Wins the $10,000 grand prize and takes home all the gifts she wrapped in the eighth annual Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest
Holly Karolkowski, a gift-wrapping guru from Portland, Maine, was crowned "America's Most Gifted Wrapper" for 2004 in a national gift-wrapping contest sponsored by the maker of Scotch brand tape.
Amid throngs of holiday revelers at Rockefeller Center today, Karolkowski out-wrapped seven other gift-wrapping experts - including pros with experience at department stores like Bon-Macy's and Marshall Field's - in the eighth annual Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest to earn the ultimate holiday prize: $10,000 and all the brand-new KitchenAid appliances she wrapped during the competition. With bows, ribbons and Scotch brand tape in hand, Karolkowski and her worthy competitors wrapped a variety of kitchen items (seven-piece cookware set, stand mixer, stainless steel refrigerator, stainless steel range and stainless steel grill) with speed, flair and style.
"I had no idea that I was going to win," said Karolkowski. "I was up against professional gift-wrappers, and in the eight years that Scotch brand tape has been sponsoring this contest, only two amateur gift-wrappers, like myself, have won."
The first runner-up, Daniel Barker from Astoria, N.Y., a professional gift-wrapper from Kate's Paperie, received a $2,500 cash prize. The other six contestants received smaller cash prizes as well. Contestants were judged on three criteria: appearance, technique and speed.
The judging panel consisted of experts in the art of gift-wrapping, including Ellen Timberlake, "America's Most Gifted Wrapper" in 2000, and John Saxtan, editor-in-chief of Giftware News.
About 3M - A Global, Diversified Technology Company
Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the company's 67,000 people use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation. For more information, including the latest product and technology news, visit www.3M.com.
Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti are trademarks of 3M.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A photo of the winner will be available Friday, Dec. 3 via the Associated Press Photo Network and on the Internet at: http://www.nycphoto.com/clients/3M/giftedwrapper
Hunter Public Relations, New YorkAmy Coles, 212-679-6600 Ext. 221acoles@hunterpr.com
