Wanted: the next big thing!
Brand Licensing Europe’s License This! Competition now open

Brand Licensing Europe, the Advanstar organised licensing exhibition, has announced that its License This! Challenge is now open for entries at www.brandlicensing.eu.

Launched in 2010 to great acclaim, this ‘Dragon’s Den’ style challenge offers those with brand new creative concepts the opportunity to break into the global licensing industry. It is open to any new property that has its roots in publishing, art and design, television or digital media. An expert judging panel will select a shortlist of four entries which will be pitched to the panel in front of a live audience at the show on 18th October 2012. The winner will receive a fully-furnished stand at Brand Licensing Europe 2013, worth £4,500, so that the new property can be brought back to market next year.

• Winner of the first year’s competition, Animaru, has secured its first licensing deal this month in the homes and interiors sector. The Binary Box has launched a collection of children’s wall stickers featuring designer Sophie Hinton's cheeky images of the pig, rabbit, sheep, cat and cow.
• Last year’s winner was How to…for the Domestically Inept, presented by Sarah Watts, featuring everyman, Sam, in 'strips' illustrated in the style of traditional airline instruction cards. Since winning the competition, the team has employed an agent and is busy developing the property to launch on the stand at this year’s show.
• Finalist Jacky Al-Samarraie Landscapes, portrays British rural and urban landscapes in silhouette and vibrant block colour. As a result of the show, the company signed a licensing deal with a housewares business, and is currently developing products to go to market later this year.
• Little Godz, presented by Peter Rohde, based on the gods of Asia, presented in a colourful and contemporary way to appeal particularly to children is currently developing its strategy for a mid-year launch.

“Winning the competition opened many doors for us” said last year’s winner Sarah Watts of Two Little Boys. “Since the show, we have had conversations with a number of big names which focused us on developing and expanding the property for different mediums. It’s a very exciting time for us, with lots of possibilities, and we are looking forward to showcasing the property at this year’s show. I would urge anyone with a new concept to enter the competition and see what it can do for you.”

Property creators/owners can submit their property now to be part of License This! by completing the entry form, found at www.brandlicensing.eu. Brand Licensing Europe 2012, takes place from 16th – 18th October 2012 at London’s Olympia.