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.

#LicensingAwards19 @LicensingSource

For further information please contact:

Jane Garner & Sian Dorrington

jgarner@kgmpr.com / sdorrington@kgmpr.com

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