Licensing Awards 2015 finalists are announced!

BRANDORA Editorial Staff - July 2015

The Product Awards Finalists

Approaching 5,000 licensed products were entered into the Product Awards this year. The Judging Panel comprised of almost 100 top retail buyers, including those from Sainsbury’s, Argos, Primark, Claires, Toys R Us, Tesco, Mothercare, Poundland, Boots, The Entertainer, Forbidden Planet, Lakeland, Asda, Mothercare, Matalan, BHS, Paperchase, Paulton’s Park, Blue Inc, Oliver Bonas, River Island, Lloyds Pharmacy and Rymans.

Best Licensed Toys or Games Range
Finalists:

Despicable Me 2 RC Inflatable Stuart and Dave Minions with sound from Bladez Toyz
Frozen Toddler Doll Range from Jakks Pacific
Paw Patrol Toy Range from Spinmaster
Peppa Pig Construction Toys from Simba Smoby
Shopkins Series 3 Collectable Mini Figures and Playset from Moose Enterprise/GP Flair
Star Wars Roar and Rage Chewbacca and Lightsaber Battle Yoda Action Plush from Underground Toys

Best Licensed Dress-Up or Partyware Range
Finalists:

Frozen Light-Up Princesses Range from Rubies Masquerade
Marvel Avengers Age Of Ultron Dress-Up From Rubies Masquerade
Marvel Superheroes Dress-Up from Morph Costumes
Minions Novelty Party Range from Icon Live
Paddington Bear Partyware Range from Creative Party
Roald Dahl Children’s Dress-Up Range from Smiffys

Best Licensed Preschool Apparel Range (0-5 years)
Finalists:

Minions Build Your Own PJs for George@ASDA from Cooneen By Design
Minions Preschool Collection for TU at Sainsbury’s from Smith & Brooks
Minnie Mouse Denim Girls Preschool Range from Primark
Paddington Babywear for Tesco from Brecrest Fashion
Peter Rabbit Baby Range for M&S from Watermelon
Star Wars Baby Range for Mothercare from Dennicci

Best Licensed Children’s or Adult Apparel Range
Finalists:

Coca Cola Adult Range from Retro Freds By Brand Alliance
DC Comics Superman Collection from Fabric Flavours
Minions Boys’ Range for George@ASDA from Cooneen by Design
Despicable Me 2 Children’s Footwear Range for George@ASDA from William Lamb Footwear
Frozen Nightdress for TU Sainsbury’s from Cooneen by Design
Harry Potter Autumn / Winter 14 Ladies Range from Primark

Best Written, Listening or Learning Range
Finalists:

Alien Classic Range from Titan Publishing Group
Frozen Magazine from Egmont Publishing
Jurassic World Where Dinosaurs Come To Life Augmented Reality Books from Carlton Publishing
Peppa Pig Book and App Range from Penguin Random House
My Very Hungry Caterpillar App from Story Toys
Winnie The Pooh Classic Collection from Egmont Publishing

Best Licensed Paper Products or Stationery Range
Finalists:

Despicable Me Stationery Range from Pyramid International
Great British Bake Off Stationery and Gift Range from Otter House
House of Holland Stationery Range from Blueprint Collections
Despicable Me Greeting Cards, Gift Bags, Calendars and Giftwrap from Danilo Promotions
Star Wars Greeting Card Range from Hallmark Cards
Winnie the Pooh Bother Free Days Card Range from Moonpig

Best Licensed Giftware Range
Finalists:

Cinderella Adult Jewellery Collection from Icon Live
IWM Victory Is In The Kitchen Range from Kimm & Miller
Despicable Me Minion Made Plush Backpacks from Posh Paws
The Makery Giftware Range from Wild and Wolf
Mr. Men and Little Miss Grow Kits from Gift Republic
Winnie The Pooh Classic Gift Range from Widdop Bingham

Best Licensed Food or Drink Range
Finalists:

The Beano Sweet Shop and Selection Tin from Rose Marketing
DC Super Heroes Biscuit Collection from Biscuiteers
Frozen Baking Range from Fiddes Payne
Jammie Dodger Celebration Cake from Finsbury Food Group
Minions Ice Creams, Lollies and Squeezers Range from Icefresh Foods
Snowman And The Snowdog Chocolate Gift Range from Thorntons

Best Licensed Home Décor, Tableware or Housewares Range
Finalists:

Frozen Crystal Bedding and Home Furnishings Collection from Character World
Happy Jackson Storage Tin Range From Elite
Roald Dahl Bedding And Accessories Collection from Ashley Wilde
Star Wars Homewares Collection from Half Moon Bay
Ted Baker Portmeirion The Fine Collection Rosie Lee from Portmeirion
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Nursery Collection from East Coast Nursery

Best Licensed Brand Range
Finalists:

Kellogg’s Vintage Health And Beauty Range from Mad Beauty
Historic Royal Palaces Baroque Gardening Collection from Briers
Playstation Retro Range from Bioworld
Rugby World Cup Collection from Ulster Weavers
V&A Spring/Summer 15 Collection from Oasis
Volkswagen Retro Housewares Range from Half Moon Bay

The Innovation Award
Finalists:

Doctor Who Cyberman Edge Sculpture from Robert Harrop
Historic Royal Palaces Fashion Collection No4 From Hobbs
Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain Boombox from Konami Digital Entertainment
SpongeBob Square Pants Cycle Jersey from Scimitar Sports
Star Wars Melting Storm Trooper from Blue Sky Designs
Thunderbirds Classic merchMAKER range from Merchant On Demand

Best Licensed Marketing Communication Campaign Award

For this award category, a highly qualified panel of marketing and promotions experts judged the entries to the Best Licensed Marketing Communication Campaign 2015 Award to arrive at an impressive finalists line-up, each of which demonstrate strong partnerships forged between licensed properties and key FMCG brands.

Finalists:

Adventure Time Dr Martens Bounce Mob Stunt
The Beano at Brewers Fayre
The Gruffalo Forestry Commission Trails
Paddington Warbeartons Campaign
The SpongeBob Movie Clean Start Appeal for British Red Cross
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Giant Wiggle for Action for Children

The Retailer Award Finalists

The finalists of the Retailer Award categories were decided as a result of an online nomination process involving manufacturers, suppliers and importers of licensed products, inviting them to state which retailers have excelled in their retail delivery of licensed merchandise to the public over the last year. These results were then taken into account by a validation panel of industry experts to arrive at the final line-up.

Best Preschool Retailer of Licensed Products (age group 0-5)
Finalists:

Argos
The Entertainer
Mothercare
Next
Sainsbury’s
Smyths

Best Kids Retailer of Licensed Products (age group 6-16)
Finalists:

Argos
Asda
The Entertainer
Next
Primark
Tesco

Best Retailer of Adult Licensed Products
Finalists:

Forbidden Planet
HMV
Next
Primark
Tesco
Urban Outfitters

The Radar Award

This award is for any UK based retailer (bricks and mortar/or online) that have ‘come on the radar’ by upping their licensing activities in the last year.

Finalists:

B&M
Halfords
Poundland
Shop Direct
Specsavers
Uniqlo

Top Retailer Award

All winners of the other categories are contenders for this award.