Finalists announced for BLE’s License This! Competition 2014

Brand Licensing Europe - September 2014

Brand Licensing Europe 2014, the Advanstar-organised licensing exhibition, has announced the four finalists of its License This! Competition. Now in its fifth year, the challenge offers those with brand new creative concepts the opportunity to break into the global licensing industry and the final takes place at the show in front of an audience on Thursday 9 October.

Ailsa Black Artwork presented by Ailsa Black - work inspired by living in a rural area by the coast in Scotland, rich with animals and people that express the essence of rural and coastal life.
Chef and Sue presented by Ann Edwards - a gentle satire of middle class foibles, flavoured with cheese jokes, and popular in Waitrose Weekend magazine for the last four years.
Give a Hoot created by Rowena Blyth at Fourth Wall Brands - a colourful, cute and timeless design concept that celebrates the humour and popularity of owls in a fun and contemporary way.
RaNT! created by Adam Bestwick at Fourth Wall Brands - a fun and irreverent character that has something loud to say about the bits of modern life that really get on our nerves, like flat pack furniture, social media and veggie burgers.

Judging panel chair Ian Downes, Director of Start Licensing, said: “It was a really enjoyable challenge judging License This! The diversity of entries was a good reflection of the breadth of opportunities that exist in licensing and of the creativity in the industry. The short listed four are strong contenders and were the best of a very good collection of entries. It wasn't easy to narrow the field. Well done to all those that entered. I look forward to the finale at BLE.”

Other judges on the panel were: Paul Bufton, VP, Consumer Products Licensing and Retail EMEA, Rovio Entertainment Ltd; Richard Haines, Acquisitions & New Business Manager, Penguin Children's, Penguin Random House and John Carolan, Head of Buying – Childrenswear, Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd.

The four finalists will now compete for a chance to win a fully‐furnished stand at Brand Licensing Europe 2015, worth £5,100, so that the new property can be brought back to market next year. Last year’s winner was Mr Trafalgar, a whimsical rodent drawn in distinctive black and white silhouette, which will be on display at this year’s BLE. Other past winners and finalists have gone on to sign deals in the gifts, apparel, homeware and stationery categories as a result of the show.

Brand Licensing Europe 2014 is the definite event for the entire licensing industry and takes place next month from 7 – 9 October at London’s Olympia. To register for FREE entry please visit www.brandlicensing.eu or follow us on Twitter using @bleurope for show news and updates.