best represent excellence in the craft.
Categories include artist of the year; birthday; celebrating Latinx culture; Christmas/seasonal; invitations and announcements; non-religious celebrations; romantic occasions; superbly stated; and writer of the year.
Americans spend between $7 billion and $8 billion a year on greeting cards, purchasing about 6.5 billion cards, according to the association. Individual purchasing decisions are driven by five key factors: the right message and tone; pleasing art and design; relationship relevance; appropriate subject matter; and perceived value for the money.
Birthday cards remain the best-selling card type, accounting for more than half of the total cards sold.
