<p class="has-drop-cap">Good morning all, I&#8217;m so excited to share this (rather long) post with you! When I was approached about a month ago to have The Paper Chronicles sponsor the Best New Product awards at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="*Noted (opens in a new tab)" href="https://linktr.ee/noted_expo" target="_blank">*Noted</a>, I initially thought &#8220;no way, no how&#8221; as my expertise in this arena has been limited solely to judging. But I thankfully reconsidered, and I am beyond grateful to sponsor it as well as officially announce it here today.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/buzz-about-noted.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10003793" width="901" height="901"/></figure>



<p>Since its inception, *Noted has been able to position itself apart from other trade shows because it is produced by <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Greeting Card Association (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.greetingcard.org/" target="_blank">The Greeting Card Association</a> rather than a corporate entity. Thus the aim of *Noted is to promote not just the greeting card medium, but the makers themselves — so this Best New Product competition, called Noted@ *Noted, takes on a slightly different approach.</p>



<p>First off — ;and to me this is HUGE — ;you don&#8217;t have to be exhibiting to enter. That means you can be represented at the one trade show solely dedicated to greeting cards without having a booth! If you&#8217;re in this camp, you can enter up to four entries for $30/pop. Meanwhile, all *Noted exhibitors get a free entry, and can submit four additional paid entries for $25/each for a total of five.</p>



<p>What makes greeting cards special is their ability to capture and spread any mood, so in reexamining last year&#8217;s categories, we tried to focus on those elements that comprise that magic. We ended upping the number of categories from four to 10. I&#8217;m showing last year&#8217;s winners beneath their respective categories for a bit of perspective. I hope all makers reading this immediately start thinking of which of their offerings speak most to these categories (drumroll please): </p>



<p><strong>Best Color Combo Card. </strong>Nothing sets a mood like color, and we’re seeking the most alluring examples. Don’t forget to include color or kraft envelopes!</p>



<p><strong>Best New Product Line. </strong>Show us your new collections for 2020! We are seeking standout illustration and copy, as well as a distinctive cohesion across the range.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/dreamstime_xxl_54125529-AdventCalendar-Frame.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10003937" width="906" height="906"/><figcaption><a href="https://inklingspaperie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Inklings Paperie (opens in a new tab)">Inklings Paperie</a><br>2019 Winner, Best New Product Line<br>2019 Holiday Collection</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Best Noted Mailer.</strong> A lot of careful effort goes into these, so we want to see — and share — what you&#8217;re sending out! </p>



<p><strong>Best Tear Jerker Card.</strong> This special category is reserved for those cards that splendidly capture and share heartfelt emotions during challenging or celebratory moments in life. </p>



<p><strong>Best Use of Profanity Card.</strong> Some may call these blasphemous, but we’re seeking the true visionaries of this vulgar vein. </p>



<p><strong>Most Beautiful Card.</strong> Send us your best and brightest dazzlers!</p>



<p><strong>Most Encouraging Card. </strong>Whether it conveys a sender&#8217;s empathy or congratulations, submit your uplifting design here!</p>



<p><strong>Printing Innovation.</strong> This category highlights individual cards or ranges that utilize newer, cutting-edge or unexpected printing processes or formats.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DAL021-Sardines-CMYK.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10003933" width="897" height="597"/><figcaption><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Up With Paper (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.upwithpaper.com/" target="_blank">Up With Paper</a><br>2019 Winner, Printing Innovation<br>Sardines Card</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Smart Marketing.</strong> Describe (with images if possible) wholesale initiatives undertaken since May 2019 to capture the interest of retailers and increase sales for everyone. Whether it was a special offer or a social media campaign, we want to hear all about it!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://i2.wp.com/thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/kindness_grows_flowerclip.RamonaRuth.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-10003934" width="896" height="1194"/><figcaption><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Ramona &; Ruth (opens in a new tab)" href="http://ramonaandruth.com/" target="_blank">Ramona &; Ruth</a><br>2019 Winner, Smart Marketing<br>Kindness Grows Mailer</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Snarkiest Card.</strong> Let’s go beyond “ok boomer” to get your most sarcastic offerings (for real!).</p>



<p>To keep everything fresh, this year&#8217;s entries must have been introduced after January 1, 2020. Finally, this colorful gem below took top honors in Creative Copy, which as a category we felt was overshadowed by the new individual card categories. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/AC-07-gender-non-specific-member-PRINT.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10003932" width="883" height="912"/><figcaption><a href="https://charmcat.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="CharmCat Creative (opens in a new tab)">CharmCat Creative</a><br>Winner, Creative Copy<br>Gender Non-Specific Card</figcaption></figure>



<p>We&#8217;ve assembled a really impressive group of judges whom I know most makers would love to get their work in front of:</p>



<p><strong>Dan Collier,</strong> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.danrichgroup.com/" target="_blank">Daniel Richards Showroom</a> (Atlanta &; Dallas), as well as the retail venues <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.archerpaper.com/" target="_blank">Archer Paper Goods</a> (two Atlanta stores, one in Athens, Georgia, one in Dallas and a new one in Charlotte, North Carolina) as well as The Merchant Atlanta (two locations around Atlanta and one in Dallas).</p>



<p><strong>Barbara Mooney</strong>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Daisy’s Mercantile (opens in a new tab)" href="https://daisysmercantile.com/" target="_blank">Daisy’s Mercantile</a>, Alameda, California. </p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-40919" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-40919 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="40919" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-5840 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-off-the-press tag-antiquaria tag-bailey-ammon tag-dansk tag-emma-james tag-foil-printing tag-greeting-cards tag-patterned-paper tag-pocket-notebooks tag-russell-wright tag-sarah-schwartz tag-the-paper-chronicles" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/this-just-in-antiquaria-goes-wholesale/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=200%2C200&;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=293%2C293&;ssl=1 293w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=75%2C75&;ssl=1 75w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=390%2C390&;ssl=1 390w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=585%2C585&;ssl=1 585w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANTIQUARIA-GREETING-CARDS-1-e1408309888336.jpg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></a></div><div class="meta"><div class="byline byline-2 byline-cats-design-4"><div class="byline-part cats"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/category/off-the-press/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Off The Press</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/this-just-in-antiquaria-goes-wholesale/">This Just In: Antiquaria Goes Wholesale!</a></h3></div><div class="byline byline-3"><span class="byline-part date"><i class="tipi-i-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> <time class="entry-date published dateCreated flipboard-date" datetime="2014-08-18T11:36:06+00:00">August 18, 2014</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="5840"><span class="likes-heart"><i class="tipi-i-heart-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="tipi-i-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="tipi-value">0</span></a></span></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></tipimidc>



<p><strong>Chelsea Shukov</strong>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://sugarpaper.com/" target="_blank">Sugar Paper</a>, which produces its own luxe wholesale range and also has California stores in Brentwood, Newport Beach and Marin. </p>



<p><strong>Audrey Woollen</strong>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Urbanic Paper Boutique (opens in a new tab)" href="https://urbanicpaper.com/" target="_blank">Urbanic Paper Boutique</a>, Venice, California. </p>



<p><strong>Tory Wright</strong>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Paper E Clips (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.papereclips.com/" target="_blank">Paper E. Clips</a>, a major Canadian wholesale distributor of cards and giftware.</p>



<p>Fresh off LOUIE judging, I will also be judging.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/9-18-19.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10003791" width="899" height="899"/></figure>



<p>So, on March 16, be ready to upload your submissions through a portal (very similar to that for the LOUIEs). Submissions will be accepted through April 3. At that point, the judges will score the entries.</p>



<p>On April 15, top three finalists will be notified. Each will submit their finalized cards on an 8.5-by-11-inch board to be shipped or hand-delivered to *Noted in San Francisco by noon on April 30. </p>



<p>Finalists will also be asked to send in six individual cards of each finalist design. We&#8217;re going to need them that evening, when the judges gather to determine first, second and third place in each. The next day, May 1, the Show&#8217;s opening day, winners will be announced at 11 am! </p>



<p>I absolutely can&#8217;t wait to see what comes in. Obviously there&#8217;s a lot of moving parts here, so give me a shout at sarah@thepaperchronicles.com with any questions. And best of luck to everyone!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/9-10-19.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10003790" width="787" height="783"/><figcaption>Art by Sooshichacha  ;@sooshichacha⁠â <br>Adapted from a best selling design from ;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/calypsocards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">@calypsocards</a> ;⁠â </figcaption></figure>