The finalists in the Retail, Product, Property and Licensed Promotion categories at The Licensing Awards 2019 have been confirmed
The winners will be crowned at a glittering ceremony on Tuesday September 10, held in The Great Room of The Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
2019 has marked another bumper year of entries across the board for The Licensing Awards. Over 4,000 products were on display at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium earlier this month, with some 150 retail buyers from the likes of The Entertainer, Tesco, Character.com, Sainsbury’s, Next, Asda, River Island, Debenhams, FatFace, M&S, Matalan, M&Co and Morrisons among others, judging the prestigious product categories. This year also saw a record number of entries in the apparel category.
“This year’s product judging day was a true reflection of the diversity and innovation in the licensed product arena,” said Jakki Brown, joint md of Max Publishing, which owns and organises The Licensing Awards. “It was not only the sheer number of buyers who were fully engaged in the task at hand, but how collectively they spanned the entire retailing spectrum. From leading grocers to specialist multiples, department stores to online and fast-fashion high street chains.”
Meanwhile, the Retail category finalists were decided as a result of an extensive nomination process, followed by validation by a panel of over 20 industry experts, made up of both leading licensors and licensees. Collectively their experience meant that input was provided across the whole spectrum of demographics and specialisms.
Best Licensed Promotions Campaign was judged by a panel of marketing and licensing experts, chaired by Richard Pink from Pink Key Licensing, following a strong roster of self-nominations from the industry.
Nominations for Licensing International UK’s Rising Star Award – which is presented as part of The Licensing Awards – are due to be announced shortly.
THE LICENSING AWARDS 2019 FINALISTS
RETAIL CATEGORY FINALISTS
- BEST RETAILER OF PRESCHOOL LICENSED PRODUCTS (AGE GROUP 0-5)
- Character.com
- The Entertainer
- JoJo Maman Bébé
- Sainsbury’s/Argos
- Smyths
- Tesco
- BEST RETAILER OF KIDS’ LICENSED PRODUCTS (AGE GROUP 5-16)
- Aldi
- The Entertainer
- Primark
- Sainsbury’s/Argos
- Smyths
- Tesco
- BEST RETAILER OF ADULT LICENSED PRODUCTS
- ASOS
- Boohoo
- Forbidden Planet
- Hawkin’s Bazaar
- Primark
- Selfridges
- THE RADAR AWARD – for retailers who have come on the radar on the licensing front as they have considerably upped their licensing activities in the last year
- B&M
- Card Factory
- FatFace
- Home Bargains
- Missguided
- The Range
- TOP RETAILER AWARD
- To be announced on the night. All winners of the main retail categories are contenders for this award.
- BEST LICENSED RETAIL MARKETING INITIATIVE
- Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas at Primark
- National Geographic Photo Ark Collection at Clarks
- Queen Bohemian Rhapsody Pop-Up at Carnaby Street
- Pokémon at Selfridges
- Retro Gaming Arcade Campaign at Primark
- The Snowman 40th Anniversary at Waterstones
- BEST LICENSED PROMOTIONS CAMPAIGN
- Bruce Lee Learn To Control Your Power with Boost
- (Agency: Born Licensing)
- The Gruffalo and Big Milk Fuelling Big Adventures with Arla Big Milk
- (Agency: Magic Light Pictures)
- Incredibles 2 Campaign with Plenty
- (Agency: Blue Chip Marketing)
- Roald Dahl and Mr Kipling’s Splendiferous Summer with Premier
- (Agency: The Roald Dahl Story Company)
- The Snowman Maybe Just Maybe Campaign with Barbour
- (Agency: Penguin Ventures)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Family Weekend with Eden Project
- (Agency: Rocket Licensing)
THE PRODUCT AWARDS CATEGORIES
- BEST LICENSED TOYS OR GAMES RANGE
- BBC Earth Plush from Posh Paws
- Fortnite Collection from Jazwares
- Harry Potter Sorting Hat from Maxx Marketing
- Harry Potter Wizarding World from LEGO
- PAW Patrol Ultimate Rescue from Spin Master
- Peppa Pig Collection from Character Options
- Spirit Riding Free Master Toy Collection from Flair/Just Play
- Toy Story Summer Collection from Sambro
- BEST LICENSED DRESS-UP OR PARTYWARE
- Barbie 60th Anniversary Set from RH Smith & Sons
- Elmer Collection from Amscan International
- L.O.L Surprise! Partyware from Unique Party
- Marvel: Avengers Endgame Dress-Up from Rubie’s Masquerade
- Nerf Party Range from Amscan International
- Roald Dahl World Book Day Collection for Tesco (F+F) from RH Smith & Sons
- Toy Story for George@Asda from Christy’s by Design
- BEST LICENSED PRESCHOOL APPAREL RANGE (0-5 YEARS)
- Dumbo Baby Fashion Range from Matalan
- Harry Potter Kids Nightwear from TDP Textiles for Character.com
- Peter Rabbit Collection for M&Co from Paul Dennicci
- Miffy Babywear Collection from Tobias & the Bear
- Moomin Collection for Primark from Smith & Brooks
- Peppa Pig Nightwear from Misirli
- Toy Story Collection for Nutmeg@Morrisons from Blues
- BEST LICENSED CHILDREN’S APPAREL RANGE
- Harry Potter Collection for Character.com from Smith & Brooks
- Nerf Collection for Tesco (F+F) from Smith & Brooks
- NASA Collection from Bioworld International
- National Geographic Footwear Collection from Clarks
- Natural History Museum Collection from FatFace
- Roald Dahl Collection for Character.com from Aykroyd & Sons
- Star Wars Nightwear from Marks & Spencer
- BEST LICENSED ADULT APPAREL RANGE
- Barbie Collection for Primark from Global Brands Group
- Dumbo Ladieswear Collection from Primark
- Harry Potter Christmas Collection from Fashion UK
- Hello Kitty Collection from ASOS
- NFL Tees Collection from Poetic Brands
- Sex Pistols Collection from Dr. Marten’s
- Transformers Collection from Puma
- BEST LICENSED WRITTEN, LISTENING OR LEARNING RANGE
- Bing Collection from HarperCollins Children’s Books
- Little Miss x Spice Girls Collection from Sanrio and Egmont
- L.O.L Surprise! Collection from Centum Books
- Oi! Magnetic Activities Collection from Fiesta Crafts
- Toy Story Personalised Collection from Signature Gifts
- Winnie the Pooh Now We Are Grown Up Collection from Egmont
- The World of Eric Carle Collection from Penguin Random House
- BEST LICENSED PAPER PRODUCTS OR STATIONERY RANGE
- Disney Faces Collection from UK Greetings
- Disney Reversible Keepsake Range from Hallmark UK
- Elf Collection from IG Design Group
- I Like Birds Collection from Quadrille Publishing
- Love Island Collection from Danilo
- Marvel: Avengers Illustration Collection from Moonpig
- Stranger Things Collection from Pyramid International
- BEST LICENSED GIFTWARE RANGE
- Britain’s Got Talent Personalised Range from Evode
- Disney Aladdin Collection from Half Moon Bay
- Loungefly Captain Marvel Collection from Funko
- Mary Poppins Accessories from Difuzed
- Miffy Craft Kits from Stitch & Story
- Moomin Collection from House of Disaster
- Peter Rabbit Baby Range from Enesco
- BEST LICENSED HOME DÉCOR, TABLEWARE OR HOUSEWARES RANGE
- Dumbo Homewares Collection from Primark
- Friends Homewares from Pyramid International
- Harry Potter Drinkware from GB Eye
- Joe Wicks Kitchenware from Meyer
- Mickey Retro Homewares from Funko
- Pokémon Lighting Collection from Teknofun
- Star Wars Pet Cave from Monster Factory
- BEST LICENSED FOOD OR DRINK RANGE
- Baileys Cake Collection from Finsbury Food Group
- The Happy News Confectionery Collection from Crème D’Or
- Original Stormtrooper Gin Set from Thumbs Up
- Paddington Collection from Biscuiteers
- Sesame Street Collection from Beams
- Smiley World Chicken Nuggets from Farmfoods
- The Snowman Confectionery Collection from Rose Confectionery
- THE INNOVATION AWARD
- The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Limited Edition Time Piece from Raymond Weil
- The Gruffalo Tonies from Boxine
- Harry Potter Coding Kit from Kano Computing
- Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak from Wow! Stuff
- Iron Maiden Pinball Machine from Stern Pinball
- National Geographic Footwear Collection from Clarks
- Rick and Morty Smart Watch from Bioworld International
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Moonlite from Spin Master
PROPERTY CATEGORY FINALISTS
- BEST PRESCHOOL LICENSED PROPERTY (AGE GROUP 0-5)
- Bing
- The Gruffalo
- Hey Duggee
- In the Night Garden
- PAW Patrol
- Peppa Pig
- PJ Masks
- Ryan’s World
- Thomas and Friends
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- BEST CHILDREN’S OR TWEEN LICENSED PROPERTY (AGE GROUP 5-12)
- Harry Potter
- L.O.L Surprise!
- Miraculous
- My Little Pony
- Pikmi Pops
- Roald Dahl
- Transformers
- The World of David Walliams
- BEST TEEN OR ADULT LICENSED PROPERTY
- Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty
- Barbie
- Emoji
- Friends
- Gorjuss
- Hello Kitty
- Peaky Blinders
- Pusheen
- The Happy News
- Wizarding World
- BEST GAMING LICENSED PROPERTY
- Angry Birds
- Call of Duty
- Destiny
- Fortnite
- Minecraft
- Pokémon
- Roblox
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Warhammer
- BEST FILM LICENSED PROPERTY
- Avengers: End Game
- How to Train Your Dragon (The Hidden World)
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
- The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
- The Secret Life of Pets 2
- Toy Story 4
- BEST MUSIC OR CELEBRITY LICENSED PROPERTY
- The Beatles
- Little Mix
- Queen
- The Rolling Stones
- Tiana
- BEST SPORTS LICENSED PROPERTY
- Arsenal Football Club
- Chelsea Football Club
- England Football and Lionesses
- England Rugby
- Liverpool Football Club
- Manchester United Football Club
- NFL Players Association
- Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
- WWE
THE CLASSIC LICENSED PROPERTY AWARD
This award is for properties that have stood the test of time (with at least a decade of licensing activity). The winner joins previous winners in The Licensing Classics Hall of Fame. Previous year’s winners are Barbie, The Beano, Mickey Mouse, Peppa Pig, Pokémon, Peter Rabbit, Star Wars and Thomas & Friends.
This year’s finalists are:
- Me to You
- Miffy
- Moomin
- Mr Men Little Miss
- Paddington
- Peanuts Worldwide
- Sesame Street
- Smiley
- The Snowman
- Thunderbirds Are Go
- Wallace & Gromit
The headline sponsor of The Licensing Awards 2019 is Brand Licensing Europe and the awards are officially supported by Licensing International.
“Huge congratulations from BLE to all of this year’s finalists,” commented Anna Knight, event director for BLE. “The Licensing Awards are the Oscars of our industry and – given there were over 4,000 entries – to be shortlisted alone is a massive achievement. It’s also great to see such strong representation from publishing, animation and gaming, three of the categories that we are highlighting at BLE this year with exciting new activations, pavilions and conference content.”
Over 1,400 retailers, licensees and industry suppliers are set to attend this year’s big event. Tickets and tables are available to buy online at Max-Tickets.net, or from Createvents on 01733 294524 or email clare@createvents.co.uk
