The global nature of the licensing business is on full display among the nominees for Best Licensing Agency/Manufacturer’s Rep within the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards. Not only do the brands that these companies represent come from all over the world, but the agencies themselves come from North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Overall, more than 600 entries were received this year from companies in 22 countries and were judged by a panel of 152 executives from 20 nations. The licensing industry will make its selections from a ballot that includes 175 nominees in 23 categories of brands, properties and companies.

For a full listing of the categories and the nominees please click here.

Here are the nominees for Best Licensing Agency/Manufacturer’s Rep:

Haven Global – Australia

Haven has been a leading Agency for over a quarter of a century, partnering & building unmatched programs with the world’s best Licensors.  Key to our success is:

• Long term partnerships – considered best practice by many of our licensors, having won multiple Agent of the Year Awards and successfully driven long standing representation for many of our brands.
• Market leading retail executions at all tiers.
• Taking Australian brands to the world.
• Innovative executions – including a major Sesame Street Circus tour.

Haven keeps raising the bar year after year & hope we are worthy of your consideration!

Pacific Licensing – Singapore

Pacific Licensing Studio had a fantastic year in 2019 in Southeast Asia & Taiwan, continuing to solidify its position as the strongest independent agency in the region.  Highlights include: Batman 80th Anniversary night runs in six markets; World of Tokidoki @ Changi promotion at Singapore’s famous airport; “Hello Again, Runway Kitty” celebrating Hello Kitty’s 45th anniversary in Jakarta; Hotel Cozzi in Tainan, Taiwan, featuring Cartoon Network, and our Minions softlines DTR with Voir in Malaysia for both kids and teens.

Other Stats:

• Welcomed 2 new clients in 2019: Hasbro & Sanrio.
• Executed over 400 license agreements in 2019, across the region/clients.
• Approximate retail value of business: US$250,000,000.
• Clients’ product sold through more than 45,000 points of retail across the region.

Panaderia – Mexico

Being Televisa’s Consumer Products Division for 16 years made the best marketing school for all who built “La Panaderia”, where we have it ALL by being a proudly Mexican agency with more than two decades of experience implementing strategies in every brand we manage; from receiving the content in any format until it is taken to meet consumers’ hands in any product, service or live experience.

Multiple platforms of content delivery have managed to make everybody able to become producers, directors and actors. Social media and digital channels have made Panadería have access to information about the audience’s behavior in real time… Nowadays, more than ever, trust and transparency are the real emotion behind the social currency exchange.

The brands and strategies we manage represent the most relevant portfolio in Mexico. We remain the leaders by protecting the quality and future, from the license holders to the licensees for each category. The key? Listen to the market to never miss a chance, an experience of E-sports Live, a new attraction in a theme park, or alternative content for theaters.

Redibra

A pioneer agency in Brazil, Redibra DNA has strategy, execution and innovation as its core. A boutique agency, with a best in class team to deliver outstanding service to both licensors and licensees.

By not being a “brands collector,” the agency provides clients focused, sustainable and profitable programs, generating US$ 850 million at retail and making Redibra the most awarded agency in the country. Coca-Cola program became a benchmark worldwide and Lottie Dottie Chicken a 26 Billion views YT local IP became an evergreen brand. Redibra is also the proud agency of Nintendo, GM, Cloudco and Artestar.

Seeking further innovation, envisioning the potential of local IPs, Redibra launched the R-lab:  an incubator and accelerator for promising Brazilian content. The incubator already has 4 IPs hatching.

Retail Monster

Retail Monster LLC. has established itself within the industry as a premier, progressive, and innovative brand extension and global licensing agency. RM develops and delivers content and brands to retail for Intellectual Property Holders, Retailers, and Product Suppliers alike, through best-in-class retail relationships, extensive expertise, and capabilities within Licensing, Creative, Marketing, and Sales via:

Brand Licensing & Extension: RM’s globally recognized IP partners (Apex Legends; Borderlands; emoji®; and Paddington; and Subway Surfers) each saw debut of product and record licensing success in 2019.

Retail Sales & Marketing: RM delivered best-in-class programs for Crayola, Hasbro, and Sony Pictures at Walmart, Target, GameStop, Spencer’s, Party City, STORY/Macy’s and more.

Facilitating Content Placement: RM helped facilitate the sell-in of episodic content, including debut of Middle School Moguls on Nickelodeon.

Seltzer Licensing Group

Seltzer Licensing Group, a full-service brand licensing agency, works around the globe, focusing on revenue growth for its clients through strategic licensing partnerships. Longstanding programs such as Scotts Miracle Gro and the American Red Cross continue to grow – and highlights in 2019 include the growth of The Office’s merchandise program, 3 new brand clients, and the launch of 80 new products. Seltzer Licensing Group continues to serve as Unilever’s global licensing agent, managing deals between the CPG giant and its co-brand partners. Overall, Seltzer Licensing’s business accumulated over $900 Million in sales at retail in 2019. Launch of over 80 new products across 8 brand clients:  Key launches include a Lithium Ion SCOTTS brand lawn mower, THE OFFICE themed subscription box, a RED CROSS automotive emergency kit, and a TRESEMME line of hair dryers.

The Joester Loria Group

2019 was an exceptional year of new clients, dynamic market initiatives, collaborations, food licensing and brand building for Joester Loria Group.  JLG supported clients Cheetos, Modelo, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, World of Eric Carle and Corona with multiple DTR’s and collaborations sold in 20,000+ doors globally.  The 50th Anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar included global QSR’s, DTR’s, 575 Live Shows and Mall Events on 4 continents. Traditional and food licensing drove over  $1B in sales for JLG clients. JLG added new clients McDonald’s, Cheetos, Doritos, TikTok’s WeWearCute influencers and the 44 Cats pre-school series broadcast on Nickelodeon.

The Point.1888

The Point.1888 is disrupting the brand-licensing model and industry. Instead of approaching brands, we match brands with retail opportunities. Working with quality and care as central values, The Point.1888 strives to create meaningful partnerships and products for the client and customer. The ultra-flexible employment scheme and our commitment to charity donation proves The Point.1888 is committed to the industry and invested in people. With a self-funded, zero debt performance and a turnover increasing by 300% each year, the model speaks for itself. That’s the Point(.1888).

Wildbrain CPLG

WildBrain CPLG has expanded its footprint into Russia with the addition of CPLG Pullman. Significantly developed the Peanuts program with new collaborations including a global program with Cath Kidston.  Brought the iconic LINE FRIENDS characters to Europe, including the launch of a hugely successful pop-up store for BT21, the collaboration between LINE FRIENDS and global boy band BTS. Signed significant new representation including global rights for the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber, FC Barcelona in MENA and IRONMAN.  Invested in creative services increasing listing in fashion retailers, and forged a closer working relationship with sister company WildBrain Spark.